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HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - National News
Habitat for Humanity shares stories through homeowner youth essay contest
AMERICUS, Ga. (June 5, 2008) — Winners of Habitat for Humanity’s first “Building the Future: Homeowner Youth Essay Contest” were selected this week. The essay competition, sponsored by Habitat for Humanity International’s Volunteer Mobilization department, asked children of Habitat partner families, ages 8 to 25, to write an essay describing, “What my Habitat home means to me.”
Habitat for Humanity congratulates the following winners for their heartfelt entries: Alyxis Smith of Virginia, first place winner, ages 8-14 category; Logan Bachinski of California, second place, ages 8-14 category; Josephine Pacheco of Oregon, first place, ages 15-19; Patty Enriquez of Oregon, second place, ages 15-19; Brittany Richey of Virginia, third place, ages 15-19; and Charisse James of North Carolina, ages 20-25 category.
Youth from all over the country shared their stories for this first essay contest. Winners younger than 15 were awarded gift certificates to the Habitat online store, while those 15 and up received money toward a Habitat Global Village or Youth Immersion trip. Additionally, winners had the option of donating their prize to the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate that partnered with the family to build their home.
Many of the submitted essay entries described the impact a Habitat home has had on the authors’ lives, contrasting their experiences before and after moving into their home.
“I moved 10 times from the ages of 1 to 9 and, in the process, I developed a horrible fear of change. For nine years, on and off, I lived with my five siblings and my mother in a one-bedroom trailer where the tub was falling though the floor. I lived in constant fear that I would come home from school to find the trailer crumbled into heaping piles of rubble,” wrote winner Josephine Pacheco. “My Habitat home means security because I know it’s healthier; I know that I can always come home and that Habitat for Humanity cares about what happens to my family.”
The stories also celebrated the joys and comfort of having a safe home. Alyxis Smith, who received first prize in the 8 to 14 age category, wrote, “I am glad for my Habitat home. Now I have a room I can paint pink with ‘High School Musical’ stuff. It will be so cool. My new friends are going to be my neighbors. We’ll have all kinds of fun … my Mommy [and I] used to lie in bed at bedtime and pretend how our house will look. It is all mine and nobody can hurt us.”
Contest organizer and Habitat AmeriCorps member Bobby McMahon notes the significance of seeing Habitat’s work through the eyes of participating partner families. “Their experiences are truly inspirational, reminding us why the ministry of Habitat for Humanity is needed in our world.”
Habitat for Humanity International’s Volunteer Mobilization department organized the essay contest to highlight the unique and touching stories of Habitat homeowners. Habitat’s Youth Programs department, part of Volunteer Mobilization, seeks to capture the imagination, energy and hope of young people worldwide to productively and responsibly involve them as leaders in the work of Habitat. State Farm® is the 2008 underwriter for Habitat’s Youth Programs. Visit www.habitatyouthprograms.org for more information and to view all winning essays.
Habitat for Humanity names Didiayer Snyder national celebrity spokesperson for 2008 Home Builders Blitz
Popular carpenter, designer, author and television personality rallies home builders throughout the U.S. to build more than 250 Habitat homes as part of blitz project
ATLANTA (May 27, 2008) – Habitat for Humanity International has named Didiayer Snyder of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” to be the national celebrity spokesperson for its 2008 Home Builders Blitz (www.homebuildersblitz.com). The blitz is scheduled for the week of June 2, and will kick off the construction of more than 250 homes built in 110 communities throughout 34 states as part of the project. The accelerated build will serve to house more than 1,000 people.
“When we film for the show, we’re focused on one home, one family each week,” explained Snyder. “To think this blitz is going to house 263 families in that same time frame is astonishing. I’m honored and humbled to be a part of it.”
Since 2005, Snyder has volunteered her carpentry skills at the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity affiliate, where she met another longtime Habitat volunteer who became very influential in her life — her carpentry mentor Wally Anderson. As they’ve become close friends over the last three years, Anderson has observed that building and renovating houses alongside Habitat partner families has become a big part of Snyder’s life, allowing her to not only advance in her building skills but also assist others in reaching their dreams of owning a home. He notes that Snyder’s kindness and strength qualify her as a great Habitat ambassador. Anderson has been working with his local affiliate as a volunteer builder for more than 18 years.
“Habitat for Humanity is thrilled Didiayer has lent us her passion, enthusiasm and professional expertise to rally builders throughout the country to donate their time and talents for this one-week event,” said Kevin Campbell, director of Builders Blitz 2008. “With Didiayer’s help, we hope to bring light to the great efforts being put forth by the building community to house families in need and end poverty housing.”
