AMERICUS — On Thursday, a contingent traveled to Americus to award Millard and Linda Fuller with the Shining World Leadership Award along with a $20,000 grant to support the continuing work of The Fuller Center for Housing.

The award and contribution were presented in recognition of the Fullers’ outstanding effort and enlightened leadership in creating a bright future for the world and all humanity. Citing their leadership at Habitat for Humanity and The Fuller Center for Housing, the Fullers were honored for finding a way to garner financial, political and participatory support from corporations, celebrities and citizens.

“The Fullers’ self-help housing paradigm is a catalyst that inspires compassion,” said Supreme Master Ching Hai. “Their achievements are both revolutionary and admirable.”

The group conducted an extensive interview with Millard Fuller to be aired on satellite channels broadcast throughout the United States and in Europe. It will be aired in English with German, French, Italian, Spanish, Persian, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Korean and Aulacese subtitles.

The Fullers’ mission started with a dream and a spiritual calling in 1976. Habitat for Humanity quickly grew into a global phenomenon that has built homes for over 1 million people. In 2005, they started over with The Fuller Center for Housing — again, as a small, Christian organization with a single purpose: to improve the housing plight of the millions of people who live in this world in sub-standard housing. Their dream and their calling remain as fresh in their minds today as it was 30 years ago.

The Fuller Center for Housing is a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to building and rehabilitating houses for people in need. Through innovative partnerships with individuals and organizations in communities across the globe, The Fuller Center brings people of all backgrounds together in an unrelenting quest to provide adequate housing for the world’s poor.

The Fuller Center believes decent shelter should be a matter of conscience and action with people everywhere. For more information, visit www.fullercenter.org.