Post-TRIP template news release Thrivent Builds Worldwide FR Ambassador Program – Nicaragua Instructions: Thank you for helping publicize the good work of the Thrivent Builds Worldwide program! The process is easy with a ready-to-use news release. To use this news release, simply fill in the variable fields, using the instructions below. Please feel free to distribute this release soon after your April 2015 trip. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: Updated media relations materials instructions Below is a compliance approved template for distribution to your local media. If you edit the news release beyond the underlined fields, additional compliance approval is needed. Contact the Media Relations team for assistance. To edit, select the “Track Changes” button in the menu bar at the top of Microsoft Word under the “Review” tab and edit the release. To undo the “Track Changes” feature, deselect the button. Customizing a news release or financial column 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Type your name, e-mail address, phone number [and CA/AR Insurance ID #_____ if licensed in California or Arkansas] in the upper-left corner of the release under Contacts. In all remaining text, personalize ONLY the underlined fields. Please choose the appropriate text noted as [OPTIONAL] at the bottom of the column as fits your personal situation. One of the four options MUST BE USED if located at the bottom of the document. Be sure to remove all underlines and brackets after you’ve updated the fields. (Highlight the passage then click on U in the toolbar). If including an office address ensure address matches your U4 designated branch office address (business cards and letterhead). Financial Column Instructions a. Financial columns are published in a media outlet and are typically prepared for you with a personal perspective. As such, quotes should be a home office resource to avoid quoting yourself. Please contact Media Relations for resource information if it is not already provided in the template. News Release Instructions a. News releases can be used to distribute information or generate story ideas for a reporter. If using a news release template in this manner, insert your name in the quote (if it is underlined). Instructions for distribution to your local media * Building relationships with your local media can be beneficial. Please note that while news releases MAY generate coverage for you, journalists are under no obligation to use this information. 1. 2. 3. 4. To distribute, copy and paste the text of the news release into the body of an email. You can then send to a specific individual (a business editor, news director, community calendar editor) or email box (newsroom@xyz.com, business@Channelxyz.com) at your outlet of choice. It is recommended that you send releases individually if sending to multiple outlets. Do not send releases as email attachments. If you would like to include a photo, include a notation that a photo is available upon request. If the media is interested, e-mail a digital image (photos can be sent as attachments.) You can find yours for download on FieldNet. If including a short introductory note in your email, separate it fully from the news release or column. Remember to not include this first page of instructions when distributing but include everything else including your contact information, disclosures and the compliance number (if applicable). Questions? For assistance or questions, contact Dan Moret, Media Relations, Thrivent Financial at: 612-844-7139, dan.moret@thrivent.com OR media@thrivent.com Associated Press State Abbreviations * Not Abbreviated: Ala., Alaska*, Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Hawaii*, Idaho*, Ill., Ind., Iowa*, Kan., Ky., La., Maine*, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Mont., Neb., Nev., N.H., N.J., N.M., N.Y. , N.C., N.D., Ohio*, Okla., Ore., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.D., Tenn., Texas*, Utah*, Vt., Va., Wash., W. Va., Wis., Wyo. R05042015 NEWS RELEASE City or region resident returns from home-building trip to Nicaragua Powerful volunteer experience has Participant Name planning to return on another Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity trip CITY, State abbreviation (Date, 2015) —Participant Name views life from a different perspective after working side-by-side with Nicaraguan families during an April Thrivent Builds Worldwide trip. Participant Name fully expected to work hard building homes and changing the lives of Nicaraguan families. While these expectations were met, it came as a surprise that he/she was also personally and strongly impacted by the experience. “I went on this international volunteer trip to help others, but I, too, was blessed,” Participant Last Name said. “Service brings out the best in us—that’s the beauty in volunteering. You get the focus off yourself.” Participant Last Name, a Thrivent Financial title serving Christians and their family members in city or region, traveled to Nicaragua with other Thrivent Financial representatives and employees from across the United States. Participant Last Name was selected to represent his/her colleagues from the Name of RFO Region on this team because he/she demonstrated notable performance, passion for volunteering with members, and drive to help people become financially secure. Unlike regular days at the office helping people with their financial security, the Thrivent Financial representatives put a new twist on their role in Nicaragua painting, carrying rock, mixing concrete and mortar by hand, and bending rebar to help enable families to afford to buy a safe, new home. From April 18th – 26th, 2015, the team helped construct homes in the Central American country. Thrivent Financial sends teams each year to support the mission of Habitat for Humanity Nicaragua and has encouraged Thrivent members and others to volunteer in Nicaragua to help make the dream of home ownership a reality for local families. As a fraternal benefit society, a unique type of not-for-profit membership organization, Thrivent Financial focuses on both financial security as well as caring for others. This program is one example of how Thrivent Financial and its members work together to help people. As the homes were built, relationships grew with the local people. The team enjoyed building with the Habitat Nicaragua partner families who will live in the homes. These families have to apply for and purchase the Habitat houses, just like in the United States, and put in sweat equity before they can move in. “Too many Nicaraguans live in substandard housing, and by our American standards, they have very little,” said Participant Last Name. “Despite having few worldly possessions, the Nicaraguans I met displayed a wealth of spirit, love and generosity.” The experience in Central America invigorated Participant Last Name, and he/she plans to share this experience with as many people as possible to raise awareness of the burden of poverty housing and encourage others to get involved in similar service work. Thrivent Builds Worldwide works in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity around the world. Participant Last Name is planning to return to Nicaragua in month/dates to build more homes. He/she is asking people in the R05042015 community to join him/her. Anyone interested in going on the trip may contact Participant First Name at phone/email. “There was great satisfaction in helping families build one of the most basic human needs—a roof over their heads,” said Participant Last Name. To learn more, visit www.thriventbuilds.com/worldwide and read the 2015 team blog at http://thriventnicaraguaworldwidebuild2015.blogspot.com/ Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is a multi-year, multi-million dollar mission partnership between Thrivent Financial and Habitat for Humanity International. Thrivent Builds is designed to involve Thrivent members and Christians in helping provide a “hand up” to people in need of affordable housing, offering them a path to greater economic independence. Excluding government funding, Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is Habitat's largest single source of funding, constructing and repairing more than 4,000 homes in the U.S. and around the world since 2005. For more information, visit ThriventBuilds.com. About Thrivent Financial Thrivent Financial is a financial services organization that helps Christians be wise with money and live generously. We offer a broad range of products and services—including life insurance, annuities and mutual funds—along with guidance from financial representatives nationwide. For more than a century we’ve helped our nearly 2.4 million member-owners make wise money choices that reflect their values, and we provide opportunities for them to be even more generous where they live, work and worship. For more information, visit Thrivent.com. Also, you can find us on Facebook and Twitter. Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat has helped more than 4 million people construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since 1976. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and supports a variety of funding models that enable families with limited resources to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit Habitat.org, or follow us at Facebook, at Twitter.com/habitat_org or join Habitat’s blog community at Habitat.org/blog. CONTACTS: Participant name, Phone: Participant phone number, Email: Participant email Other RFO Contact name, Phone: Phone number, Email: Email PHOTO ATTACHED – CAPTION SUGGESTION: Participant Name, a Thrivent Financial title serving Christians and their family members in city/region, helped build a community of homes for families in Nicaragua. Participant Last Name traveled to Central America in mid-April as part of a Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity trip. —END— R05042015