| About Knox Academic Admission Alumni News - Sports Services Search |
|
| ||||
Saturday, October 27, 2001
Contact: Peter Bailley
news@knox.edu
309-341-7715
"There are plenty of college chapters of Habitat for Humanity where students build homes during spring break building homes, but Knox is one of the few colleges in America where students build every Saturday," said Roger Taylor, interim president of Knox, at a ground-breaking ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 27.
Taylor, along with Knox students and representatives of the Knox County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity turned shovels to mark the start of construction on a new home at 2085 East First Street in Galesburg for Amy Jo Miller and her two young sons.
The house will be the first house sponsored entirely by the Knox College chapter of Habitat, which has won national recognition for its success at involving students in projects with the Knox County chapter of Habitat for Humanity. It will be the 24th since 1995 that the Knox College chapter of Habitat for Humanity has helped to build in Knox County.
Approximately ten Knox College students work every Saturday with the Knox County chapter of Habitat for Humanity, said Lance Factor, professor of philosophy and advisor to the College's Habitat chapter. As many as 80 Knox students take part in Habitat at least once during the year.
"Habitat is close to the core values of American society -- working for something, putting sweat equity into something, and having your neighbors help you," Factor said at the event. "Also, students could get involved and take advantage of the fact that Knox and the community are so closely tied together physically." Download MP3 of this quote
Also speaking at the event were James Ecklund, executive director of Knox County Habitat for Humanity, and Knox student Erika Frahm, a member of the college's Habitat chapter. Ecklund presented Frahm with a certificate acknowledging the students' involvement.
"Knox has become a benchmark for other college Habitat chapters," Factor said. "Most of them raise funds to travel to Habitat's Collegiate Challenge during spring break, but Knox is one of the few chapters that also builds in its own community, working in Habitat construction projects every week."
The depth of Knox's commitment to Habitat was recognized earlier this spring, when Habitat for Humanity International awarded a $15,000 challenge grant to the Knox College chapter to assist with the new house.
The Galesburg Sunrise Rotary Club also has supported the project with a gift of $500.
Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 and has built more than 100,000 houses in 60 countries, including some 30,000 in the United States. Houses are given to low income families, who participate in the construction.
Founded in 1837, Knox is a national liberal arts college in Galesburg, Illinois, with students from 47 states and 41 nations. Knox's "Old Main" is a National Historic Landmark and the only building remaining from the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates.
Related Pages
Habitat International Grant to Knox Chapter
History of Habitat for Humanity at Knox
-end-
