FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 8, 2018
San Diego Habitat for Humanity
Ellen Immergut | Director of Communications
619-916-4485
ellen.immergut@sandiegohabitat.org
MEDIA RELEASE
Habitat for Humanity and Realty Income Build Homes for San Diego Families
Major donation and volunteer effort will build better life stories
EL CAJON – San Diego Habitat for Humanity and Realty Income Corporation (Realty Income, NYSE: O), The Monthly Dividend Company®, came together today to build better life stories for local hardworking families in need of decent, affordable housing.
Realty Income is one of only four S&P 500 companies headquartered in San Diego. The company is structured as a REIT, and its monthly dividends are supported by the cash flow from over 5,400 real estate properties owned under long-term lease agreements with regional and national commercial tenants.
Realty Income believes giving back to the community is an extension of its mission to improve the lives of its shareholders, its employees, and their families. As such, Realty Income has a Corporate Responsibility Program which reflects its strong commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen and taking an active role in the betterment of the communities in which its employees and shareholders live and work. Today’s activities were a part of Realty Income’s continued philanthropic efforts, and supported Habitat for Humanity’s affordable homeownership program in Logan Heights.
Habitat for Humanity homes are sold to families who qualify for the program by showing a demonstrated need for improved housing, a willingness to partner with Habitat by committing to 250-500 hours of “sweat equity” helping to build their own homes, and the ability to repay an affordable mortgage.
Realty Income’s continued partnership with Habitat includes a donation of $100,000 and the hard work of 150 employee volunteers, the workforce of nearly the entire company, who helped frame homes of Habitat’s newest affordable housing community in El Cajon. The community, which offers five homes for ownership, features three-bedroom homes with two-car covered carports, private yards, energy-efficient appliances, drought tolerant landscaping, and sustainable building materials.
Since the inception of the partnership four years ago, Realty Income has donated $425,000 and over 2,500 volunteer hours in support of Habitat’s programs.
Their efforts today will help families like Jonathan and Sarah’s. They and their three children, baby Adrian, Arianna (8), and Jonathan Jr. (9) have lived in a two-bedroom rental apartment in Chula Vista for the past three years. Arianna and Jonathan, Jr. share a bedroom in the small apartment. Health, safety, and maintenance issues go unaddressed by the landlord. There are no safe spaces for the children to play outside.
Jonathan proudly served in the United States Marine Corps for four years, participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Like many parents throughout San Diego, Jonathan and Sarah work hard to give their children the best future possible. Even though they have good, steady jobs, they still need a hand up to have a safe, affordable home they can call their own. And they know that along with that home will come self-reliance, stability, and independence.
They are so pleased to have the opportunity to build and buy the “forever home” they have prayed for, and are grateful for the team at Realty Income who is making their dream come true.
“Through our Corporate Responsibility Program, we are pleased to once again work with San Diego Habitat for Humanity and honored to support the partner families,” said John P. Case, CEO of Realty Income. “We have had a significant presence in San Diego County since our company’s founding in 1969 and it is important to us to continue to positively impact our local community. The mission of Habitat for Humanity aligns well with the purpose of our charitable giving programs.”
People in our community and all over the world partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. With our help, Habitat homeowners achieve the strength, stability, and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families. This mission is possible through the financial and volunteer support of partners like Realty Income.
“Working alongside homeowners, volunteers and generous sponsors, Habitat for Humanity builds decent and affordable housing that creates change for families that is transformative and lasting,” said Lori Holt Pfeiler, president and CEO at San Diego Habitat for Humanity. “This mission is possible because of the continued financial and volunteer support of generous and socially-aware companies like Realty Income. We are ever grateful for their partnership.”
About San Diego Habitat for Humanity
People in our community partner with San Diego Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners build their homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. With our help, Habitat homeowners achieve the strength, stability, and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families.
Habitat for Humanity exists through volunteer labor and contributions of money, land and materials, including purchases and donations to the ReStore, Habitat’s discount home improvement retail center. For more information, visit www.sandiegohabitat.org or call 619-283-HOME (4663).
About Realty Income
Realty Income, The Monthly Dividend Company®, is an S&P 500 company dedicated to providing stockholders with dependable monthly income. The company is structured as a REIT, and its monthly dividends are supported by the cash flow from over 5,400 real estate properties owned under long-term lease agreements with regional and national commercial tenants. To date, the company has declared 577 consecutive common stock monthly dividends throughout its 49-year operating history and increased the dividend 97 times since Realty Income’s public listing in 1994 (NYSE: O). Additional information about the company can be obtained from the corporate website at www.realtyincome.com.
###
