Weyerhaeuser lumber, including wood from trees grown at Mount St. Helens, will soon arrive at home construction sites in 18 states and two Canadian provinces as part of a $1 million partnership uniting Weyerhaeuser and Habitat for Humanity.

  (Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040116/WYLOGO-a
          http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040116/WYLOGO-b )

Weyerhaeuser announced the $1 million initiative on May 18 -- exactly 25 years after Mount St. Helens' historic eruption spewed ash worldwide and leveled company forests near the volcano in southwest Washington. With employee volunteers committed across North America, Weyerhaeuser has pledged to help build more than 25 homes by May 2006. The $1 million will come in the form of Weyerhaeuser lumber and grants from the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation.

Volunteers will raise the walls for the first home on Friday, May 20, in Portland, Ore., construction will begin on Saturday, May 21, on a home in Longview, Wash. A week-long "blitz build" will highlight construction in June, when employees volunteer to help build a house for the Habitat for Humanity Jimmy Carter Work Project in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

More on the First Build in Hillsboro, Ore.

Approximately 300 employees from Parr Lumber Company, Fred Meyer Stores and 15 Weyerhaeuser facilities in the Portland area will volunteer to complete the single-family home by year-end. Stephanie Happer, marketing manager for Weyerhaeuser's Northwest Hardwoods business, and Sue Snuggs, area sales manager for Weyerhaeuser's residential wood products, are leading the project. Construction will be coordinated by the Willamette West Habitat for Humanity affiliate.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for us to help a family realize the dream of home ownership," said Jennifer Swick, marketing director at Parr Lumber. "Our employees are eager to roll up their sleeves and pound nails for a good cause."

Swick said the project is a community priority for her local lumber distribution company because of the connection between wood and shelter.

"Shelter is one of the most basic human needs," Swick said. "All of us at Parr Lumber are proud to be in the business of providing shelter products, and we are especially pleased to partner with Weyerhaeuser and Fred Meyer on this ambitious and unique project."

Mary Loftin, vice-president of public affairs at Fred Meyer Stores said caring about the community and participating in important local or regional activities is a rich tradition at Fred Meyer.

"It's important for us to strengthen the communities in which we all live, work and raise families," Loftin said. "It's by helping others, such as in Project Habitat, that we can make our communities a better place for everyone."

The Project Habitat house in Hillsboro will be one of 19 in a Habitat housing development of single and multi-family homes with three public play spaces for the neighborhood's children.

Eusebio Vega Arroyo and Rosa Vega Cruz will buy the new home. Families are selected according to their need; their ability to repay the no-profit, no-interest mortgage; and their willingness to work in partnership with Habitat. Arroyo and Cruz have four children -- Willie, 8, Bryana, 6, Tanya, 3 and Carla, 2. The family currently lives in a two-bedroom apartment in a neighborhood with no suitable play area for children.

Arroyo works at a cook and Cruz is a homemaker. They have completed over 400 hours of their required 500 hours of "sweat equity," working on the job site every week.

"They're a wonderful family and are truly looking forward to having a safe environment to raise their children," said John Godsey, director of Willamette West Habitat for Humanity. "They can't wait until their children can play in the playground at Lindsay Lane."

Mount St. Helens Connection

Each of the 25 homes being completed to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Mount St. Helens eruption will include some special lumber made from trees replanted on the flanks of the volcano. The projects will involve Weyerhaeuser employee volunteers in partnership with retirees, customers and suppliers. A list of home locations, Habitat affiliates and media contacts is attached.

Weyerhaeuser planted 18 million seedlings after the May 18, 1980 eruption in one of the largest scale reforestation projects in history. Today many of these trees are 70-feet tall and growing so densely that thinning is needed to allow room for the heartiest trees to grow to full maturity. Company foresters began harvesting trees from the 1980 blast zone in February 2005.

