INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis have again partnered together to build a home for an Indianapolis family

The build, which began on June 3, ends Thursday (July 16) with a Home Dedication Celebration starting at 10 a.m. at 1714 Ingram Street, Indianapolis. Several NCAA volunteers, Habitat staff and others will welcome Tonya and David Tudor to their new home. 

“The NCAA is proud to support such a worthwhile project,” said Dennis Cryder, NCAA senior vice president of branding and communications. “Helping the Tudor family realize the opportunity to own their first home is rewarding for the NCAA and we are honored the NCAA national office staff was able to contribute to this special occasion.”

The NCAA-Habitat collaboration nationally has resulted in the construction of more than 60 homes nationwide in conjunction with NCAA championships and events during the past four years, and four homes have been built or renovated in Indianapolis. More than 200 NCAA staff members and more than 100 partner representatives volunteered on this Indianapolis build for a total of 342 volunteers on the site.

The NCAA sponsored the build financially, provided volunteers from the national office and Eligibility Center staffs and partnered with the community to increase the number of volunteers on the site. Partners included Giving +Sum, Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis staff and students, IUPUI women’s basketball team, OASIS, Short’s Travel and Weber Grill.

As part of the dedication, the NCAA will provide homeowners with gifts including a bistro patio set, a water sprinkler for the kids and passes to the White River State Park attractions for the family to visit all six attractions. These gifts are in addition to Habitat for Humanity gifts: an American flag, a gift basket, a homeowner’s manual and a Bible.

One of the unique features of the Habitat for Humanity program is that in addition to the required budget education classes, homeowners must apply “sweat equity” to the construction of their houses, meaning they all physically contribute to the completion of their homes. During the month-long build, volunteers worked alongside future homeowners Tonya and David Tudor.

“My husband was raised in a single-parent home. I was raised by my grandparents from the time I was in the fourth grade,” said Tonya Tudor. “So, being accepted into this program is a dream come true for us; to raise our children in a two-parent home.”

NOTE TO MEDIA: Cryder, Habitat for Humanity staff and the homeowners will be available for interviews following the dedication.

About the NCAA

The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletics opportunities for more than 400,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 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.NCAA.com for more details about the Association, its goals and members and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes.

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis is committed to eliminating poverty housing and making home ownership available to very low-income families, most of whom have children and live in unsafe, overcrowded or substandard conditions. Each qualified low-income family must meet Habitat’s income and credit history criteria, as well as agree to invest 300 hours in budget education classes and assist with the building of their own home.  Each family must also make monthly mortgage payments with a no-interest loan.  Through cooperative partnerships with volunteers, churches, corporations, foundations and builders, Habitat is able to make the dream of home ownership a reality.

More information about this build and Habitat, is available online at www.indyhabitat.org or by calling 317/921-2121. 

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