SamboraBlog

PHILADELPHIA, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Jon Bon Jovi and Habitat for Humanity gave a heart-warming update on the status of their partnership that began in June '05, broke ground last October, and will build homes in Philadelphia through Summer '06 thanks to a newly announced donation from Sprint in partnership with Jon Bon Jovi and the Philadelphia Soul.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060331/CLF074 ) (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050501/NYSU020LOGO )

Last October, Bon Jovi, Habitat, Philadelphia Soul team members, local volunteers and families, and corporate sponsors (Comcast, SAP, Sprint, and The Strober Organization) gathered on a build site in Philly to formally announce a partnership to build two duplexes (four homes). The site also served as the location for Bon Jovi's music video for "Who Says You Can't Go Home," which highlights the efforts of Habitat families and local volunteers whose work continues. The video is now in top rotation on VH1, CMT, and GAC and emphasizes the band's support for Habitat for Humanity and its core mission of eliminating poverty housing.

During halftime, Jon Bon Jovi and Habitat representatives revealed that House 1 is expected be complete in Mid-May and House 2 will be ready in August. On-hand were three of the Habitat families who are in the process of completing the requisite man-hours and courses and have been assigned one of these homes. Sprint, who sponsored Bon Jovi's top-grossing Have A Nice Day Tour, presented a check for $200,000 to Habitat for Humanity. That donation, made in partnership with Jon Bon Jovi and the Philadelphia Soul will fund the construction of House 3, another two-family townhome, the construction of which will begin in September '06.

"People around the world have seen and been inspired by Jon Bon Jovi's commitment to Habitat for Humanity through the video, 'Who says you can't go home,'" said Chris Clarke, senior vice president of Communications for Habitat. "Building on this momentum, we are thrilled that Sprint is furthering its commitment to creating better communities by working in partnership to build additional Habitat homes in Philadelphia with Bon Jovi and the Philadelphia Soul."

Tim Block, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia said, "This partnership with the Bon Jovi organization, the Philadelphia Soul, Sprint and other corporate partners has been a godsend for us. The need for affordable housing in the city of Philadelphia grows bigger each day. Each house we build helps, but the spotlight that groups like these bring to the overall challenge facing working families is priceless."

An area-resident known for his community involvement, Jon Bon Jovi approached Habitat in June 2005 with a proposal for a local build on a large scale. To fund the build, Bon Jovi pledged the majority of the band's video budget from Island Records, contributed his own money from the Bon Jovi Family Foundation and secured additional sponsorship through pre-existing relationships in the private sector. By setting aside a small sum to document the process, the band planned a music video with a "think global, act local" theme.

"These good works with Habitat for Humanity have already made a difference to families in the city of Philadelphia," says Jon Bon Jovi, co-owner & co-CEO of The Philadelphia Soul. "Since the inception of the Philadelphia Soul, our mission was to give back to this community. With the help of our friends at Sprint, we will be able to continue fulfilling that goal."

"Sprint has a long history of creating and supporting programs that enrich our communities and create deeper social commitments," commented Steve Rogers, Entertainment Marketing Manager at Sprint. "That's why we are pleased to continue our partnership with Jon Bon Jovi, the Philadelphia Soul and Habitat for Humanity in an effort to make home-ownership a reality for citizens of greater Philadelphia."

About Bon Jovi: Over the last two decades Bon Jovi has earned the respect of the music industry and the loyalty of legions of fans around the globe. They have sold over 100 million albums worldwide and, since forming in 1984, Bon Jovi has performed more than 2500 concerts in 50 countries in front of more than 32 million people. In September, 2005 Bon Jovi released their ninth studio album, Have A Nice Day (Island Records) which has sold over 3 million copies. The band is currently on a world-tour.

Bon Jovi is Jon Bon Jovi (vocals/guitar), Richie Sambora (guitars), David Bryan (keyboards) and Tico Torres (drums/percussion). For more info on Bon Jovi visit http://www.bonjovi.com/ and for more info on the Bon Jovi tour, visit http://bonjovi.aeglive.com/.

About Philadelphia Soul: Co-owned by Bon Jovi, the Philadelphia Soul, an Arena Football League team currently playing its third season. The Soul organization has made helping the community a cornerstone of its identity. The team has helped direct more than $500,000 to community groups in the Philadelphia area. For more information on the Soul please visit http://www.philadelphiasoul.com/.

About Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia: Habitat Philadelphia formed in March 2003 through the merger of four independent city affiliates. In all, the affiliates together built more than 100 houses and now, working as one, the affiliate is working to increase its house-building capacity. Building is going on in neighborhoods where years of disinvestment have left residents with blighted properties and substandard housing.

About Habitat for Humanity International: Habitat for Humanity International, based in Americus, GA, is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 200,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than one million people. For more information, visit http://www.habitat.org/.

About Sprint Nextel: Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of communications services bringing mobility to consumer, business and government customers. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks offering industry leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit http://www.sprint.com/.

Habitat for Humanity
CONTACT: Tiffany Shipp of Ken Sunshine Consultants, Inc.,
+1-212-691-2800, or +1-917-992-5819, or shipp@kensunshineconsultants.com, for
Bon Jovi; or Laura Swanson of Island Def Jam, +1-212-333-8533, or
laura.swanson@umusic.com, for Bon Jovi; or Duane Bates of Habitat for Humanity
International, +1-229-938-1917, or +1-229-924-6935, ext. 2541, or
dbates@habitat.org; or Larry Slagle of Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia,
+1-215-964-1491, or +1-215-765-6000, ext. 22, or
larrys@habitatphiladelphia.org; or Angie Read of Sprint, +1-913-794-2963, or
+1-816-305-0289, or angie.d.read@sprint.com; or Tim Farrell of Philadelphia
Soul, +1-215-636-0421, ext. 178, or +1-267-303-8285, or
tfarrell@philadelphiasoul.com

Web site: http://www.habitat.org/
http://www.bonjovi.com/
http://bonjovi.aeglive.com/
http://www.philadelphiasoul.com/
http://www.sprint.com/