Friday, October 14, 2011

Dinner honors families included in Ten for Joplin building project

(From the City of Joplin)

Company sponsors got the opportunity to put a face with their contributions during a meet-and-greet event last night for the families selected in the Ten for Joplin project that kicks off on Oct. 29. The project’s goal is to initiate neighborhood development as community partners work alongside Joplin families who lost their homes during the May 22 tornado.

The Tulsa and Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity teams, surrounding businesses and the City of Joplin are partnering on one of the most aggressive rebuilding efforts since May’s devastating EF-5 tornado. The Ten for Joplin project team plans to build 10 homes during a 16-day period beginning Oct. 29.

Ten for Joplin’s vision is to ignite volunteer efforts to rebuild Joplin by setting an example of what can be accomplished when businesses and communities come together to help one another.

The 10 families selected represent 40 family members in all who will benefit from building a place they’ll soon call home. Interviews with family members can be arranged by contacting Scott Clayton at 417-782-6533 or sclayton@joplinhabitat.org.

“This is a great moment, a time when we realize and see our mission firsthand,” said Paul Kent, executive director of Tulsa Habitat for Humanity. “It really is all about the families and helping them have a new start.”

In addition to a community developer sponsorship from the Habitat for Humanity International’s Women Build program, companies sponsoring houses are The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, Arvest Bank, BKD CPAs & Advisors, Chase, Hilti, Samson and TD Williamson, Inc. Advanced Industrial Devices, Inc., Unit Corporation and Valley National Bank have signed up to sponsor half a house. Other sponsors include Asbury United Methodist Church, William T. Kemper Foundation and Williams.

Funding of $800,000 and gift-in-kind support still is needed for the 10-house blitz build. To date, Ten for Joplin has secured $662,000 in cash donations and approximately $200,000 in in-kind gifts toward this goal.

Donate funds or find out more about volunteer opportunities on the Ten for Joplin website at www.tenforjoplin.org. The site also features videos and news about the project as well as general information on the overall build as the project moves closer to its official onsite build kickoff on Oct. 29.

About Ten for Joplin

In a blitz build from Oct. 29 to Nov. 13, the Tulsa and Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity teams have joined forces with the City of Joplin to construct 10 homes for low-income families impacted by the devastating May 22 tornado. The Ten for Joplin project provides an opportunity for Tulsans and others in surrounding communities to contribute their time and money to help their neighbors in need. More information is available at www.tenforjoplin.org.

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