Ten for Joplin makes final fundraising push

(From Tulsa and Joplin Habitat for Humanity)

The Ten for Joplin project races down the final stretch to raise money to help 10 families move into new Habitat for Humanity homes they will begin building on Oct. 29.

The Ten for Joplin project is a partnership between Tulsa and Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity teams, surrounding businesses and the City of Joplin to rebuild Joplin after May’s devastating EF-5 tornado. The Ten for Joplin project team and thousands of volunteers will build 10 homes during a 16-day period.

Just in the last few weeks, Commerce Bank/William T. Kemper Foundation, Helmerich & Payne, The Home Depot Foundation and The Mary K. Chapman Foundation have signed up to support the project. To date, Ten for Joplin has secured commitments and cash totaling $775,000 and approximately $270,000 in in-kind gifts.

The project is just $25,000 short of reaching its goal of $800,000 in cash donations. Any excess cash will be applied to future Habitat for Humanity builds in the tornado-ravaged area of Joplin.

“We have been overwhelmed by the generosity and support our communities have given to this cause,” said Paul Kent, executive director of Tulsa Habitat for Humanity. “We’re so close to raising the money needed to fully fund this project. Every dollar donated over the next week will help us ultimately reach our goal.”

There are several ways to help Ten for Joplin make it to the fundraising finish line:
•Donate funds on the Ten for Joplin website at www.tenforjoplin.org
•Dine at one of the Genghis Grill locations at 1617 E. 15th St. in Tulsa or 10438 S. 82nd East Ave. in Bixby anytime on Monday, Oct. 24; tell the cashier it’s in support of Ten for Joplin and 20 percent of the bill will be donated to the project

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. Organizations that have signed on to sponsor a half house include Advanced Industrial Devices, Inc., Commerce Bank/William T. Kemper Foundation, Helmerich & Payne, Unit Corporation and Valley National Bank. Other major contributors include Asbury United Methodist Church, Bank of Oklahoma, The Home Depot Foundation, The Mary K. Chapman Foundation and Williams.

Companies donating gifts in-kind include Thermal Windows, Turner Roofing, TAMKO Building Products and numerous others.