Altamonte Mall and Oviedo Marketplace Partner with Habitat for Humanity in Seminole County

Altamonte Mall and Oviedo Marketplace today announced their partnership with Habitat for Humanity in Seminole County to help raise awareness and resources to help eliminate the need for clean, safe, affordable housing in the area.

Altamonte Mall and Oviedo Marketplace, both owned and managed by General Growth Properties, will engage employees and customers to help build homes, participate in fundraising events and other public awareness initiatives to reinforce their commitment to community and betterment of families in need.

On May 3rd through May 6th, Oviedo Marketplace will kick off their three-year partnership with Habitat for Humanity in Seminole County through “Family Portraits”, an interactive, experiential event for customers that displays the families living in substandard housing in the community. The event will be held near Regal Cinema during mall hours. Shoppers will have the opportunity to learn about Habitat for Humanity and how they can volunteer in Seminole County. The organization will also be accepting donations. The goal is to raise awareness and funds for families in need. Altamonte Mall will host the event May 10th through the May 13th located lower level, near Macy’s, during mall hours.

“Altamonte Mall and Oviedo Marketplace continually strive to be a true community partner. We are proud to be part of Habitat’s life-changing mission of helping families in need experience a better quality of life,” said Amy Leznoff, Marketing Manager.

“Although Seminole County has significant affluence, there are thousands of people in our local area living in poverty housing. The goal of Habitat for Humanity is to change the circumstances of these people, one family at a time. The partnership with Oviedo Marketplace and the Altamonte Mall gives a face to the folks in our community who are in need of a hand up. The Family Portraits event provides all of us who enjoy the good life in Seminole County a way to provide meaningful help to our less fortunate neighbors by raising funds and awareness about the plight of so many local people in need. Our goal for this year is to start construction on eight new houses and rehabilitate one existing home. For nine Seminole County families, this will mean the joy and security of owning a home,” said Robert Kinney, President of Habitat for Humanity in Seminole County.

Habitat for Humanity International, based in Americus, Ga., is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 200,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org.
Altamonte Mall and Oviedo Marketplace are owned and managed by General Growth Properties, Inc., the second largest U.S.-based publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). General Growth currently has an ownership interest in or management responsibility for a portfolio of more than 200 shopping malls in 44 states, as well as ownership in planned community developments and commercial office buildings. The portfolio totals approximately 200 million square feet of retail space and includes more than 24,000 retail stores nationwide. General Growth Properties, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GGP. For more information, please visit the Company Web site at http://www.ggp.com.