Disney Presents $100,000 to San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity

GLENDALE, Calif. (Business Wire) – As a gift to the City of Glendale as it embarks on its 2006 Centen-nial Celebration, Disney donated $100,000 to San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity to help the organi-zation continue building houses in the "Jewel City." Disney's donation will go toward funding three new homes for three deserving families – titled the Palmer Project – which will be built at 900 and 904 East Palmer and 1201 Cottage Grove in Glendale. Since 1990, Habitat has built 36 homes in the San Gabriel Valley with the help of financial donations from businesses, individuals and churches, as well as dedi-cated volunteers, including those from Disney. During the Centennial Celebration kickoff event at the Glendale Civic Auditorium today, Glendale Mayor Rafi Manoukian welcomed those in attendance and then Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney Imagineering President and Habitat for Humanity Board Member Don Goodman and Joan McCarthy, Disney's manager of Greater Los Angeles Community Relations who also serves as president of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce, presented the check to Yates. San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity began its relationship with Glendale in 1995 when four homes on Allen Ave-nue were constructed. Since then, four homes on Orange Street in 2002, three homes on Gardena Ave-nue in 2003 and four homes on Pacific Avenue in 2005 have been built in Glendale. The completion of these projects meant new homes for 79 individuals and, when the Palmer Project is complete, that num-ber will reach 95. Habitat families invest 500 hours of "sweat equity" building their own home, side by side with volunteers. Qualifying families have incomes less than 80% of the county median income and must demonstrate adequate income to meet estimated monthly housing payments and expenses. Disney Vol-untEARS have helped build homes with San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity since its inception in 1995. In addition to Walt Disney Imagineering, ABC7 has also been a part of the Glendale Community since 2000. Disney is developing the Grand Central Creative Campus, with 250,000 square feet of office and amenity space, on Flower Street which is slated to open in the coming year. Glendale, which incorpo-rated on February 16, 1906, will be hosting events throughout the year to mark its 100th birthday. For more information on the 2006 Centennial Celebration, visit www.ci.glendale.ca.us.