Fannie Mae Releases Fundraising Results of the 2008 Help the Homeless Program

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 16, 2009 — Today, Fannie Mae announced the results of the 2008 Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Program. The Program raised a total of $5.6 million to benefit 164 Washington metropolitan area homeless service providers, which provide safe, decent housing and social services to assist homeless families and individuals in the region. The funds were raised through the Help the Homeless Walkathon, more than 630 community mini-walks, sponsor contributions, and other related activities.

"As the economy worsens and job loss continues, efforts to prevent and end homelessness have never been more critical," said Stacey D. Stewart, Senior Vice President of the Office of Community and Charitable Giving at Fannie Mae. "I'm so grateful for the strong turnout in 2008 of more than 101,000 walkers, which includes almost 5,000 Fannie Mae employees and their guests."

The annual Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon, which in 2008 was held on Saturday, November 22, is the largest event in the nation designed to help prevent and end homelessness. The program, intended to raise awareness and increase resources for D.C. metropolitan area nonprofit homeless service providers, has raised $75 million since its inception. This year, more than 16,000 walkers participated in the 2008 Walkathon on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Additionally, nearly 85,000 area residents took part in over 630 community mini-walks, which were hosted by schools, community-based organizations, and faith-based groups across the region.

This year, in response to the foreclosure crisis, the Help the Homeless effort included a grant of $100,000 to the United Way of the National Capital Area (UWNCA) as part of a rescue fund for families threatened or displaced by foreclosure. The rescue fund will be used to assist families avoid foreclosure where possible and to help owners and renters identify alternative housing when needed.

In addition to the Help the Homeless events across the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area, Fannie Mae employees in the company's five regional offices — Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia — participated in local activities to raise awareness and funds to support the prevention and ending of homelessness in their communities. And, coupled with the $5.6 million raised through the Help the Homeless program, in 2008, Fannie Mae also provided $2.67 million in grants to organizations working to prevent and end homelessness across the country.

More than 12,000 people in the Washington metropolitan area are homeless. This figure is expected to grow under the current economic conditions. Homeless figures include people who are living on the streets, staying in shelters, or living in transitional housing; more than 40 percent are members of families, roughly one-third are children. Nearly one-third of the region's homeless adults are employed, and in some areas, the share of employed homeless people is even higher.

The 22nd Annual Help the Homeless Walkathon will be held on November 21, 2009. Please visit our Web site at www.helpthehomelessdc.org for more information.