Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller encouraged graduates at the University of Alabama to use their education to improve the world.
"Only one percent of the people in the world get to sit where you are sitting today," Fuller told the 1,100 graduates at commencement Saturday in Tuscaloosa. "You are among the elite of the world now. And the Bible has something to say about people like you and me — 'To whom much is given, much is required.' "
Fuller, 69, has a law degree from the University of Alabama. He received an honorary doctorate of humane letters during Saturday's ceremony.
Since 1976, Habitat has blossomed into a worldwide network of 3,300 affiliates that have built 175,000 houses for poor people in 100 countries. Fuller has built an army of tens of thousands of volunteers that includes former U.S. presidents, Hollywood celebrities and Fortune 500 CEOs.