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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><u><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><u><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Missoula Nonprofit is the only Montana organization among 200 national groups vying for a $25,000 grant from State Farm<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a program that awards $25,000 grants to 40 charitable causes across the country. The application process for the Neighborhood Assist program is lengthy and competitive, with State Farm dwindling down 2,000 applications to 200. But in the end, the public votes to select 40 causes out of the 200 to each receive a $25,000 grant. This year, Habitat for Humanity of Missoula (HfHM) applied for the Neighborhood Assist program and after beating out 1,800 other applicants, Habitat is now the only applicant from Montana to be competing for a winning top 40 spot and $25,000. But now it is up to all of us to come together and vote for HfHM to ensure that $25,000 is put into the Missoula community and used for local Montanan families.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>“As all of us know, whether we are fundraising or donating funds to a non-profit in Montana, the constant requests and effort remains challenging, and includes a huge output of human capital to raise what is needed. Even though Missoula is extremely generous, this opportunity brings national dollars into our community and will have a big impact on our ability to get our mission accomplished,” states Noreen Humes, HFHM Executive Director. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Each year, Habitat for Humanity of Missoula partners with eligible Missoula families to provide safe, decent, and affordable homes for those living in substandard housing. To make homeownership a reality for Missoulians living in poverty, we sell our homes to eligible families at cost with no interest or profit, allowing us to provide affordable housing while also educating our community about poverty housing and the Habitat solution. By providing low income Missoulian families with safe and affordable housing, we see the cycle of poverty being broken, an increase in the safety and happiness of low income children and adults, and an overall improvement in the appearance and value of Missoula’s neighborhoods. The work that HfHM does therefore not only changes the lives of each family we partner with, it also makes Missoula a stronger, safer, and more prosperous community for all. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Every year, the State Farm Neighborhood Assist program benefits educational, safety, and community development causes across the US. Winning this generous $25,000 State Farm grant is going to be a challenge, but HfHM knows that if anyone can do it, Montanans can. The only way for HfHM to win is for the public to go online and vote. Voting opens August 15. People can help us by sharing the event from our Facebook page at </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/219884122041740"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>https://www.facebook.com/events/219884122041740</span></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span>and vote at this link <span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span><a href="https://www.neighborhoodassist.com/entry/2011284"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>https://www.neighborhoodassist.com/entry/2011284</span></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> If you are a US resident and 18 or older you can vote for Habitat up to 10 times a day each day through Friday, Aug. 24. While HfHM needs votes, they also need the Big Sky to spread the word. To win, HfHM asks for voters to share the competition and voting link on social media and by emailing family, friends, and coworkers. The voting period lasts only ten days, but HfHM knows that ten days is enough time for Montanans and their out of state friends to vote to bring national money into the Missoula community. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>“This is an amazing opportunity for Habitat for Humanity of Missoula to maximize our outreach and funding in order to continue to build affordable homes in Missoula,” states Kelin Johnson, HFHM Board President. “We cannot be more thrilled to be a part of this National competition and we are hoping the entire community and state of Montana will come together and rally behind us to make this happen.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>For more information:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Noreen Humes, Habitat Executive Director or main office, 406-549-8210, </span><span class=MsoHyperlink><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><a href="mailto:Noreen@habitatmsla.org">Noreen@habitatmsla.org</a></span></span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>& <span style='color:#222222'>Brodie Hurtado, State Farm Public Affairs Specialist for more information about the State Farm competition itself. </span></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222;background:white'>480-293-6092, </span><a href="mailto:Brodie.Hurtado.exl5@StateFarm.com"><span style='font-size:10.5pt;background:white'>Brodie.Hurtado.exl5@StateFarm.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif;color:#0070C0'>Visit our ReStore in East Missoula!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#00B050'>"A home transcends being just a shelter. It represents the opportunity to unleash potential."<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i>--Rajashree Birla<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=160 height=231 style='width:1.6666in;height:2.4062in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D433A6.F4E7B2C0" alt="Vertical Color small"><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Noreen Humes<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Executive Director<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Habitat for Humanity of Missoula<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>P.O. Box 7181 (59807)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>3655 Highway 200 East<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Missoula, MT 59802<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(406) 549-8210<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.habitatmsla.org">www.habitatmsla.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='color:#2A2A2A'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:#2A2A2A'>CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:</span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:#2A2A2A'> This email and any attachments are for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and contain information that may be confidential and/or legally privileged. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender by reply email and delete the message. Any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of this communication by someone other than the intended recipient is prohibited.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>