Ten Thousand Students Trade Swimsuits for Hammers to Build Habitat Homes

Habitat for Humanity International
Tuesday, 18 February 2003

Ten thousand high school and college students are breaking with tradition this spring break by trading in their swimsuits and suntan lotion for coveralls and work boots as they use the holiday to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Students from across the country will visit 200 locations Feb. 16 - April 19 to hammer nails and raise walls as they build simple, decent and affordable houses in partnership with families in need through Habitat for Humanity International's "Collegiate Challenge."

Thousands of students will travel to rural and inner-city areas of the United States to build new houses or refurbish existing residences. Other students will travel overseas to help families in Third World countries achieve the dream of homeownership.

"We are excited that young people want to get involved in helping families who are less fortunate," said Millard Fuller, founder and president of Habitat for Humanity International. "We want to raise the roof on poverty housing. We know that with the help of students, we can eliminate substandard housing from the face of the earth."

Throughout its 15-year history, Collegiate Challenge has sent more than 80,000 students to build Habitat houses. During this time, students have raised nearly $7 million through the program to pay for the construction. This year alone, Collegiate Challenge students will contribute $1 million to build 450 houses. Students involved in Collegiate Challenge raise money to pay for the house's construction and also work on the house.

Some of the major Collegiate Challenge spring break destinations this year include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Jacksonville, Fla., Washington, D.C., Charleston, S.C., Philadelphia, Long Beach, Calif., Westchester County, N.Y., and Columbus, Ga.

Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. Founded by Millard Fuller, along with his wife, Linda, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliates in more than 3,000 communities in 87 nations have built and sold more than 125,000 homes to partner families with no-profit, zero-interest mortgages.

For more information, or to contact Habitat for Humanity International, see their website at: www.habitat.org