During the past several years, our club has been a proud sponsor of Habitat for Humanity, contributing more than $30,000 towards the construction of new homes and physically assisting with three.
Habitat helps low-income families reach their dreams for a place to call home. Through volunteer labor, monetary and material donations, Habitat constructs simple homes with the help of the soon-to-be-homeowner. Houses are sold to the deserving recipient at no profit and financed with affordable, no-interest loans.
Habitat's Executive Director and Sunrise Rotarian, Matthew Carlson says partnering with Rotary has resulted in the organization doubling the number of homes it constructs per year.
"Public awareness in the community is huge and when we partnered with Bradley Sunrise, we really got our name out there," Carlson said. "We've gone from building three to four homes per year to seven and it's due in part because we teamed up with Rotary."
Each year, the Bradley Sunrise Rotary Club sponsors a golf tournament with the majority of the proceeds being donated to Habitat for Humanity. Club members have also assisted with the construction of several homes.
This year, Sunrise Rotarians stepped up their commitment to Habitat with a $5,000 grant to help the agency purchase a new delivery truck for its home store in the Five Points area.
"We will be able to build a home this year just from Rotary contributions and revenue from the Home Store," Carlson said in 2005.
Habitat has already built more than 40 homes in the Bradley community. "We're building homes for hard working folks who typically can't get a loan because they don't make a whole lot of money," Carlson said. "With Rotary's help, we sell deserving families an $80,000 home for about $55,000 with a 20-year, zero percent mortgate."
Habitat recipients are required to perform 400 hours of "sweat equity" on their and other families'. Worldwide, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 175,000 homes since its inception 30 years ago.