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Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient Millard Fuller
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Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient Millard Fuller
Millard Fuller Awarded Medal of Freedom
September 9, 1996 - In a White House Ceremony on Monday September 9, 1996, President Clinton honored Millard Fuller with a Presidential Medal of Freedom . This award is the nation's highest civilian honor and recognizes individuals that have made major contributions to the United States and to their own communities. According to President Clinton, the award was first given by President Truman to honors those who fought in World War II. President Kennedy expanded the award to include the contributions of citizens to all facets of America life.
During the recent presentation ceremony President Clinton said, "I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that Millard Fuller has literally revolutionized the concept of philanthropy."
Award recipients along with Millard Fuller included Joseph Cardinal Bernadin, James Brady, David Hamburg, John H. Johnson, Eugene Lang, Jan Nowak-Jezioranski, Antonia Pantoja, Rosa Parks, Ginetta Sagan and Morris Udall.
“I see life as both a gift and a responsibility. My responsibility is to use what God has given me to help his people in need.”
Millard Fuller is the founder and president of Habitat for Humanity International. His leadership has helped forge Habitat into a worldwide Christian housing ministry. As a demonstration of God’s love, Habitat volunteers have built homes with more than 150,000 families in need in nearly 3,000 communities worldwide. Habitat is at work in 89 countries as of 2003, and has grown to be one of the top house builders in the United States and the largest among nonprofits. More than 750,000 people now have safe, decent, affordable shelter because of Habitat’s work around the world.
Fuller founded Habitat with his wife, Linda, in 1976. He travels and speaks worldwide and has earned international recognition for his work advocating decent, affordable housing for all. HFHI is cited as an important leader in the battle against poverty housing in the United States and abroad. In September 1996, former President Bill Clinton awarded Fuller the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Clinton says Habitat is “…the most successful continuous community service project in the history of the United States. It has revolutionized the lives of thousands…. Millard Fuller has done as much to make the dream of homeownership a reality in our country and throughout the world as any living person.”
Jack Kemp, the former U.S. secretary of Housing and Urban Development and an HFHI board member, agrees, adding, “When I’m asked about housing success stories from our inner cities, the first group that comes to mind is Habitat for Humanity.”
A Life Changed by God
From humble beginnings in Alabama, Millard Fuller rose to become a young, self-made millionaire. A graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., and the University of Alabama Law School at Tuscaloosa, he and a college friend began a marketing firm while still in school. Fuller’s business expertise and entrepreneurial drive made him a millionaire at age 29. But as the business prospered, his health, integrity and marriage suffered.
These crises prompted Fuller to re-evaluate his values and direction. His soul-searching led to reconciliation with his wife and to a renewal of his Christian commitment.
The Fullers then took a drastic step: They decided to sell all of their possessions, give the money to the poor and begin searching for a new focus for their lives. This search led them to Koinonia Farm, a Christian community located near Americus, Ga., where people were looking for practical ways to apply Christ’s teachings.
The Seed Is Planted
With Koinonia founder Clarence Jordan and a few others, the Fullers initiated several partnership enterprises, including a ministry in housing. They built modest houses on a no-profit, no-interest basis, thus making homes affordable to families with low incomes.
Homeowner families were expected to invest their own labor into the building of their home and the houses of other families. This reduced the cost of the house, increased the pride of ownership and fostered the development of positive relationships. Money for building went into a revolving fund, enabling the building of even more homes.
Testing the Model
In 1973, Fuller moved to Africa with his wife and four children to test their housing model. The housing project, which they began in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), was a success in that developing nation.
Fuller became convinced that this model could be expanded and applied all over the world. Upon his return to the United States in 1976, he met with a group of close associates. They decided to create a new independent organization: Habitat for Humanity International. Since then, the Fullers have devoted their energies to the expansion of Habitat for Humanity throughout the world.
Applying Jesus’ Economics
Habitat’s economic philosophy is based upon what Fuller calls the “economics of Jesus.” The no-profit, no-interest components of the program come from a passage in the Bible (Exodus 22:25) that says those lending money to the poor should not act as a creditor and charge interest.
“I see life as both a gift and a responsibility,” Fuller says. “My responsibility is to use what God has given me to help his people in need.”
Former President Jimmy Carter, an avid carpenter and longtime Habitat supporter, believes that Fuller is using his gifts and acting in faith. “Millard Fuller is an inspiration to all of us who have joined him as volunteers,” Carter says. “And his faith and perseverance have made continual progress possible.”
Public Recognition
In 2002, Fuller and his wife were awarded the Bronze Medallion from the Points of Light Foundation in Washington D.C., honoring their pioneering work in service. Fuller was also awarded the Overcoming Obstacles award from the Community for Education Foundation in New York, N.Y. He was named Georgian of the Year and received the Auburn University Lifetime Achievement Award as well. The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation honored Fuller with the Frank Annunzio award in 2000, recognizing him as “a living American whose innovative thinking has led to creative work, process, product or other achievement that has made a significant and beneficial impact on society.” Fuller has also been named one of the most influential people in homebuilding in the United States in the 20th century by Builder magazine and one of the 20 Georgians Who Most Influenced the 20th Century by the Atlanta Journal and Constitution. He was the recipient of a 1999 Jefferson Award from the American Institute of Public Service for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged. In 1995 Fuller was named Builder of the Year by Professional Builder magazine. He and his wife were awarded the 1994 Harry S. Truman Public Service Award. He also received the Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award from both the state of Georgia and the King Center. Fuller has received many achievement awards and more than 40 honorary doctorate degrees for his outstanding leadership toward meeting the goal of eliminating poverty housing worldwide.
Sharing the Story of Habitat
Fuller has written eight books about his life and work with Habitat for Humanity. His most recent book, Building Materials for Life, is a collection of 40 inspirational essays featuring devotions such as “Forgiveness,” “Generosity” and “Peace Within.” More Than Houses (2000) tells inspiring stories of families from around the world whose lives have been changed through partnership with Habitat. A Simple, Decent Place To Live (1995) surveys the history of Habitat for Humanity. The Theology of the Hammer (1994) explains the belief that true religion puts faith and love into action. Fuller’s other books are The Excitement Is Building, co-authored with his wife Linda, No More Shacks!, Love in the Mortar Joints and Bokotola.
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Medal History
