According to Habitat, over 1 million Canadian families have to choose between electricity and rent. Worldwide, some 2 billion people live in poverty housing. More than 1 billion live in urban slums, and that figure is expected to double by 2030. Working in partnership with low-income families to build decent homes they can afford to buy, Habitat helps to break the cycle of poverty and hopelessness. For many years, Schneider Electric has supported Habitat for Humanity International, an organization dedicated to eliminating poverty housing throughout the world. We share in Habitat for Humanity's commitment to helping people in need everywhere secure decent, affordable shelter. As a National Partner, Schneider Electric has donated more $13 million worth of residential electrical equipment for Habitat houses in the U.S, Canada and Mexico. In addition, many of our people dedicate time and muscle to help build Habitat houses. In 2009, the Schneider Electric/Square D Foundation will sponsor Habitat houses in company locations across North America. The sponsorships will partially fund the cost of the land, infrastructure and materials to build a Habitat house. The Foundation will also fund the cost for employee teams to participate in one-day home building events and will sponsor the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project 2009 in Asia.

We believe in the efforts of Habitat for Humanity and our role in facilitating our people’s involvement in Habitat activities in their communities. To learn more about our involvement with Habitat for Humanity, contact Alan Taaffe alan.taaffe@ca.schneider-electric.ca or to learn how to become involved in Habitat activities in your area, please visit www.habitat.ca