Habitat for Humanity International, Atlanta, Ga., has announced that Whirlpool Corp., Benton Harbor, MI, is expanding its ongoing commitment to Habitat’s North American efforts to eliminate substandard housing.

As part of its renewed two-year commitment, Whirlpool will continue to provide a range and Energy Star-qualified refrigerator to every Habitat for Humanity home built in North America, ongoing employee volunteerism and support for Habitat’s ReStores, which sell used and surplus building supplies at reduced prices. Whirlpool also will continue its support of programs such as Whirlpool Building Blocks and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project, as well as localized build projects throughout North America.

“We support Habitat for Humanity because of our people’s passion for eliminating substandard housing,” says Jeff M. Fettig, chairman and chief executive officer of Whirlpool Corp. “We are proud of the fact that we’ve helped more than 50,000 families in the United States alone improve their quality of life and achieve the goal of homeownership.”

Whirlpool Corp.’s new commitment to Habitat, which runs through 2010, will bring the company’s aggregate Habitat contributions since 1999 to more than $63 million. The company has donated more than 100,000 appliances to Habitat homes to date.

Whirlpool is one of Habitat for Humanity’s largest corporate partners and has an active partnership with Habitat in 19 countries. Every year, thousands of Whirlpool employees volunteer their own time to Habitat builds around the world. In 2005, the company announced plans to support every Habitat home built globally by 2011, either through product donations, cash or volunteer support.

According to the United Nations, about 1.6 billion people live in substandard housing and 100 million are homeless. A billion people—32 percent of the global urban population—live in urban slums.

“Whirlpool Corp.’s current commitment and goal to make a global impact are tremendously important to Habitat’s mission,” says Jonathan Reckford, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity International. “The vital need for affordable housing exists throughout the world. Whirlpool Corporation’s unwavering partnership demonstrates the company’s understanding of this need and their desire to respond by supporting our work to build simple, decent and affordable housing. We are grateful for their continuing support and their vision for the future.”

For more information, visit www.whirlpoolcorp.com.

For more information, visit www.habitat.org.