THE first draw of the Scotiabank/Habitat Build a Home promotion was held at the bank’s Parika branch on Sunday, June 9th, and Flora Cumberbatch, Maxine Fredericks, Candy Blackman and Paul Mc Arthur were the lucky Scotiabank customers whose names were pulled during the draw, witnessed by customers and employees of the bank, and scheduled to be broadcast during the Scotiabank Money Moves programme on NCN Channel 11 this Wednesday, June 12 at 20:05 hrs. Two of these four lucky winners are customers of the Carmichael Street branch of Scotiabank, while the other two are from Robb Street branch.

The prizes won were a $100,000 loan installment; $75,000 gift certificate to be used at Steve’s Jewellery; $25,000 gift certificate to be used at John Lewis Styles; and a $15,000 gift certificate to be used at Healing Waters Spa.

This innovative and exciting promotion seeks to involve customers, employees, the public, and other stakeholders in one of the bank’s major Bright Future philanthropic initiatives.
Under the Scotiabank/Habitat Build a Home promotion, Scotiabank will donate to Habitat for Humanity Guyana Inc. a percentage of the value of Scotia Plan loans, auto loans, and mortgages applied for and disbursed between March 1, 2013 and October 31, 2013. The donation will go towards building a home for Ms. Amanda Anthony, a widowed mother of two who has a disability and is in dire need of a home.
Customers will also get a chance to win gift certificates for loan installments, jewellery, hardware, spa treatments, groceries, electronics, and clothing by entering into quarterly draws. At the time of disbursing the loan proceeds, customers will receive entry coupons commensurate with the amount of the disbursement.
At the end of May, over $550,000 had been raised towards the building of Ms Anthony’s home through Scotiabank and private donations.

Should anyone wish to make a donation towards building the home for Ms. Anthony without taking a loan, they can do so directly to Habitat for Humanity Guyana. If the target is reached before the promotion ends, Habitat will identify another beneficiary and the remaining donations will go towards that family.

Employees will also be integrally involved in the initiative by volunteering to help build the home.

The public will be kept informed on the funds donated via monthly print ads and press releases.

Beginning its work since 1994 following an invitation from then President Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Habitat for Humanity Guyana was officially registered in Guyana in 1995. The organisation has since supported over 3000 families within the country’s ten administrative regions through partnerships with affiliates, home partners, volunteers, and sponsors to build simple, decent and affordable housing for low income earners. Also, the organisation has undertaken home repairs, rehabilitation works, and assisted in accessing secure tenure.

With a new programme direction, added focus will be placed on community development, disaster risk reduction, and social action and awareness. Via resource centres, the organisation seeks to make a stronger impact on communities through training, mobilisation, and planning of various community driven projects.