For Immediate Release
June 29, 2007

Ferguson and Habitat for Humanity International Announce National Partnership

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Habitat for Humanity and Ferguson, a Wolseley Company, are announcing a new national partnership on Wednesday, July 11, 2007.  Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford and CEO of Wolseley North American CEO Frank Roach will make the joint announcement at 10:00 a.m. at the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate’s ReStore, located at 9614 Warwick Blvd. in the Hilton Shopping Center of Newport News.  The media is invited to attend and there will be time allocated for personal interviews and questions and answers. 

Formed as a result of the partnership between the local Habitat affiliate and Ferguson, this new joint venture will provide up to two bathroom toilets to every Habitat home built in the United States over the next two years. 

“We are so grateful to Ferguson for this new partnership and for demonstrating their commitment to helping families overcome the burden of substandard housing,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International.  “The generous donation of toilets for every Habitat home built in the United States will help make the dream of homeownership a reality for low-income families all across the country.”

Ferguson previously supported the local Habitat affiliate by sponsoring houses, donating materials to its ReStore and supplying products for the houses the affiliate built. 

“It is a true pleasure to continue to deepen the partnership of Habitat for Humanity and a world-wide company headquartered in Newport News,” said Lucille C. Lowery, president of the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate.  “Both organizations are genuinely committed to providing opportunities for decent housing.” 

In addition to Ferguson’s local work with Habitat in Virginia, the company partnered with Habitat for Humanity across the country during the organization’s Home Builders Blitz in 2006.  Ferguson donated gift-in-kind materials to support the nationwide build of more than 400 homes.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Ferguson to join Habitat in helping deserving families,” said Frank Roach, CEO of Wolseley’s North American Division.  “Our expanding partnership with Habitat is a natural extension of our long tradition of supporting civic, cultural and educational activities around the world.”                                          
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Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built more than 225,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people.

The local Habitat affiliate, created in 1985, has built 96 homes and serves the communities of Hampton, James City County, Newport News, Williamsburg and York County, Va.  Three more homes are underway and the 100th home is being sponsored by Ferguson. 

Ferguson is ranked in the United States by trade publications as the largest distributor of plumbing supplies and pipes, valves, and fittings and the third largest distributor of heating and cooling equipment.  Founded in 1953 and headquartered in Newport News, Va., Ferguson is the country's largest wholesale distributor of plumbing supplies.  Ferguson has sales of $9.65 billion and 23,000 associates in almost 1,400 service centers located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Caribbean.  Ferguson was acquired by UK based Wolseley PLC in 1982.  Wolseley is the leading supplier of construction products, materials and services across Europe and North America. Wolseley is world's number one distributor of heating and plumbing products to the professional market, and a leading supplier of building materials and services. Wolseley has sales of over 25 billion and 78,000 employees serving customers through over 5,000 branches in 28 countries.

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