          Weyerhaeuser Project Habitat Builds in U.S. and Canada
                         32 Weyerhaeuser Communities

  Location             HFH Affiliate        Contact          Phone
  Edmonton, Alberta    Edmonton             Wanda Dennelly   780-453-9574
  Hot Springs, Ark.    Garland County       Kathy Stacey/    870-210-0014/
                                            Lee Robinette    501-624-8138
  Fort Smith, Ark.     Fort Smith           Lee Robinette    501-624-8138
  Irvine, Calif.       Orange County        Marian Snyder    253-924-7632
  Oxnard, Calif.       Ventura County       Marian Snyder    253-924-7632
  Colbert, Ga.         Madison County       Janet McRanie    478-218-0824
  Griffin, Ga.         Griffin Area         Janet McRanie    478-218-0824
  Boise, Idaho         Boise Valley         Karen Chessler   208-429-3717
  Kansas City, Kan.    Kaw Valley           Lee Robinette    501-624-8138
  Simsboro, La.        North Central        Jackie Walburn   334-963-2270
                       Louisiana
  Columbus, Miss.      Columbus/Lowndes     Jackie Walburn   334-963-2270
  Columbia, Miss.      Marion County        Jackie Walburn   334-963-2270
  Plymouth, N.C.       Washington County    Susan Larkin     803-802-8068
  New Bern, N.C.       Greater New Bern     Susan Larkin     803-802-8068
  Albany, Ore.         Albany Area          Mike Moskovitz   541-741-5431
  Eugene/Springfield,  Springfield/Eugene   Mike Moskovitz   541-741-5431
  Ore.
  Portland, Ore.       Willamette West      Mike Moskovitz   541-741-5431
  Prince Albert, Sask. Prince Albert        Wayne Roznowsky  306-953-5198
  Rock Hill, S.C.      York County          Susan Larkin     803-802-8068
  Dallas, Texas        Fort Worth Area      Kathy Stacey     870-210-0014
  Lynchburg, Va.       Greater Lynchburg    Susan Larkin     803-802-8068
  Grays Harbor, Wash.  Rays Harbor          Marian Snyder    253-924-7632
  Tacoma, Wash.        Tacoma/Pierce County Patricia Akiyama 253-924-3454
  Longview, Wash.      Cowlitz County       Jackie Lang      503-570-3415
  Windsor, Ontario     Jimmy Carter Blitz   Bonny Skene      807-223-9035

  Additional Funding
  Pine Hill, Ala.      Selma                Jackie Walburn   334-963-2270
  Louisville, Kent.    Louisville           Janet McRanie    478-218-0824
  St. Louis, Mo.       St. Louis            Lee Robinette    501-624-8138
  Marlton, N.J.        Coastal              Kathy Stacey     870-210-0014
  Valliant, Okla.      Paris                Kathy Stacey     580-981-1431
  Marlboro, S.C.       Darlington           Susan Larkin     803-802-8068
  Federal Way, Wash.   South King County    Patricia Akiyama 253-924-3454

The mission of the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation is to improve the quality of life in communities where Weyerhaeuser has a presence. Since 1948, the Foundation has directed more than $173 million to the communities where Weyerhaeuser employees work, live and play. Nationwide, the Foundation's annual philanthropic budget totals $10 million.

Habitat for Humanity International, based in Americus, Ga., is an ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. By the end of 2005, Habitat will have built its 200,000th house and more than one million people will be living in Habitat homes they helped build and are buying through no-profit, zero-interest mortgages. www.habitat.org

Contact: Mike Moskovitz, +1-541-741-5431, or Jackie Lang +1-503-570-3415, both of Weyerhaeuser.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040116/WYLOGO-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040116/WYLOGO-b
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk; photodesk@prnewswire.com

SOURCE: Weyerhaeuser Company

CONTACT: Mike Moskovitz, +1-541-741-5431, or Jackie Lang
+1-503-570-3415, both of Weyerhaeuser

Web site: http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/

Web site: http://www.habitat.org/