Hanson Brick lends a hand to Habitat for Humanity Build in Monroe, N.C.
Charlotte-based Brick Manufacturer Donates more than Brick for Habitat Home

MONROE, N.C., August 28, 2006
Hanson Brick, the largest brick manufacturer in North America, donated 16,000 bricks and volunteer labor on Aug. 16 to the Union County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, which is building a home for a local family in Monroe.

“We wanted to be able to do something for the community so we looked for opportunities that also had synergy with our product,” said Kathleen Jonila, director of marketing for Hanson Brick and Tile. “Habitat for Humanity was a great fit for us, and they truly give back to the community by giving someone who couldn’t otherwise have a home a place to call their own. We wanted to be part of that – both in providing building materials and giving of our own time and labor.”

The team of 12 Hanson employees from the company’s corporate headquarters hung drywall on ceilings and walls of a 1,272-square-foot home, nearly completing that task during their work day. Nine of the volunteers were women since the home is a Women Build project, a Habitat for Humanity program.

Habitat for Humanity International is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian organization that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world. The group uses volunteer labor to build and rehabilitate decent, simple housing, which is sold to partner families at no profit.

The 16,000 St. Thomas bricks donated to Habitat for Humanity for this house were manufactured at Hanson’s Monroe plant, just a 10-minute drive from the home.

Typical Habitat for Humanity homes do not include brick veneer due to the increased cost of that building product. The Union County Habitat for Humanity, which oversaw the construction of the home, has taken an innovative approach to its homebuilding by mandating all brick veneers and Energy Star-rated construction. Their homes also include a residential fire system installed by the Monroe Fire Department.

The energy-efficient homes help families save money on their heating and cooling costs. By the time the family moves into the home, the new homeowner will have completed more than 300 hours of work on hers and other habitat homes. The money she will pay to her $65,000, 0-percent-interest loan goes back to the Union County Habitat for Humanity Chapter to pay for future homes.

Hanson Brick is North America’s largest brick manufacturer, with approximately 1,600 employees and operations across the United States and Canada. The company provides its customers with superior selection and service, offering more than 1,000 styles of brick in five regional brick collections. Hanson Brick is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Hanson Brick is part of Hanson PLC (NYSE:HAN), an international building materials company, with more than 26,000 employees and operations in 15 countries. Hanson PLC is the largest producer of aggregates, the second largest producer of pipe and the third largest producer of brick in the world.

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Notes:
Hanson is one of the world's largest suppliers of heavy building materials to the construction industry, with revenues in 2006 of $7.9 billion. Our products fall into two categories: ‘aggregates’ (crushed rock, sand and gravel, ready-mixed concrete, asphalt and cement related products) and ‘building products’ (concrete pipes, pre-cast products, concrete pavers, blocks, tiles and clay bricks). We employ 26,000 people, operating primarily in North America, the UK and Australia with further operations in Asia Pacific and Continental Europe.

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