(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) Sept. 23, 2005-Recording artist and philanthropist Ginny Owens has been tapped to champion "Operation Home Delivery," sponsored by Habitat for Humanity International in Jackson, Miss. The program, which will pre-assemble homes in multiple remote locations and ship them to hard-hit areas of the Gulf Coast, kicks off Monday.

NBC's "Today" show has offered to help spread word of the event. Monday it will spotlight builds in New York, Los Angeles and Owens' hometown, Jackson, Miss. Owens will be featured live from Jackson in an effort to encourage volunteers and donors to participate in this program. Owens has been a longtime supporter of Habitat for Humanity. Earlier this year she announced a partnership with the organization as an extension of her own non-profit, Fingerprint Initiative, which launched in January.

"It's both humbling and rewarding to participate not only in the physical reconstruction of homes built in partnership with families affected by Hurricane Katrina but also to be a part of helping these people rebuild their lives," said Owens.

"Operation Home Delivery" is Habitat for Humanity's commitment to help provide more permanent housing as quickly as possible to victims of Hurricane Katrina. The project will assemble materials needed to build a house-either purchased or donated-and gather volunteers who will "pre-build" the frame in a few days. The frame will then be taken apart and shipped to areas along the Gulf Coast, including New Orleans, where families, volunteers and builders will rebuild the home. For more information on "Operation Home Delivery," go online to: www.habitat.org.

Owens will also be hosting a concert series throughout the month of October to help raise funds for Fingerprint Initiative. A portion of its proceeds will go to help build a Habitat for Humanity neighborhood, "Hope Village," in Covington, La. Additional details are forthcoming. To find out more about the Fingerprint Initiative, visit: www.fingerprintinitiative.org.

Ginny Owens won her first Dove Award in 2000 for New Artist of the Year, reflecting the success of her debut album, Without Condition. Her immediate acceptance among Christian and mainstream audiences prompted radio success as well as invitations to appear at Lilith Fair (1999), the Sundance Film Festival (2000) and on National Public Radio. Songs written and performed by Owens have appeared on popular television shows such as "Felicity," "Charmed," "Roswell" and "Get Real." Blind since the age of two, Owens originally wanted to teach, earning a Music Education degree from Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. Described by Billboard as "a songwriter of incredible depth," Owens recently released her first live album, Live from New Orleans. Her fourth studio CD, Long Way Home, is due out Oct. 11. To find out more about Ginny Owens, visit: www.ginnyowens.com or www.rocketownrecords.com.