MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Nunnelee

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND ITS PRESIDENT, MILLARD FULLER, FOR THIS CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION'S SUCCESSFUL AND CONTINUOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE IN MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, Millard Fuller is the founder and President of Habitat for Humanity International, which through his leadership has become a worldwide Christian housing ministry responsible for providing more than 375,000 people around the world with safe, decent, affordable shelter; and

WHEREAS, Habitat volunteers have built homes with more than 100,000 families in need in more than 1,485 cities in the United States, where Habitat has grown to be one of the top house builders in the United States and the largest among nonprofit organizations; and

WHEREAS, Millard Fuller has close ties to Mississippi, where he helped establish the first Habitat Regional office in Tupelo, Mississippi, at the First United Methodist Church in 1985; and

WHEREAS, under the dynamic leadership of Millard Fuller, Habitat for Humanity has grown to 55 organizations in Mississippi, responsible for building 600 houses in the state, 125 of which are in the downtown area of Jackson, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, under the Habitat model, each homeowner family is expected to invest their own labor into the building of their home and the homes of other families with the assistance of Christian volunteers, thus reducing the cost of the house, increasing the pride of ownership and fostering the development of positive relationships and urban renewal; and

WHEREAS, Habitat for Humanity is an important leader in the battle against poverty housing in Mississippi; it has revolutionized the lives of hundreds of Mississippi citizens and has made the dream of homeownership a reality in our state and throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, in 1996, President Bill Clinton awarded Millard Fuller the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, stating that Habitat for Humanity is the most successful continuous community service project in the history of the United States, and in 1999, Builder magazine named Fuller as one of the most influential people in homebuilding in the United States in the 20th Century, and he continues to receive many honorary doctorate and achievement awards for outstanding leadership and contributions toward meeting the goal of eliminating poverty housing worldwide; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we commend the Mississippi achievements of Habitat for Humanity and its founder, who has been an inspiration to all who join community service organizations as volunteers:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Habitat for Humanity International and its founder, Millard Fuller, for this Christian organization's successful and continuous community service to the State of Mississippi, and for its inspiration to all volunteer community service, and wish it continued success in its future projects in the cities of our state.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to the Mississippi regional leadership of Habitat for Humanity International and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.