Habitat for Humanity and Sprite Brighten Up Lives for Youth

Help Habitat for Humanity by redeeming green tabs from Sprite cans, March 28 to June 30, 2011. Learn how here.

In communities where Habitat works around the country, children are finding a decent place to grow, learn and play. Habitat is joining efforts to help revitalize neighborhoods, such as rehabilitating homes, and working with partners to help improve community centers.

Painting hope in Harlem
In New York City, Habitat repaints children’s centers and other community spaces. It’s a simple way to inject resources into low-income communities to stabilize property values and boost morale, said Josh Lockwood, executive director of Habitat for Humanity – New York City.

“In our work here in New York City, and with Habitat across the nation, we are seeking not just to build homes, but communities,” Lockwood said.

From April to May, Sprite, a beverage brand of The Coca-Cola Company, is sponsoring a Habitat project to repaint and revive the Manhattanville Community Center in a public housing complex in West Harlem. The three-story center offers a place for children and teenagers to study and play, use a gym, computer labs, and recreational area.

Habitat volunteers, including a group of local Coca-Cola employees, will replace the old, dull paint with fresh murals and happy colors for a youth-friendly backdrop throughout the center.

“These centers start with drab surroundings, beige and brown paint — and then they are transformed into inviting spaces that thousands of children can use throughout the year,” Lockwood said.

This type of project is a welcome solution for mothers looking to improve the overall quality of their children’s after-school and weekend programs, Lockwood said.

“More than half of our (Habitat) family partner households in New York City are led by women,” Lockwood said. “We have a core of strong women leading households and seeking a better life for their families.”

How you can help
From March 28 to June 30, 2011, Sprite will donate 10 cents to Habitat for Humanity for each green tab redeemed from specially-marked Sprite or Sprite Zero cans.

In addition to mailing in green Sprite or Sprite Zero tabs, My Coke Rewards members can support Habitat by donating their reward points on www.MyCokeRewards.com.

Through this initiative, Sprite Spark Parks: Neighborhood Parks, Sprite will give Habitat for Humanity at least $250,000 — and up to $500,000 — to build and refurbish homes and active living spaces around the nation. In select cities, Sprite will join Habitat in revitalizing parks for children around the United States.

Visit www.spritegreentabs.com for details.

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