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Jon Bon Jovi Leads Advocacy Effort as 'Founding Ambassador' of Newly Created Habitat for Humanity Ambassador Program

Jon Bon Jovi has been named the first "Founding Ambassador" in Habitat for Humanity International's new Ambassador Program. The program's goal is to engage celebrities to bring heightened awareness to the worldwide-housing crisis and to Habitat's effort in providing safe, decent and affordable shelter. Bon Jovi is pictured with Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford and former President Bill Clinton. (PRNewsFoto/Habitat For Humanity International, Steffan Hacker for HFHI)

AMERICUS, GA UNITED STATES 10/24/2006



Jon Bon Jovi has been named the first "Founding Ambassador" of the Habitat for Humanity Ambassador program as part of the international-nonprofit organization's new advocacy outreach initiative. The program goal is to engage celebrities and entertainment industry leaders that can bring heightened awareness to the worldwide-housing crisis and to Habitat's effort in providing safe, decent and affordable shelter.(PRNewsFoto/Habitat For Humanity International,Steffan Hacker for HFHI)

AMERICUS, GA UNITED STATES 10/24/2006



Habitat for Humanity logo. (PRNewsFoto/HABITAT FOR HUMANITY)

AMERICUS, GA UNITED STATES 08/31/2006




AMERICUS, Ga., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Rock icon and philanthropist Jon
Bon Jovi has been named the first Founding Ambassador of the Habitat for
Humanity Ambassador program as part of the international-nonprofit
organization's new advocacy outreach initiative.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061024/CLTU074-a)
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061024/CLTU074-b)
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/...01/NYSU020LOGO)
"From their relief efforts in the wake of the tsunami and Hurricane
Katrina, to the thousands of houses they construct around the world,
Habitat for Humanity builds homes, lives, and dreams," says Jon Bon Jovi.
"I've worked with Habitat in partnerships with my football team, The
Philadelphia Soul and with my band over the past year. Handing over the
keys to the families who have worked to earn them has afforded me some of
the proudest, most uplifting moments of my life. As a Habitat for Humanity
Ambassador, I now have the opportunity to help this work continue and I
encourage others to become involved and share in the rebuilding of their
communities as well."
Bon Jovi has been raising awareness with Habitat for Humanity since
2005 when he provided the funds to build six homes in Philadelphia and
built the homes alongside the homeowner families, as well as with members
of his Philadelphia Soul Arena Football Team. The construction site also
served as the video shoot location for his band's chart-topping single,
"Who Says You Can't Go Home." In 2006, Bon Jovi made a $1 million donation
to build 28 Habitat homes in Louisiana in partnership with low-income
families on the hurricane-stricken coast. Earlier this month, Bon Jovi
announced a project that will rehabilitate a block of 15 homes in north
Philadelphia. Bon Jovi spearheaded the groundbreaking partnership that will
join Habitat for Humanity, Project H.O.M.E., Saturn and The Philadelphia
Soul Charitable Foundation.
"We couldn't be more pleased that Jon Bon Jovi has agreed to become the
first Habitat for Humanity Ambassador," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of
Habitat for Humanity International. "Jon's shining example of advocating on
behalf of people around the world who lack decent housing will help call
others to action in this effort to eliminate substandard housing. Jon
exemplifies qualities that we all aspire to emulate ... he is a leader ...
compassionate, articulate and credible. His commitment to our mission is
both appreciated and inspiring. As a result of Jon's kindness and
generosity, numerous families now have a warm and safe place to call home."
The newly created Habitat for Humanity Ambassadors Program is an
advocacy initiative that is a joint effort between Habitat for Humanity
International and the entertainment-industry-support organization,
Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity. Its goal is to engage celebrities and
entertainment industry leaders that can bring heightened awareness to the
worldwide-housing crisis and to Habitat's effort in providing safe, decent
and affordable shelter.
Ambassadors are chosen to recognize the work that they are already
doing on behalf of Habitat for Humanity, and because of their active
interest in poverty housing issues and their willingness to serve as
influential advocates for affordable and decent housing. Ambassador work
may include building with local Habitat affiliates in the United States or
in one of the more than 90 countries where Habitat for Humanity builds
worldwide. Duties also may include participating in targeted public service
announcements and campaigns, using their high visibility and profile to
raise funds and awareness for the organization and mobilizing volunteers
globally.
Founding Habitat for Humanity Ambassadors will be involved in the Jimmy
Carter Work Project 2007 in Los Angeles by participating in building and
awareness-raising activities. Habitat's Jimmy Carter Work Project 2007 will
kick off with a gala luncheon in March in Los Angeles honoring President
Carter for his lifelong Humanitarian efforts.
About Jon Bon Jovi
Musician, singer, songwriter and actor, Jon Bon Jovi is most
recognizable as the voice for the band Bon Jovi. Since the group's
formation in the early 1980s, Bon Jovi has sold more than 100 million
records worldwide and at more than 2,700 shows in 47 countries more than 32
million fans have seen Bon Jovi in concert.
The band's latest album, Have a Nice Day, includes the smash hit "Who
Says You Can't Go Home," which made history as Bon Jovi became the first
rock band ever to have a No. 1 hit on the country chart. The tour that
followed was one of the top grossing tours of 2005-2006, playing to more
than 2 million concert-goers worldwide.
As the co-owner of the AFL's Philadelphia Soul, Jon Bon Jovi introduced
a new model of sports ownership. From the inception of the franchise, the
mission was to use the team to give back to the local community. Heading
into their fourth season, the Philadelphia Soul organization has given away
$2 million to local causes.
Bon Jovi's charitable works focus on the issue of homelessness and
include the creation of the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation; the
launch of a limited edition outerwear collection with Kenneth Cole New York
(with proceeds benefiting HELP USA); partnering with Project H.O.M.E. in
Philadelphia; and a sustained partnership with Habitat for Humanity that
has thus far provided 49 families with a place to call home. For more
information visit http://www.bonjovi.com and http://www.philadelphiasoul.com.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry
that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating
poverty housing. Since its founding in Americus, Ga., in 1976, Habitat has
built more than 200,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple,
decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people. For more
information, visit http://www.habitat.org.
About Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity
Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity is an entertainment industry
partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Actors, screenwriters, directors,
producers, musicians, and studio executives are among the thousands of
volunteers who have helped build homes with people in need. Hollywood for
Habitat was founded by screenwriter and director Randall Wallace
("Braveheart," "We Were Soldiers") to encourage the entertainment industry
to support (through donations, volunteer hours and publicity) Habitat for
Humanity's goal of ending poverty housing worldwide and making poverty
housing a matter of conscience and action. Hollywood for Habitat has
sponsored more than 150 homes around the world, with support from ABC,
Creative Artists Agency, Disney, Endeavor Agency, Fox, The Hollywood
Reporter, In Style, MGM, Paramount Pictures, Shady Acres Entertainment,
Sony Pictures, United Talent Agency, Universal Studios, Warner Bros.,
Wheelhouse Entertainment and William Morris Agency, among other industry
leaders.


SOURCE Habitat for Humanity International