As Habitat for Humanity International marks its 50th anniversary this year, longtime partner Whirlpool Corporation is highlighting a relationship that has quietly helped hundreds of thousands of families turn a house into a home.
For nearly three decades, the Benton Harbor-based appliance maker has worked alongside Habitat, not just writing checks, but helping outfit homes with the major kitchen essentials some families would otherwise struggle to afford.
Since the partnership began in 1999, Whirlpool has donated more than 260,000 appliances worldwide— from refrigerators and ranges to garbage disposals—ensuring families moving into Habitat homes can start fresh with reliable, energy-efficient equipment already in place.
That support matters in very real ways. For new homeowners, it can mean lower utility bills, fewer upfront expenses, and more room in the budget for groceries, childcare, or simply getting ahead.
In the U.S. and Canada, every new Habitat home includes Whirlpool appliances, making the company a behind-the-scenes part of virtually every key handoff moment when a family receives the keys.
Over time, the impact has added up:
- More than $160 million contributed to Habitat efforts
- More than 1.1 million people reached globally
- Support for home builds in roughly 50 countries
But beyond the numbers, the partnership has also brought Whirlpool employees into the work itself. Volunteer build days and community projects have connected local teams directly with families, putting faces and stories to what might otherwise feel like a distant corporate initiative.
The effort has included Whirlpool’s own backyard here In Benton Harbor. The Whirlpool Foundation has backed housing and neighborhood revitalization work, including support for the current Project T development, aimed at expanding opportunities for working families.
Habitat’s broader mission—creating safe, stable, and affordable housing—has taken on added urgency in recent years as housing costs continue to climb nationwide. Through both direct support and advocacy, the partnership has also contributed to policy changes intended to make housing more accessible for millions of Americans.
As Habitat celebrates five decades of building homes and hope, Whirlpool’s role remains a steady one: helping make sure that when the door opens for a family, what’s waiting inside truly feels like home.
