Wells Fargo Volunteers and Foundation Team Up with Habitat for Humanity

Dana Obrist, Wells Fargo Corporate Communications

During the past two years, Wells Fargo has partnered with Habitat for Humanity in Philadelphia and in numerous other communities throughout the United States to help families break the cycle of poverty and build long-term financial security. Wells Fargo team members have been involved in 30 Habitat builds throughout Pennsylvania and Delaware in 2014 and 2015, while providing more than $470,000 in grants in the region.

On July 29, 16 volunteers from Wells Fargo’s Metro Philadelphia Commercial Banking, Global Banking, and Treasury Management businesses gathered to help build a house in a Southwest Philadelphia neighborhood. Volunteers worked alongside Habitat Philadelphia representatives and helped with the final phase of demolition of a former medical office site that was cleared to build two family homes. With completion scheduled for winter 2016, two deserving families will move into their new homes early next year.

“Our partnership with Wells Fargo is helping to build vibrant communities across our city,” said Frank Monaghan, executive director for Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia. “Working in Point Breeze, South West Philly, and Sharswood, Wells Fargo team members are contributing 350 volunteer hours, and financial support of $60,000, giving four more Habitat families a safe, affordable place to call home.”

Phil Patrone, loan team manager and senior vice president for Wells Fargo Commercial Banking and bank employee volunteers tackled tasks such as removing an elevator, wooden framing and scrap metal, as well as taking on a few landscaping projects.

“The Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia slogan is Building Houses, Building Hope, Building Philadelphia. After the July volunteer event, I would add ‘Building Teams,’ too,” said Patrone, – who is also a Habitat for Humanity board member. “Sixteen Wells Fargo team members worked in 95-degree weather to assist Habitat in building a dream for someone. These builds are about contributing to someone who might never own a home were it not for Habitat and companies like Wells Fargo that make financial contributions and provide paid time off to team members to volunteer.”

Patrone and Katie Miller, a Wells Fargo Commercial Banking financial analyst, also presented a check for $15,000 from the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation to Habitat for Humanity to help support this project.

Over the past five years, Wells Fargo has donated more than $40 million to Habitat for Humanity International and affiliates combined, as part of the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation’s commitment to support affordable housing initiatives serving low- and moderate-income households, and sustainable housing and community revitalization efforts. Wells Fargo is also one of the largest provider of volunteers to Habitat.