Anixter is joining forces with Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity to help do something about the growing housing poverty crisis throughout the Chicagoland area. Central to the effort is a major house build event that began Thursday, May 29, alongside busy Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago and continues through Sunday, June 1, 2014.

Twenty Anixter employees will participate in the house build today, Friday, May 30. Booth volunteers will also encourage passersby to “post a selfie” and “like” Anixter on the company’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/Anixter); in turn, Anixter will donate a dollar for every new posting. Anixter employees around the world are also being encouraged to participate in the fundraising.

“Raise Your Hand Chicagoland” is the brainchild of Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity. The event highlights Habitat’s vision in Chicagoland: to help transform the lives of generations of families and revitalize neighborhoods through homeownership.

“In the Chicagoland area alone, more than 388,000 people are without adequate housing,” said Ted Dosch, Anixter Executive Vice President - Finance and CFO. Dosch is a long-time Habitat supporter and chairs the steering committee for Raise Your Hand Chicagoland.

“We needed a way to bring awareness to the fact that a lot of people are living in substandard housing and, unfortunately, it is occurring all around us,” says Dosch. “The number is staggering — it rivals what occurs during major national disasters, like Hurricane Katrina. Our hope is that this event will raise awareness, funds, advocacy and volunteerism for Habitat throughout Chicagoland.”

Matt Johnson, CEO for Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity concurs. “Our goal is to serve 500 families each year by 2018 in the Chicagoland area. In addition, for each partner family we serve in the Chicago area, we mobilize 300 Habitat volunteers. Serving 500 families annually will create 120,000 new volunteer opportunities each year for supporters to engage in the work of Habitat.”

Dosch concluded, “At Anixter, we’re excited to be part of this experience — not only as a corporate sponsor but also as individuals, wanting to make a difference in people’s lives.” Dosch helped kick off the event on Thursday with local dignitaries and other corporate sponsors, such as BMO Harris Bank NA, Lowe’s and The Chicago Bears, and will participate in the closing ceremonies on Sunday, June 1, joining NBA great Isaiah Thomas and the new homeowners.

About Anixter

Anixter International is a leading global distributor of enterprise cabling and security solutions, electrical and electronic wire and cable, and OEM supply fasteners and other small parts. The company adds value to the distribution process by providing its customers access to 1) innovative inventory management programs 2) approximately 450,000 products and $1 billion in inventory 3) approximately 210 warehouses with 7 million square feet of space and 4) locations in over 250 cities in more than 50 countries. Founded in 1957 and headquartered near Chicago, Anixter trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AXE.

About Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity

Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity was created as a support organization for the eight Habitat for Humanity affiliates in the Chicagoland area, with a goal of significantly increasing the number of families served in the Chicagoland region. Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity can leverage capacity building and growth, marketing and advocacy as "one Chicago Habitat for Humanity" by working in collaboration with the eight Chicagoland affiliates.