Indianapolis, IN - October 20, 2010
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Despite temperatures in the 90s and heat indices over 100 during parts of the Fair, Habitat For Humanity volunteers, including the home's new owner, have completed the Ag Home project on schedule at the Indiana State Fair. Twenty-two sponsoring companies and organizations will present Tamika Allen of Indianapolis with the keys to her new home at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 20 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
The five-bedroom home was built during the first 14 days of the State Fair, several weeks faster than the normal 42-day construction schedule for a Habitat for Humanity home. The rapid construction timetable required the work of 350 volunteers.
Now that construction is completed, fair-goers will be able to tour the house throughout the remainder of the Fair.
“This is a dream come true for me and my children,” Allen, who works for Kroger, said. “I want to thank Kroger and all the other companies for their support that helped build this house.”
This was the first time that this habitat chapter had built a home at the State Fair, and it was the first time that a single industry - agriculture - had united to support a project.
Twenty-two leading Indiana agricultural businesses and agriculture-related organizations provided funding, resources and volunteers for the project, which was built around the theme “Agriculture - Growing Food, Building Family Dreams.”
“These sponsors' commitment and dedication to providing Habitat with funding, resources and the enthusiastic and hard-working volunteers to complete the project in such a short time made this project a reality,” Illingworth said.
Allen was among those volunteers, completing part of her required 450 hours of work, known as sweat equity, to qualify for a Habitat for Humanity home.
Dow AgroSciences and Kroger are the primary financial sponsors of the Indiana State Fair Habitat home. Both companies have sponsored many local Habitat For Humanity homes in the past and Kroger stocks the kitchen of every Marion County home built by Habitat for Humanity with free food.
Kroger spokesman John Elliott added, “Although Kroger is honored to support every Habitat for Humanity build in Marion County, this home has a very special meaning. More than two dozen Kroger volunteers, including our president and several staff engineers, worked on this home for our hard-working and very deserving colleague, Tamika. This home build also provided us one more opportunity to demonstrate why the Kroger - Pacers - Fever partnership is built on dedicated, passionate community service. Together our companies are making a difference. As a manufacturer, buyer, distributor and retailer of agricultural products, Kroger is equally honored to join 21 other companies on this agriculture-themed home.”
"The best part of this build is the chance for our employees to get involved by volunteering," said Tim Maniscalo, community affairs manager for Dow AgroSciences. "The heat index may have been high, but our volunteers never let it get their spirits low! From heavy lifting to painting to interior finishing, the Dow AgroSciences crews got to give their hands and their hearts to this project. Our company is privileged to have 'built family dreams' through this collective effort by the Indiana ag community, and we wish the Allen family all the best in their new home."
Additional financial sponsors include Beck's Hybrids and Cargill. The remaining financial and in-kind sponsors are Reynolds Farm Equipment, the Indiana State Fair, King Park Area Development Corporation, CountryMark, Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen's Association, the Indiana Soybean Alliance, the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and the Marion County Farm Bureau. In-kind services are being provided by: Achieva, Inc., Baxter Communications and Country 97.1 HANK-FM, Hamilton Exhibits, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana Pork, MainGate, Purdue University, The National FFA Organization and Red Line Graphics.
Allen and her five children will move into the house after it is moved in September to its permanent location at 2062 Bellefontaine St., in 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 450 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 homeownership a reality. For more information about habitat, visit www.indyhabitat.org, org or call (317) 921-2121, ext.121.
For Editorial Information:
Dean Illingworth
Habitat For Humanity
317/407-6418