JACKSONVILLE, FL –

Local homebuilder Providence Homes announced today that it has completed their third House for HOPE located in the Aberdeen Community -Wellington Park subdivision in St. John’s County.  The sale of this home contributed $35,000 which will benefit HOPE International, a global, nonprofit organization that provides micro-loans to people in poverty-stricken countries. The Edgewater plan is a 2818 square foot, 5 bedroom/ 3.5 bathroom home that has been constructed with the generous time and materials donated by trade partners to keep the costs low and to maximize the proceeds generated by its sale.

Despite a down turn in the real estate market, Bill Cellar, CEO of Providence Homes felt the need to give back in a challenging market. The Providence Homes team with its vendors and trade partners has impacted 35,000 people- brining them hope to escape economic poverty by being able to build their businesses and bringing them eternal hope.   “ We are truly honored to be working with HOPE International, especially to help so many proverty stricken countries around the world. “ 

“We’ve been involved with HOPE International for many years now. It’s a powerful, faith-based group that is making huge strides in alleviating poverty by helping people build businesses to support themselves,” said Bill Cellar, CEO of Providence Homes. “With just a few hundred dollars, people can create a business for a sustainable living and get out of poverty for good. It truly is a hand-up, not a hand-out.”

HOPE International is a faith based group that serves the poor in developing countries by providing them with micro loans.  With the proceeds from the sale of the Aberdeen home, which netted $35,000 means (assuming a $50.00 first time loan) that 7,000 struggling 3rd world entrepreneurs will have hope for new lives.

Many of the loan recipients are women with children who have been abandoned or widowed by war or devastation. “A few hundred dollars is enough money to sell shoes or vegetables in an open market or purchase sheep or pigs for livestock,” added Cellar. “And with the high repayment rate, the $500 loaned to one person is available for another, and so on. That’s what makes this program so successful.”

To date, HOPE International has issued approximately $3 million in micro-loans. Since getting involved in 2002, Providence Homes has raised over $250,000 for HOPE International with their three House for HOPE projects.

In addition to helping individuals and families with micro-loans, HOPE International starts Bible clubs and summer camps for thousands of children in impoverished nations. For more information about HOPE International, call 1-877-982-HOPE or visit www.hopeinternational.org.

Along with HOPE International, Providence Homes is actively involved in initiatives focusing on health, youth development, nation-building and leadership projects centered around faith. Bill Cellar, CEO of Providence Homes has traveled extensively throughout Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, working on a wide range of non-profit organizations all centered around his faith.  Some local initiatives include I.M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless, The Salvation Army, Builders Care, the United Way of North Florida, the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, International Community Foundation and the Lemuel Organization.
Providence Homes would like to thank everyone who participated in building and donating time to building the House for Hope.

The trade contractors that participated in the construction of the HOPE house included:

• Adina Construction
• Advance Trim
• American Insulators & Specialties
• Atch Aluminum, Inc.
• B&B Extermination Company
• Bobby Campbell Roofing
• Builders First Source
• Canac
• Carl Wilbur
• Concrete Masters
• Cornerstone Paint and Drywall
• Creative Touch
• Creative Touch Interiors
• Custom Comfort
• D.R. Leach Irrigation, Inc.
• Duncan Plumbing
• Environmental Stoneworks
• Exterior Supply
• First Coast Supply
• Florida Builder Specialty Company, Inc.
• House for Hope – Trade Partners
• Munson & Bryan
• Onsite Safety
• Overhead Door
• P.K. Austin
• Precision Construction Systems, Inc.
• Rink Materials
• Scott Alarm, Inc.
• Sizemore Surveying
• Skyetec
• Southern Scapes
• Stewart Lighting
• The Kitchen Works
• Weather barriers Unlimited, LLC