NCAA, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis to Dedicate Home to Indianapolis Family

Wednesday, August 22, 2007, INDIANAPOLIS – Marking the completion of the second year of a three-year partnership with Habitat for Humanity known as NCAA Home Team, the NCAA and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis have completed a second house in Indianapolis. Throughout the first two years of the NCAA Home Team partnership, more than 1,000 student-athletes, staff and other volunteers have built nearly 25 homes for families to aid the rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast, as well as help to eliminate substandard housing in other areas of the country, including Indianapolis.

“The NCAA is pleased to sponsor this build and proud that our staff could be part of this important effort in our community. This is another example of how the partnership with Indianapolis allows us to give back to a city that has embraced us,” said Myles Brand, president of the NCAA.

The NCAA not only sponsored the build financially, but also provided volunteers from the national office staff. Students and staff from Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis were also invited to volunteer on the home with new homeowners Dwight and Carmen Allen. One of the unique features of the Habitat for Humanity program is homeowners must also apply “sweat equity” to the construction of their houses, meaning they all physically contribute to the completion of their homes.

“We enjoyed helping other Habitat homeowners build their homes, but building our own home was so special to us. We truly bless and praise this program and all who support it,” said Carmen.

This build that began on July 5, 2007, will end with a Home Dedication Celebration on Friday, August 24, 2007, at 3:30 p.m. at the home, 621 East 23rd Street, Indianapolis. Brand and other NCAA staff members will join Habitat for Humanity in welcoming the family. As part of the dedication, the NCAA will provide the homeowners with a gift basket including an NCAA blanket, mini basketball, books and other items. These gifts are in addition to the traditional Habitat for Humanity gifts: a tool kit, a homeowner’s manual and a Bible.

Brand, Habitat for Humanity staff and the homeowners will be available to the media following the dedication.

About the NCAA
The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 380,000 student-athletes at more than 1,200 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA championships in Divisions I, II and III sports. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaasports.com for more details about the Association, its goals and members and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes. The NCAA is proud to have the following elite companies as official Corporate Champions—AT&T, Coca-Cola and Pontiac—and the following elite companies as official Corporate Partners—DiGiorno, Enterprise, The Hartford, Lowe’s and State Farm.

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater 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 300 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.

More information about this build and Habitat, is available online at www.indyhabitat.org

Source: NCAA

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