CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Habitat for Humanity of West Virginia and Huntington Area Habitat for Humanity accepted a $50,000 donation from Appalachian Power at a special check presentation ceremony on Wednesday at the state Capitol on the eve of Housing Day at the Legislature.
“Our employees are proud to support the communities in which they live and work, and all of us are thrilled to embark on this partnership with Habitat for Humanity,” said Charles Patton, Appalachian Power’s president and chief operating officer. “The partner family that will benefit from our partnership will not only have a new place to call home, but also will gain from energy-saving features that will increase comfort and provide utility cost savings for years to come.”
Appalachian Power’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity is in support of the inaugural “Capitol Build.” The construction of the Habitat home will begin on World Habitat Day 2014 with the walls being constructed on the West Virginia Capitol lawn in a one day event on Oct. 6. The walls then will be moved to a permanent location in Cabell County, where it will be completed using Energy Star standards and products, such as special insulating foam, energy efficient windows and a high efficiency heating and cooling system. The house will be built with Appalachian Power employees, Habitat volunteers and partner families.
“We are fortunate to have many wonderful partners in this mission including Appalachian Power Company,” said Tammie Alexander, board president for Habitat for Humanity of West Virginia. “We rely on the generosity of our sponsors, donors and volunteers to build our homes. This partnership creates a powerful example of how we as a community can work together to make a difference.”
Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical, non-profit Christian housing ministry dedicated to building decent, affordable housing in partnership with those in need. The organization welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built more than 300,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.5 million people.
Appalachian Power provides electricity to 1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee (as AEP Appalachian Power). It is a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, with more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined.