NEWS RELEASE
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY NIAGARA
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NIAGARA REGION — Students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 are asked to share what home means to them in a national writing contest that is now open and accepting entries. Three grand prize winners will each receive a $30,000 grant to help a local Habitat for Humanity build a place to call home for a family in need of affordable housing.
Every local student who enters the Meaning of Home contest earns a $10 donation towards Habitat for Humanity Niagara. In addition to the grand prize winners, nine runners up will receive a $10,000 grant for their local Habitat build.
Founded by SagenTM in 2007, the Meaning of Home contest has raised over $1.7 million to help build decent and affordable housing in communities across Canada. Over 80,000 students have shared the importance of home in poems and short essays. Last year a record-breaking 12,000 entries were received.
“Over the last couple of years, we have had to change a lot about our lives and reflect on what having a safe, decent and affordable home means to us,” says Christy Guttin, Community Engagement Officer of Habitat for Humanity Niagara. “This contest shows how children can have an impact on their community.”
“Home has been a refuge for so many over this difficult time. Home begins with four walls, but it doesn’t end there. It means so much more – more time with family and a safe and healthy place to study, to grow and to build community,” says Julia Deans, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada.
“This contest is a valuable learning tool for students to reflect on what home means to them and their family,” says Stuart Levings, President and CEO of Sagen. “As a founding sponsor of this contest, we are proud that the Meaning of Home contest has encouraged over 80,000 students to become more active and compassionate citizens.”
Submissions are being accepted by mail or online at meaningofhome.ca until Feb. 18, 2022. Winners will be announced by June.
The Meaning of Home contest would not be possible without the generous support of Founding Sponsor Sagen and Awards Sponsors Chapman’s Ice Cream, Urban Systems Foundation, and Home Trust.
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