“Donna brings a wide variety of experience in marketing, sales, planning, and real estate to her new role with Habitat, says Linda Mines, President of the board of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area. “She has a passion for urban revitalization and for helping people become homeowners, and the energy and enthusiasm Habitat needs to become a greater force for change in our community.   We are looking forward to working with her, Habitat’s volunteers, staff and the community in the days and months ahead to build a brighter future for more of our neighbors in need of decent and affordable homes.”

Since returning to her native Chattanooga in 2001, Williams has served as a strategy, sales and marketing consultant to several teams consisting of private and public partners for the redevelopment of some of Chattanooga’s historically under-served neighborhoods. Her experience with private, local and federal funds specifically targeted for use by low-to-moderate income homeowners has led to numerous national assignments, group trainings and speaking engagements in the areas of Neighborhood Revitalization and Community Engagement.

Under her Live Urban brand and as a Realtor with the downtown office of Keller Williams Realty, Williams has helped build momentum in under-served neighborhoods by working with hundreds of homebuyers, most of whom received public or private down payment assistance to help them achieve their dream of home ownership.

Prior to her return home, Williams held sales and marketing positions with Apple, technology divisions Simon & Schuster/Viacom, Elemental Interactive/Gray Advertising and World African Network.

Her community involvement has included service on the board of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Chancellor’s Roundtable, board of the Chattanooga Girl’s Leadership Academy, board of Cornerstone, Inc., board of the Trust for Public Land, commissioner with the Historic Zoning Commission, Commissioner with the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, and Advisory Council member with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity.

During last year’s event more than 1,800 people slid, ran and crawled through the mud – this year the number of slots for teams has been expanded, toallow more people to get in on the fun!

The Mud Run will be held on Saturday, Aug. 11, at Greenway Farms to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area. The Chattanooga Mud Run will be a 5K-style run featuring a military-style obstacle course with most of the obstacles surrounded by (or consisting entirely of) mud. The Chattanooga Mud Run is sponsored by Capital Toyota & Toyota of Cleveland, Tennessee Valley Credit Union, Raymond James, Power Solutions, Hippie Radio 106.9, The Pulse, News Channel 9, the Tennessee National Guard, and BlueCross Blue Shield of Tennessee.

Unlike most mud runs, the Chattanooga Mud Run is a team based event. Teams are to be comprised of five participants ages 14 and up.  “We have people calling us every day asking about the Chattanooga Mud Run,” says Dawn Hjelseth, Director of Volunteers at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area. “The response last year was overwhelming and raised an incredible amount of money for our mission. This year the race will have more obstacles along with fundraising pages for the teams to utilize to contribute more to Habitat for Humanity.”

To register, gather the names and contact information for a team (five people), then go to http://www.chattanoogamudrun.com/to register. Registration is $200 per team.

Additional volunteers and sponsors are needed for the event. To volunteer before, during or after the event, or to be a sponsor, contact Dawn Hjelseth, Habitat’s volunteer coordinator, at 756-0507, Ext 16, or email dstoike@habichatt.org.

The Chattanooga Mud Run will feature a 3.2 mile course with several obstacles along the way. Teams will have to traverse muddy belly crawls, slippery hill climbs, mazes, wooden walls, and mud pits. The course is achievable for all competitive levels and is intended for active enthusiasts looking for a unique challenge. The Chattanooga Mud Run will take place at Greenway Farms in Hixson, off Hamill Road.

The Vincit Group is a combination of nine companies that provide solutions and services in safety sanitation, water and energy management.

Board Member Thomas Clark presents Amy Kerin the key to her new Habitat Home as Guinness (Center) looks on. A few moments later Guinness was present his own key - to a high-tech pet door that will allow him to enter and access the home, while blocking other animals!

Friends and family of Amy Kerin gathered to celebrate the completion of her new fully handicapped accessible Habitat for Humanity home this past Saturday thanks to the support of community volunteers, the City of Chattanooga’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program and the Coming Back Home partnership between the Tennessee Housing Development Agency and Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee.

Even if she can get into an apartment or home, she can’t be independent because of the height of counter tops, cabinets and the stove, and she also has to have assistance to shower.  “The only way to be independent is to have a house built to be functional for you,” says Amy.  “But on a limited income that is not going to happen.”    “I had always known about Habitat, but one morning I woke up and said ‘I’m calling Habitat to see about getting a house, ’” she said.   Amy completed the application process and was accepted into the program.

Construction on the home began in mid-June, and the home is now complete -a dedication ceremony was held Saturday December 3.

Amy’s home contains a variety of modifications to make it work for her, including a front loading washer and dryer, lowered cabinets, roll-in shower, 0 grade entrance and deck, lowered light switches and a high tech pet door for Guinness,

“We are grateful to the City of Chattanooga, to Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee and to the Tennessee Housing Development Agency for their financial support of this effort,” says Pete Palmer, Habitat’s Executive Director.  “Many people like Amy struggle with not just affordable housing, but with housing that is adapted to allow them to live full and independent lives.  This home is a great example of the difference that can be made when our community, volunteers, and state and federal resources come together.”

Amy Kerin's home is accessible for her and her service dog Guinness, and will allow her to live independantly.