“I’m so excited! I’m already equipped for the around-the-clock schedules and used to all the work that goes into pulling off a build,” said Snyder. “I’m really looking forward to my cross-country sprint to help six Habitat affiliates in one week.”
As the event’s celebrity spokesperson, Snyder will embark on a six-city tour, addressing and building alongside partner home builders at the following participating Habitat locations: Durham County Habitat for Humanity (Durham, N.C.); Habitat of Orange County (Chapel Hill, N.C.); Habitat of Charlotte (N.C.); Habitat of Greater Birmingham (Ala.); Lafayette Habitat (Ind.); and San Diego Habitat (Calif.).
The Builders Blitz was started in 2002 by Tom Gipson, a professional home builder in Raleigh, N.C., who supported Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to eliminate poverty housing in his community. Gipson gathered other local builders for an accelerated build, which was so successful that Habitat for Humanity International decided to promote it as a nationwide event in 2006. Since the concept’s inception, the professional home builders industry has assisted Habitat’s mission by building in excess of 780 homes.
Votes during CMT’s Music Awards can help Habitat for Humanity
ATLANTA (March 19, 2008) – Habitat for Humanity could be among the big winners of the 2008 “CMT Music Awards” on Monday, April 14, as CMT’s social arm – “One Country” – will be gifting $2,500 to each winner’s nonprofit of choice. The 2008 CMT Music Awards will provide fans and Habitat supporters the opportunity to vote for their favorite country artists, including Jack Ingram and Reba McEntire, who each designated Habitat as their nonprofit recipient.
Fans can visit www.cmt.com/cmt-music-awards to cast their votes, as well as to support Habitat.
Ingram was nominated in the category of “CMT Music Awards Wide Open Country Video of the Year” for his “Measure of a Man” music video. McEntire’s “Because of You” collaboration with Kelly Clarkson was nominated in the categories of “Video of the Year,” “Video Director of the Year” and “Collaborative Video of the Year.”
CMT One Country, CMT's pro-social initiative, was launched in the fall of 2005 to promote civic participation and inspire CMT viewers to take action and bring about important change in their communities. CMT One Country partners include America’s Second Harvest, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Habitat for Humanity, Hands On Network and the USO (United Service Organizations). Led by Advisory Board members President Jimmy Carter, Maya Angelou and General Colin Powell, whose combined service to America is legendary, CMTOneCountry.com aims to offer tools to help anyone start making a difference immediately. For more information: www.CMTOneCountry.com.
Ryan Braun donates National League ‘Rookie of the Year’ bonus to Habitat for Humanity
ATLANTA (Feb. 18, 2008) – Milwaukee Brewers player Ryan Braun, Major League Baseball's 2007 National League Rookie of the Year, has donated his bonus of $10,000 to Habitat for Humanity. Braun pledged the donation after his participation as Honorary House Leader during the 2007 Carter Work Project in Los Angeles.
"I knew I was a part of something special at the Jimmy Carter Work Project, and as I came to know the partner families and meet the other volunteers, I couldn't help wanting to do more," said Braun. "I am fortunate to make a living doing what I love and if I can help Habitat build more homes and change more lives, that is a greater gift than any bonus I could receive."
The 2007 Carter Project drew more than 3,000 volunteers from all over the world and kicked off the “Building a Greater Los Angeles” campaign to complete 250 homes over the next three years. Braun learned about the event through his agent at Creative Artists Agency, a longtime supporter of Habitat for Humanity, and quickly signed on as an Honorary House Leader. After spending one day building alongside volunteers and getting to know Habitat partner families, Braun decided to not only return to build through the remainder of the work week but also to help even more families by donating his prize winnings.
"Ryan rolled up his sleeves and made a huge impact as a volunteer at last year’s Carter Project, and we are thrilled he was inspired to continue to support our work as a result. He saw firsthand the need for affordable housing and continues to help us spread that message," said Erin Rank, president/CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, host affiliate of the 2007 Carter Work Project. "We are thankful for his generous support."
In 2008, the annual, weeklong event was renamed the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project to recognize the former first lady’s years of dedicated service to help raise awareness and provide simple, decent and affordable housing in partnership with families in need. Habitat for Humanity’s 25th annual Carter Project, May 11-16, 2008, will bring thousands of volunteers from around the world to build in partnership with low-income families throughout Gulf Coast communities still recovering from the devastating 2005 hurricane season. During the event, volunteers will build and rehabilitate 60 houses and frame up to 48 more in the host cities of Biloxi and Pascagoula, Miss.
*More national news available at:
www.habitat.org
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