CHENNAI, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Wells Fargo and Habitat for Humanity (HFH), India announced today that they have collaborated to build homes for families impacted in the 2015 Tamil Nadu floods. Several families had lost their homes in the devastating rainfall that led to heavy flooding and massive damage. To improve the living conditions of these impacted families, Wells Fargo partnered with Habitat for Humanity, India, a non-profit organization, and donated INR 22, 00,000 (USD 34,000) toward building disaster-resilient homes in Erumaiyur, Kancheepuram district, Chennai.

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Wells Fargo team turns over keys to one of the flood affected families in a dedication ceremony organized by Habitat for Humanity. (Photo: Business Wire)

Keys to the homes were handed over to the families in a dedication ceremony held at Erumaiyur in Kancheepuram district, Chennai. Vinod Mannattil, site leader, Wells Fargo Enterprise Global Services (EGS) India, Chennai, who was present on the occasion said, “Community development & environmental sustainability have always been a long-standing Wells Fargo vision. As we continue to strengthen our presence in Chennai, one of our key focuses will be to create a positive impact on our communities through our corporate sustainability and green programs. We wish the Erumaiyur families in Kancheepuram district a happy and healthy future.”

Mr. Mannattil, accompanied by Sanjula Bai, head of Corporate Sustainability for Wells Fargo EGS, India, Joe Francis, property manager for Wells Fargo EGS India, and Samuel Peter, Director - Disaster Response, Program & Operations, Habitat for Humanity, India, handed over keys to the families and interacted with the local community.

Speaking about the initiative, Managing Director, Habitat for Humanity, India Mr. Rajan Samuel said, “As part of rebuilding lives of those affected by the floods, our efforts began with immediate relief. Habitat for Humanity, India has been instrumental in rebuilding the lives of families affected by the floods. We thank Wells Fargo EGS India, who came forward and enabled us to reach out to the families in need. The responsibility is on each one of us, to do whatever we can, to show that we care.”

Speaking about the trauma her family went through during the devastating time, Anjalai Ramu said “We lost everything in the floods, our house was destroyed. My husband and I took our kids on our shoulders and walked away leaving everything behind only to save our lives. We settled in a temporary shelter for nearly four days and had no money in our hands.” Anjalai lives in Erumaiyur Kancheepuram district, Chennai with her husband Ramu and her two children, Harini and Rahul. Her husband works as a motor technician in a nearby theme park, and she sells flowers to make a living.

The partnership between Wells Fargo EGS, India and Habitat for Humanity, India has served 20 people in the village like Anjalai Ramu, and has given them a stable foundation to rebuild their future. Prakriti Panwar, head of Corporate Sustainability for Wells Fargo EGS, India said, “Wells Fargo strives to create positive lasting impact in communities where we work. As Chennai recovers from these calamities, we also give our commitment to stand by and help in that rebuilding effort. Thanks to Habitat for Humanity, we know that our contribution will not only rebuild infrastructure but reunite and rebuild families.”

Background Notes

In the month of November 2015, floods in Tamil Nadu devastated the lives of families. 421 people lost their lives and over 30 lakh families suffered total or partial damage to their homes. Habitat for Humanity India began its relief operation in Tamil Nadu ever since the calamity hit in the month of November 2015. In Phase 1, Habitat for Humanity India distributed food and water to 12,476 individuals. In Phase 2, Habitat distributed Humanitarian Aid Kits to 7000 families. The relief work is currently in its third phase and Habitat for Humanity India and has impacted more than 48,146 individuals by repairing and building new home for the affected families.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,500 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 42 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 271,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 25 on Fortune’s 2017 rankings of America’s largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

About Wells Fargo Enterprise Global Services (EGS) - India

Wells Fargo Enterprise Global Services (EGS) is a critical component of Wells Fargo’s (Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.) strategy to leverage distinct advantages in doing business in a global environment. Wells Fargo EGS - India (Wells Fargo India Solutions Private Limited and Wells Fargo International Services Private Limited) is primarily an extension of the technology, operations, knowledge services, and corporate support teams of Wells Fargo. It engages in application development and support, testing, other technology functions, international operations, knowledge support, and middle and back-end banking process solutions for a wide spectrum of Wells Fargo’s needs. The entities currently have more than 9,500 team members across their offices in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai.

About Habitat for Humanity India

Habitat for Humanity India’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that safe and affordable housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat works with low-income, marginalized families to build homes, provides housing-related services and raises awareness for adequate housing and sanitation.

Since its inception in 1983, Habitat for Humanity India has touched the lives of over 10,04,850 individuals across 20 states of our country. Habitat for Humanity India is part of Habitat for Humanity International - a global non-governmental organization that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and to make adequate shelter a matter of conscience and action. The core area of Habitat’s work in India is: Decent Shelter, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), Disaster Risk Reduction and Response.

Habitat for Humanity works with people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. Habitat India’s long term strategic goal for 2015-20 is to impact the lives of 25,00,000 individuals in their dream of living in a safe and a decent home.

For more information, visit www.habitatindia.in

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