"SOME GIFTS DON'T COME
WRAPPED"
On Saturday, December 20, two Quad City families
received the keys to a gift they'd been working towards for more
than a year- a home. 
Amber VanThournout's three excited children eagerly
gave tours of their new two story Habitat home to the dozens of
volunteers, sponsors, and friends who gathered for the morning's
home dedication ceremony and open house. Sponsors included Quad
City Area Realtor Association and their affiliates, Scott County
Housing Council, Wells Fargo, Northwest Mechanical, and Roy E.
Murray Foundation.
At
noon in East Moline, a gracious Cathy Jones greeted guests at
the dedication of her family's home, Habitat's 60th, which was
sponsored by Alcoa. Hugs, laughter, and stories from the five
months of construction filled the 1,100 square foot home built
by Cathy, Alcoa employees, and Habitat volunteers. All the hands
who made the home possible were in attendace including East Moline
Mayor John Thodos, Alderman Roseann Cervantes, and lot donors
Tony & Linda Gomez.
Habitat Board Member and City of Rock Island employee Mary Chappell
summed up the memorable day, saying "Some girfts don't come
wrapped."
AND THE WINNER IS....
It's
a tie! For the first time in the event's three year history, two
winners will share the title of "Ms. Habitat". They
are Susan Ingold from Alcoa and Jill Weaver from Modern Woodmen
of America. Both are active Habitat volunteers.
Four other contestants competed for the title at Habitat's signature
fundraiser on October 18. They were Ron Danner of Ryan Companies,
John Marx from the Dispatch/Argus, Rock Island's Mayor ProTem
Dennis Pauley, and Bill Palos of Re/Max River Cities. Judges included
Dana Wilkinson of Paragon Interiors; community volunteer Judy
Krieter of Davenport; Jim Russell of Russell Construction; Esta
Helpenstell of the Amy Helpenstell Foundation; Jan Windmiller
of Windmiller Design & Development; and Brian Hollenbeck of
Renaissance Rock Island.
More than 220 were in attendace at the organization's
biggest fundraiser to date, which also featured a silent auction,
appetizers, and a moving address by Habitat partner family-turned
volunteer Linda Creighton. The evening was hosted by honorary
Chairs Mike & Kim Whalen of Heart of America Inns & Suites
and Andy & Debi Butler of Butler Insurance and major sponsors
were Iowa American Water and Whitey's Ice Cream.
"TODAY IS FOR OUR KIDS"
HABITAT BREAKS GROUND ON #57
July
26 had been a long time coming for Jerry Johnson and Christina
Danielson. Seven sponsors joined Habitat in breaking ground on
the family's new home at 434 6th Street in Moline. "Today
is for our kids," Christina said looking at the couple's
five children.
Major funding will come from the Dr. Walter E. Neiswanger Community
Fund, established by "Dr. N", before his passing in
2007. Habitat folks lovingly referred to him as our “angel”
because of his giving spirit and passion for good works. The Amy
Helpenstell Foundation, who helps sponsor a home yearly, and Wells
Fargo, co-sponsor of five homes this year, are also top contributors.
Additional funding will come from the Duncan J. Cameron Family
Foundation, Moline Foundation, Habitat ReStore and Sam’s
Club. The lot for this property was acquired through the assistance
of the City of Moline. This will be the 9th house that Habitat
has built in Moline.
ALCOA CELEBRATES 60 YEARS
WITH 60TH HABITAT HOME
THere
are many ways to celebrate 60 years of business, but for one local
manufacturer, there are four that stand out. They are Cathy, Anna,
Carlos, and Andrew and they are the recipients of Habitat for
Humanity Quad Cities’ house #60.
On July 19, Alcoa and Habitat joined hands to break ground on
Habitat’s 60th home and commemorate Alcoa’s sixty-year
presence in the Quad Cities. The home will be located at 1447
18th Street in East Moline and is sponsored entirely by Alcoa
and Alcoa Foundation. In addition to the sponsorship, many Alcoa
Davenport Works employees will provide volunteer labor to help
construct the home. Employees will work alongside the partner
family, who will contribute 250 hours of labor per adult family
member.
Pictured are partner family member Cathy Jones (left) and Habitat
Board President Deb Schaller (right).
CAR WASH FOR HUMANITY SPONSORS
HOMES
Sam
Wagner was just 16 years old when he got the idea to sponsor a
Habitat home. Since each Habitat house costs around $70,000 to
construct, Sam knew he would have to rally friends to put this
idea into action. Two years later, Sam and his fellow members
at Our Lady of Victory Youth Group had raised over $33,000 through
their annual car washes toward the construction of two Habitat
homes.
Sam is pictured here with partner family Angela
Brewer, the new owner of Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities house
#53, which he and the "Car Wash for Humanity" helped
sponsor. At the dedicaiton of Angela's home on May 10, Sam said
that Habitat inspired him to “put ideas into action”
and is literally “changing the world one nail at a time”.
