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Building Homes – Building Families Project Makes Dream a Reality

8/15/05
Contact: Brian Maness
Bmaness@chsnc.org
(800) 632-1400

Greensboro, N.C. – Children’s Home Society, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro, and the Greater Greensboro Builder’s Association have announced a unique collaborative effort. The Building Homes – Building Families Project brings together the missions of all three organizations to build a house for a deserving foster family. This effort is the first collaboration between these organizations, and the first formal effort on record to build a Habitat house for a foster family.

Ms. Vearnette Yellock has been chosen as the beneficiary of this project. Ms. Yellock is a single mother who has two biological children and provides foster care for two children whom she is in the process of adopting. Ms. Yellock will complete at least 300 hours of “sweat equity” toward the project.

The Building Homes – Building Families Project has demonstrated that dreams can be realized when organizations come together to support families. This collaborative effort extends beyond the three partnering organizations. Many builders and suppliers have contributed materials and labor, including Centex Homes and Starr Electric. Schiffman’s Jewelers and First Horizon are donating all proceeds from the third annual Schiffman’s Charity Golf Classic, and Wachovia has made a generous financial contribution to the project. Many volunteers and other supporters will offer their skills and manpower to make this dream of home ownership a reality for Ms. Yellock and her children.

Construction of the house is scheduled for completion in early November. On August 23rd, a special commemorative ceremony will be held. Every organization and individual involved in the Building Homes – Building Families effort is invited to witness the official door hanging ceremony at 11:00, and will then take part in a ceremony to write messages of support, encouragement and blessings on the exposed framing within the house.

Representatives of Children’s Home Society, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro, and the Greater Greensboro Builders Association will be available for interviews, as will Ms. Yellock and many of the contributing businesses.

Event Details
August 23, 2005 - 1716 Gordon Street (Greensboro)
11:00 a.m. - Door Hanging Ceremony
11:15 – House Blessing Ceremony

Contact:
Brian Maness: (o) 274-1538 x – 208 / (c) 327-3438 / email: bmaness@chsnc.org
Director of Marketing & Communications - Children’s Home Society of North Carolina

Contact:
Zana Wall (o) 286-6396/(c) 906-5074 / email: zwall@hhgg.org
Media Relations – Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro

CHS is a statewide, non-profit, non-sectarian private adoption and foster care agency serving children and families in North Carolina for 100 years. CHS is licensed by the NC Department of Health and Human Services for Families and Children. It is a member of the Child Welfare League of America and Children and Family Services of North Carolina.

Habitat for Humanity partners with hardworking families and volunteers of all backgrounds to build simple, decent homes. Habitat sells those homes to families at no profit and with interest-free financing. The 12th largest affiliate in the country, Habitat of Greater Greensboro (HHGG) was named a national Affiliate of the Year in 2004. Habitat of Greater Greensboro has built more than 270 homes in Greensboro and another 225 in Honduras since being founded in 1987.