February 12, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University students will join more than 12,000 fellow spring breakers from across the country participating in Habitat for Humanity’s “Collegiate Challenge.”
During the week of March 9-14, WKU students will work alongside other volunteers and Habitat homeowners to build simple, decent and affordable Habitat for Humanity houses. The WKU Campus Chapter will be taking trips to Davidson, N.C., Greensboro, S.C. (Catholic Campus Center), Macon, Ga., and Decatur, Ala.
“While many of their peers are relaxing these students are putting in hundreds of hours of hard work during Habitat’s Collegiate Challenge,” said Alynn Woodson, Associate Director of Habitat’s Youth Programs department. “By the end of the week, not only have the students learned how to build a house, they’ve also seen how their actions can help improve people’s lives by providing safe, affordable shelter through a Habitat for Humanity home.”
More than 12,000 students have signed up to help build homes in 210 locations as part of this year’s Collegiate Challenge program. The program offers high school and college-age students year-round opportunities to use their vacations to serve a community by volunteering to build homes.
Throughout its 19-year history, more than 155,000 students have traveled to build Habitat houses through Habitat’s Collegiate Challenge program. During this time, students raised more than $14.6 million to pay for construction. This year alone, Collegiate Challenge students will contribute $1.5 million to help build houses.
About Habitat for Humanity International: Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built more than 250,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For information, contact Jessica Tinnell at (502) 905-4760 or jessica.tinnell@wku.edu.
-WKU-
"A leading American university with international reach"
Office of Media Relations
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, Ky. 42101-3576
Phone: (270)745-4295 - Fax: (270)7455387 - E-Mail: western@wku.edu