Save Remove Download Share Subscribe Photos / Galleries / Videos December 14, 2012 – FRANKLIN, Tenn. FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Today, a Smyrna, Tenn., family received an early Christmas present from Nissan and Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity—the keys to a house where they will spend the first of many holiday seasons together. At today's dedication ceremony, Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant Vice President Susan Brennan presented the keys to a Nissan-sponsored Habitat for Humanity house to LaRissa Robinson and her family. "There is no way I can say thank you enough for this blessing," Robinson said. "I am looking forward to having a safe place to live, a home of my own to be responsible for and an area where I can create a reading nook!" Robinson currently lives in an unsafe neighborhood while her two sons are attending colleges in other cities. She looks forward to moving into her new home, and she has already developed friendships with her neighbors, whom she met through the Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity education program. A team of 150 Nissan volunteers worked together throughout nine weeks to help build Robinson's home. "It's been gratifying to watch the Nissan volunteers work together to uphold the company's mission to enrich people's lives," said Brennan. "Their hard work resulted in a beautiful home where the Robinson family will create many wonderful memories." The Robinson's home is the 112th home built by Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity since the organization was established in 1989. The home is the sixth house built by Nissan in Rutherford County. "We always look forward to working with Nissan's enthusiastic volunteers, and we sincerely appreciate Nissan's commitment to making our community better," said Beth Smith, executive director for Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity. "Because of that commitment, LaRissa's dream of homeownership has come true." The Nissan-sponsored Habitat home is equipped with many "green living" features, including low-flowing plumbing fixtures, programmable thermostats, energy-efficient fluorescent lighting, high-performance windows and ENERGY STAR® appliances. These eco-friendly amenities align with Nissan's Green Program, which supports efforts to reduce the company's impact on the environment. This home will receive ENERGY STAR® certification and will be the sixth ENERGY STAR® home sponsored by Nissan in Rutherford County. Funding for Robinson's home is part of the $1.5 million donation to Habitat for Humanity International that Nissan announced in September 2012. In the Americas, Nissan funds the construction of homes in Arizona, California, Michigan, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Toronto, Canada. The company is funding grants and providing Nissan vehicles to 10 Habitat affiliates that make commitments to sustainable construction practices. Habitat has used a portion of Nissan's donation to conduct sustainability "summits" for Habitat affiliates and their local communities. Nissan funding also supported the annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Haiti in November, when five Nissan employees joined 600 international volunteers to help build 100 Habitat homes in partnership with Haitian families during the seven-day project. Nissan's partnership with Habitat dates to 2005, following hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Nissan donated 50 Nissan Titan trucks to assist Habitat's response efforts in the Gulf Coast and mobilized employees to assist in home building. Since 2006, Nissan employees have helped to build more than 40 homes across the United States and have logged more than 70,000 volunteer hours building Habitat homes around the world. About Nissan Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 248,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4.8 million vehicles in 2011, generating revenue of 9.4 trillion yen ($118.95 billion US). With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of 64 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero-emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades, including the prestigious 2011-2012 Car of the Year Japan and 2011 World Car of the Year awards. For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/. About Nissan North America In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, and 2012 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com, or visit the Americas media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com. About Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit, non-denominational Christian housing ministry, seeks to eliminate substandard housing by building simple, decent houses alongside low-income families in need. Homes are built by RCHFH partner families and community volunteers. After a home is completed, it is sold to the partner family at no profit with zero-interest, 20-year mortgage. For more information please call (615) 890-5877 or go to our website at www.rutherfordhabitat.org. # # # Contacts: Vicki Smith Nissan Corporate Social Responsibility (615) 725-0749 Vicki.Smith@Nissan-USA.com Megan L. Hutchings Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity (615) 890-5877, ext. 6 (615) 890-2393 megan@rchfh.org Issued by Nissan Files Release_HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS SMYRNA FAMILY ACCEPTS KEYS TO NISSAN-SPONSORED HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOME.pdf (90 KB) Save Remove Download Share Photos / Galleries / Videos Subscribe to Email Alerts Files Release_HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS SMYRNA FAMILY ACCEPTS KEYS TO NISSAN-SPONSORED HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOME.pdf (90 KB)