Congratulations to
Ms. Habitat 2011!
On
Saturday, October 15, more than 200 people gathered at the
Rogalski Center for the sixth annual Mr./Ms. Habitat
competition. Throughout the cocktail reception, guests feasted
on hors d'oeuvres and an assortment of delicious desserts. The
competition began with the introduction of the panel of esteemed
judges: Kathy Anderson, St. Ambrose University; Vickie Clark,
Ducky's Lagoon; Jerod Engler, Bush Construction Company; Chad
Manternach, Wells Fargo; and Donna Young, Isabel Bloom.
This year's brave
contestants were: Kay Luna, Quad City Times; Susan Marty, St.
Paul Lutheran Church; Rich Oswald, Iowa American Water; and Joe
Tedesco, SAIC. The contestants competed in evening wear,
interview, construction wear, and talent competitions. After
contestants put on a wonderful, entertaining show for the
audience, St. Paul Lutheran Church's Susan Marty was crowned Ms.
Habitat 2011.
The event, made
possible by Presenting Sponsor Bush Construction and Gold Hammer
Sponsors Iowa American Water and Jack Bryant at Wells Fargo
Advisors, raised over $20,000 for Habitat for Humanity Quad
Cities. Since its inception in 1993, Habitat has made
homeownership possible for 72 partner families.
To see more
pictures from the evening, please click here.
Habitat
Breaks Ground on House #75
We had plenty to celebrate on Saturday, October 1. Under a
clear blue sky, a large crowd of Habitat volunteers, donors, and
supporters formed at 824 Charlotte in Davenport to celebrate
several important Habitat milestones.
Habitat for Humanity International was preparing to celebrate
the dedication of the 500,000th Habitat house, which was
constructed in Kenya. In Iowa, the day was known as Habitat Day
in acknowledgement of the 1,000th Habitat home built in Iowa.
The 1,000th home was built in Knoxville, Iowa by Habitat for
Humanity of Marion County.
In Davenport, Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities celebrated the
ground breaking of our affiliate's 75th 
house. The house, located at 824 Charlotte
in Davenport, will soon be home to the Habitat Partner Family
#75 Kangni and Loetitia Foli and son John with Father Levitt
from Christ the King Church
Kangni and Loetitia Foli partner
family. The home's construction is being sponsored by Wells
Fargo, Titan Machinery, the Scott County Housing Council, and
City of Davenport HOME Funds.
In honor of the acheivements both locally and globally,
Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities hosted a special build day on
house #75. The men's and women's basketball teams from St.
Ambrose University and the women's basketball team from
Augustana College traded their high tops for hard hats.
Habitat
Breaks Ground on House #73
The sound of hammering could be heard for blocks
surrounding 1313 12th Avenue in Moline on the morning of
Saturday, August 20. A team of volunteers was busy framing the
first wall of the future home of Tony and Cathy Hacker and
their six children: Thalia, Esma, Zane, Elliana, Jayda, and
Tony, Jr.
Volunteers paused long enough for a brief
ceremony, which highlighted the generosity of the homes
sponsors and volunteers, and the hardwork of the Hacker
family. Like all partner families, Tony and Cathy Hacker will
each contribute 250 hours of sweat equity. Once the house is
completed, they will purchase their home with an affordable,
no interest mortgage.
Pastor Conway from Trinity Lutheran Church lead
the crowd in an opening prayer before Habitat's Director of
Development Debbie Jackson thanked the homes' construction
supervisors, Dan Mizner and Ross Christopher, and sponsors.
Each Habitat homes costs approximately $85,000 to construct.
Sponsors for house #73 include Wells Fargo, The Moline
Foundation, The Amy Helpenstell Foundation, the Augustana
College Habitat Chapter, Modern Woodmen of America, Sam's
Club, and Trinity Lutheran Church.
Mayor Don Welvaert congratulated the Hackers and
thanked the many assembled volunteers for their efforts.
Habitat homes don't just help families, they help improve
neghborhoods and communities, he said.
The Hackers' menton, Habitat volunteer Ellie
Thompson, introduced the family and presented Tony and Cathy
with hammers to use during the construction of their home.
Cathy then held back tears as she thanked the sponsors and
volunteers for making their dream of home ownership
possible.
Bring
Your Team for a Work
Day
Work Day Sponsors provide: 
• A team of volunteers for a day
• A contribution to
Habitat QC
In exchange, they receive:
• Construction leadership, training, and tools for the
day
• A simple, decent lunch
• Use of Habitat logo for
t-shirts or publicity
• Recognition in Habitat
publications
• A teambuilding opportunity unlike any
other
• A chance to leave “titles at the office” and make
a tangible impact that will improve the lives of a family in
our community!
Call 563-359-9066 to schedule a
work day for your group
on one of our 4 homes under
construction!
Isabel
Bloom Announces New Sculpture to Benefit
Habitat
Isabel Bloom, a Quad-City favorite, announced in January that
it would expand its partnership with 
Habitat
through by donating $5 from every sale of one of its newest
sculptures: a pineapple.
Isabel Bloom began partnering with Habitat in 2008 when
representatives of the company began presenting a Small
Birdhouse Plaque to each Habitat partner family at their home
dedication. After learning more about the program, a crew from
Isabel Bloom decided they wanted to be more involved. In 2010,
the company sponsored a workday and sent a crew of employees to
work on Habitat house #66.
Habitat’s Director of Development Debbie Jackson explained
that the new sculpture will have a far-reaching impact on
Habitat’s program. "The new Bloom Habitat Pineapple will help
Habitat further its mission by donating a portion of sales
proceeds to the cause. In addition to helping build homes, the
Pineapple will raise awareness of Habitat and the importance of
simple, decent, affordable housing for everyone!"
The pineapple, an international symbol for welcome, will be
sold in Isabel Bloom stores and online at http://www.ibloom.com/.