Amy’s home is one of 45 being built across the state through the Coming Back Homeinitiative.  Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee, an organization supporting the 51 Habitat affiliates serving 63 counties in our state, received a $1 million grant from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency’s (THDA) Housing Trust Fund toward the construction of 45 Habitat for Humanity homes across the state.  An estimated 165 children and adults will live in affordable, new and quality built homes they own while making monthly home loan payments to Habitat that are used to build even more homes.  The home is also one of seven being constructed in Chattanooga by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area in partnership with the City of Chattanooga, Department of Neighborhood Services and Community Development’s Neighborhood Stabilization Project under Mayor Ron Littlefield.

Additional donations of materials or services were generously provided by  Bowman Construction Company, Custom Closets, Dow Chemical, Noland Company, Rev. Lou and Dr. Mark Parsons,  Quickdrain USA, Rock Point Community Church,  Square D, UBS Financial Services,  James Stacey/ Home Journey Consulting, Valspar Paint, Whirlpool, and Yale Locks.

Click the image to enlarge!

Do you make a wickedly delicious chili? If so, bring your game to the World Heavyweight Chili Championship presented by DeMoss Capital during MainX24 on Dec. 3rd.  MainX24 is a FREE 24-hour festival celebrating Chattanooga’s Main Street and the surrounding Southside.  To find out more, click http://mainx24.com/

On Saturday December 3rd during MainX24, chili teams will unload cars full of pots and secret ingredients to take part in the 3rd Annual World Heavy Weight Chili Championship presented by DeMoss Capital!

Along with teams battling for the championship, local bands will top off the day playing on the Loading Dock of Rock including The Jackies, Dark Horse Ten, Glowing Bordis and Strung Like a Horse!

Don’t worry, we didn’t forget about the kiddies – there will be a Lego building competition for them as well! Additionally, Grant Interiors will be hosting “Home Sweets Home” bake sale during the event.

To Volunteer for the Event, Click Here

Click Here for Complete Chili Team Guidelines

To Register Your Team Now or To Buy Tickets, Click Here!

Thank you to our sponsors: DeMoss Capital, OCI, Brown Dog Construction, Brewer Media, Grant Interiors, Terminal Brewhouse, Big River Brewery, ‘Noog and Coca-Cola!

COSTUMES REQUIRED:
Get in by wearing an old recycled halloween costume (no new costumes allowed). Wear the creepiest costume and win a $40 gift card to The Terminal Brewhouse, new Goodhew socks and a Goody Bag from Habitat for Humanity.

DONATIONS:
And while you lurk about, guzzle a free glass of ghoul or Dead Guy Ale and catch a glimpse of the 1978 thriller, Halloween. Just remember to bring donations for The ReStore. A minimum $1 donation gets you an additional drink while serving a great cause.

GREEN DRINKS, DON’T DRIVE:
Ride your bike, walk, take the bus, or carpool (3 or more) to Green Drinks. Sign in at the door to specify your means of transportation and enter to win a cool prize.

When: Wednesday, October 26, 6-8pm

Where: Habitat ReStore, 1201 E Main,  Chattanooga, TN

For more info, click www.greendrinkschattanooga.com

Design Workshop Series

Habitat’s ReStore has put together a panel of experts to answer your questions and give you new design ideas for your home.  Join us at the ReStore, 1201 E Main Street in Chattanooga, October 29th at 1pm, and get some ideas a tips from four local experts:

• Winn Pratt: Pratt Home Living, President
• Stuart Bickley: Rain Dance Property Solutions, Owner
• Becky Worley: Classic Cabinetry, Owner
• Amy Winchester: American Society of Interior Designers Chattanooga, Past President

For more information, call 423-634-1004

Brighter Times Ahead

Photo by Ezra Millstein

Eight-year-old Omar Vasquez studies for school inside his family’s makeshift home in San Martin Jilotepeque, Guatemala. Omar’s textbook and face are illuminated by sunshine penetrating through cracks in the wooden shelter. For 25 years, Omar’s grandparents — Maria Teresa Ramirez and Miguel Angel Juares, pictured in the background — had lived in the same house. As their family grew to include children such as Omar’s father, Edwin Yoani Vazquez, space grew tighter.

To ease the suffocating conditions, Maria and Miguel recently moved into this improvised structure with Omar, Edwin and two other grandchildren. Thankfully, their time here is temporary. Soon, Omar will have more space — and light — to study in a new, block home the family is building with Habitat Guatemala. “Omar always arrives back at the house after school and immediately asks about the volunteers,” says his grandmother, Maria Teresa. “The volunteers all work so hard, also chatting and playing with the children. We are very happy we have the opportunity to know them and to work together to build the house.”

Read more from Habitat World Magazine

And Habitat International

On Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 2:00pm, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga will dedicate its 232nd house!  The Morgans will move in to their new home at 2912 Curtis Street with style.

The ceremony will be as follows:

• Welcome & Acknowledgements
• Scripture & Prayer
• Introduction of Homeowner
• Homeowner Remarks
• Litany of Dedication
• Presentations
• Closing Prayer
• Home Tour & Refreshments

We gratefully acknowledge the support of our community volunteer partners who have been critical to the success of this project.

Thanks to the following for your continued support of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area and Partner Families:

• Chattanooga Housing Authority
• DOW Chemicals
• The Embroiders’ Guild of America, Chattanooga Chapter
• Church Koinonia Federal Credit Union
• Ronald L. Patton Appraisals
• Square D
• State Farm Insurance Hamilton County Agents
• St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church
• Valspar Paint
• Whirpool Corporation
• Yale Locks

Sponsored by: The City of Chattanooga Department of Neighborhood Services & Community Development Neighborhood Stabilization Program

We hope to see you there!