NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS ---In conjunction with the first- and second-round games of the 2008 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, student-athletes from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, are joining volunteers from the NCAA and Habitat for Humanity of Pulaski County and Lowe’s to frame a house in partnership with a North Little Rock family. The build will take place on Friday, March 21, on Broadway Street and Alltel Arena Way in a lot beside Alltel Arena in North Little Rock.
The home will be framed at the build site and will remain on display through Sunday, March 23. The home will be moved to a permanent location in North Little Rock later this spring.
More than 70 student-athletes and staff from Arkansas-Little Rock will help build the Habitat house .
“This build is a great opportunity for our student-athletes to give back to the community that has embraced them,” said Chris Peterson, director of athletics at Arkansas-Little Rock. “By participating in this event, our student-athletes are able to exemplify the supporting role that intercollegiate athletics plays in enhancing the sense of community and strengthening the identity of member institutions.”
Other volunteers will come from the surrounding community, including Jerry Peel and Chris Hayes, Hurricane Katrina survivors and Habitat for Humanity homeowners.
“After relocating to Little Rock, Habitat for Humanity helped me get me feet back on the ground, making it possible for me to help others improve and rebuild their lives,” said Peel of his contribution to the build.
The NCAA is funding the entire cost of the house, which is approximately $65,000. The build is also sponsored by Lowe’s, one of the NCAA’s corporate partners and a corporate supporter of Habitat, which contributed an additional $10,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Pulaski County for future projects.
“This build combines Lowe’s ongoing commitment to Habitat for Humanity International and the successful relationship we’ve forged with NCAA to help a North Little Rock family,” said Larry D. Stone, chairman, Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. “We’re proud to work with the student-athletes and local residents to help a family realize its dream of home ownership.”
This project is the latest in the NCAA Home Team partnership with Habitat for Humanity International, which began in 2005 after hurricanes struck the Gulf Coast. More than 1,000 student-athletes, along with campus and NCAA staff and other volunteers have built nearly 25 homes for families to aid the rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast, as well as help to eliminate substandard housing in other areas of the country, including North Little Rock.
“This partnership is incredibly important to Habitat for Humanity because of the many resources the NCAA offers,” said Bill Plunkett, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Pulaski County. “The NCAA brings much needed funding and volunteers to aid families in need of housing. They also have a unique reach to America’s youth that encourages them to make a difference in their communities.”
Living with cerebral palsy has been a challenge for future homeowner Kenya Gilbert, and she is anxious to make life easier for herself and her two sons by moving into a new, easy to navigate, one-story home.
“It is so important for me to provide my sons with a safe and comfortable place to call home,” said Gilbert. “Having student-athletes here to contribute to our house is inspirational and energizing. We thank the NCAA and Lowe’s for making this possible.”
About the NCAA
The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 380,000 student-athletes at more than 1,200 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA championships in Divisions I, II and III sports. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaasports.com for more details about the Association, its goals and members and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes. The NCAA is proud to have the following elite companies as official Corporate Champions—AT&T, Coca-Cola and Pontiac—and the following elite companies as official Corporate Partners—DiGiorno, Enterprise, The Hartford, Lowe’s and State Farm. For more information about the 2008 NCAA Convention, visit www.ncaa.org and www.doubleazone.com.
About Habitat for Humanity of Pulaski County
Since 1989, Pulaski County Habitat for Humanity has served the county, providing more than 50 families with affordable and safe quality housing. Houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with no-interest mortgages. Homeowners invest their own labor, called “sweat equity,” into building their home and the homes of other Habitat families. Together we can fight substandard living conditions in Pulaski County by: “Building Dreams One Home at a Time.”
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built more than 225,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org.
About Lowe’s
Lowe’s is a proud supporter of Habitat for Humanity International, American Red Cross, United Way of America, and the Home Safety Council, in addition to numerous non-profit organizations and programs that help communities across the country. In 2007, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $27.5 million to support community and education projects in the United States and Canada. Lowe’s also encourages volunteerism through the Lowe’s Heroes program, a company-wide employee volunteer initiative. Lowe’s is a FORTUNE® 50 company with fiscal year 2007 sales of $48.3 billion and has more than 1,525 stores in the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.lowes.com/community.
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