Tennis Stars Offer a “Hand up” at the Women Build in Warsaw

World tennis sensation Daniela Hantuchova along with Polish stars Agnieszka Radwanska and her sister Urszula Radwanska showed their support of Habitat for Humanity and its project in Warsaw, Poland.

The Warsaw build, due for completion this September, will provide new homes and a better future for six families. The talented trio joined in with the construction on the latest instalment of the Women Build programme; designed to recruit, train and empower women. Almost 50 female volunteers attended from Habitat for Humanity, Whirlpool and the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour including Stacey Allaster, President of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

Whirlpool and the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour’s support of Habitat for Humanity, now in its sixth successive year, includes volunteering on builds, raising the charity’s profile and various fund-raising schemes. Since their collaboration, donations amount to €424,457, making 100 homes across Europe possible. To celebrate the landmark 100th home from the joint initiatives, Whirlpool and the Tour presented a further €20,000 to Habitat to enable them to continue their important work.

Don Haszczyn, area vice president for Europe and Central Asia at Habitat for Humanity said, “In these times when more people than ever lack adequate shelter and thousands are losing their homes, we are especially thankful to our partners for their continued commitment to the task of helping families in need of a decent and affordable place to live. People who are denied the most basic of rights – to have access to shelter – are benefiting from this building action.”

“The Tour has forged great bonds with Whirlpool and Habitat for Humanity over the last six years and it is a worthy and successful partnership and one we feel privileged to have. The Tour and our players place an active desire to help those less fortunate at the core of our ever-widening social responsibility activity,” said Stacey Allaster, president of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

On top of the generous financial support, the talented Radwanska sisters also presented their match play rackets to Habitat for Humanity Poland, which will be sold through the online charity auction. Money raised from the auction will contribute to Habitat for Humanity’s “Homes without barriers” programme dedicated to the disabled.

Agnieszka Radwanska, Habitat for Humanity ambassador and world ranked 12th player, said, “It’s an honour to be a part of such a fantastic cause and be involved with Habitat for Humanity, helping underprivileged families across the world. I have great respect for all the volunteers and those working hard everyday against poverty housing.”

Agnieszka Radwanska is the latest high profile Tour star to commit her support to Habitat for Humanity’s noble work across Europe. Earlier in the year she was unveiled as the latest Habitat for Humanity ambassador for the elimination of poverty housing, joining two time French Open semi-finalist Nadia Petrova and former Tour newcomer of the year, Hungarian star Agnes Szavay, to Whirlpool and the Tour’s collaborative support of Habitat for Humanity.

Fellow volunteer and lead of the Women Network at Whirlpool Europe and brand director Tanneke Reinders said, “Whirlpool’s commitment to diversity, inclusion and the empowerment of women to achieve the best possible lives for themselves and their families is reflected both in this commitment to women-led households, and in the growing women’s network inside Whirlpool Europe. We applaud the remarkable efforts of Habitat for Humanity, the players’ support and the Tour’s commitment to this worthwhile cause.”