University of Richmond to Build Habitat for Humanity House, Enhance Three Henrico Public Schools
February 10, 2005
Students at the University of Richmond believe in making an impact on the local community.
Two years ago, they “blitz-built” a Habitat for Humanity house, completing the project in one week, along with renovation projects at two area public schools. Each of the past three years, they have been active participants in a university-sponsored community service day to renovate public schools in the Richmond area.
Build It 2005, will combine those efforts into a community service week, April 4–10. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners will again blitz-build a Habitat for Humanity house and enhance three schools in the same Edgelawn neighborhood: Baker Elementary, John Rolfe Middle and Varina High School.
“Our expanded vision for 2005 is to make a lasting impact on a community and initiate and incorporate academic studies outside of class,” said Jill Fasching, co-chair of Build It 2005.
A kickoff will be held Feb. 19 when winners of essay contests in the three schools will be announced and students and parents from the schools will attend the Richmond–Temple basketball game in the Robins Center. The family that will receive the Habitat home will be introduced during a half-time ceremony, Fasching said.
Most work will be done during the designated week, but activities such as tutoring, holding book drives for school libraries, college advising and analyzing research data collected by the schools are continuing throughout the semester.
Richmond Area Habitat for Humanity and Henrico County Public Schools are partners with the university. Ryan Homes donated $10,000 to the project and is providing planning assistance, said Fasching.
Students also have negotiated with Habitat to build the home as an environmentally friendly, or “green” home, with energy-saving systems throughout.
An integral part of Build It 2005 is academic, said Fasching. Richmond faculty are developing writing assignments, research, lectures and roundtable discussions around the initiative and signing up their classes as groups to work at the blitz-build site.
Co-chair Brandon Boxler said 1,400 “people shifts” are scheduled throughout the week for the blitz-build, and another 1,500–2,000 volunteers will work at the schools on April 9—painting, creating an interactive nature trail, planting gardens and making repairs. He said Build It 2005 is the largest community service project ever undertaken by the university.
For more information, visit www.student.richmond.edu/~buildit.