Habitat Readies For Special Summer Build

Habitat green hats and volunteers will come together for a one home build that is set to begin on Thursday, July 24.

Memphis Habitat will officially break ground on a new home at 4336 Range Line Road this Thursday, July 24. Volunteers are needed for all weekday build shifts. Lunch will be served between 12 and 1 p.m. Detailed build information is available here. For additional information or to sign up for the Summer Build, please contact Erica Gorman, volunteer and events coordinator, at 901.761.4771, ext. 217 or via email at egorman@memphishabitat.com.

- posted on July 22, 2008

Habitat Closes ReStore to Focus on Core Mission

Memphis Habitat's Board of Directors has voted to close the affiliate's ReStore effective Tuesday, July 15, 2008. Following the recent approval of a three-year strategic plan outlining Habitat's goal of building 90 homes by 2011, Habitat has chosen to more strictly focus on the organization's core mission.

"The ReStore was a great resource for Habitat and our customers for many years," said executive director Dwayne Spencer. "However, Memphis Habitat is in a period of tremendous growth, and we're anxious to direct all of our energy toward serving more families than ever before."

Citing decreasing donations, increasing fuel costs and continuing struggles with inadequate facilities, Spencer said the ReStore's performance level dropped dramatically below expectations during the last fiscal year, jeopardizing its viability as a significant fundraiser. The ReStore relies on donations from individuals and companies and is open to the public. It has served as one of Memphis Habitat's fundraising sources for the better part of the last decade.

"We are so thankful to everyone who shopped at and donated goods to the ReStore over the years," Spencer said. "It's been an important part of the life of Memphis Habitat, and I hope all of those who supported the ReStore will continue to be advocates for Habitat's mission to eliminate substandard housing and make homeownership possible for all Memphis-area families."

Spencer said he also hopes that ReStore donors will continue to support the concept of recycling and reusing by contributing their gently used merchandise to other worthwhile organizations such as MIFA, Goodwill and The Salvation Army.

To learn more about how you can support Habitat's mission, please contact Jeff Capps, director of community relations. He can be reached at 901.761.4771, ext. 215 or jcapps@memphishabitat.com.

- posted on July 3, 2008

Exotic Italian Car Show Raises Nearly $22,000 for Habitat!

David Wolford and son Taylor pose in front of their 1986 Ferrari 328 GTS, which was the winner of the 7th Annual Exotic Italian Show's Best Ferrari Class II (1950-1989).

The 7th Annual Exotic Italian Show, presented by Memphis Cars Italia and sponsored by Foreign Cars Italia, Ameriprise Financial and Oak River Fine Homes, took place on Sunday, June 15. The Show, which was held at the Memphis Botanic Garden, featured Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Maseratis and more, as well as non-Italian Porsches, Aston Martins and an array of elite vehicles from manufacturers around the world. Around 2,000 patrons attended the show, which raised almost $22,000 for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis. Special thanks to the 2008 sponsors Foreign Cars Italia, Ameriprise Financial, Memphis Cars Italia, Oak River Fine Homes, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Northwest Airlines, Blue Bell Ice Cream, Pepsi Americas, Golf Discount Superstore, Lewis Bros. Bakeries/Bunny Bread, Frito-Lay, Weber, The Memphis Flyer and FM 100 as well as the car owners, volunteers and patrons who made the 2008 Show the most successful one yet!

- posted on June 18, 2008

The Exotic Italian Car Show Will Zoom into Memphis June 15th!

Come see an amazing collection of Italian exotics and other mouth-watering sports and European exotic cars at the Exotic Italian Car Show at Memphis Botanic Garden Sunday, June 15, 2008 from noon to 5 p.m.  From state-of-the art modern-day Ferraris to some of the rarest vintage Italian cars, this exotic car show will not disappoint!  The cars’ owners will even start up the cars’ engines several times during the show so you can hear the “marvelous music” of Italian horsepower from V12, V10, V8, V6, flat 12 and turbocharged, high-powered engines. 

A sampling of new and vintage Italian cars expected to participate in the Exotic Italian Car Show include Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Alfa Romeos, Fiats, Maseratis and more, as well as non-Italian Porsches, Aston Martins and an array of elite vehicles from manufacturers around the world.  One of the fastest production cars in the world, the 200+ mph Ultima GTR, will be present.

This special Fathers Day event benefits Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis.  Enjoy fun promotions, food vendors, refreshments and activities throughout the day, including face painting, balloons and crafts for the kids.  There will be free hot dogs, chips and ice cream available while supplies last.

For a little well-deserved inspiration, spend an afternoon with some gorgeous Italian beauties – marvelously crafted sports and exotic cars – at the Exotic Italian Car Show at Memphis Botanic Garden in Audubon Park Sunday, June 15, 2008 from noon to 5 p.m.  Admission to the Car Show is $10 for adults and $5 for children (ages 2-10).  The Exotic Italian Car Show – benefiting Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis – is organized and presented by Memphis Cars Italia and sponsored by Foreign Cars Italia, Ameriprise Financial, Oak River Fine Homes, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Northwest Airlines, Blue Bell Ice Cream, Pepsi Americas, Golf Discount Superstore, Lewis Bros. Bakeries/Bunny Bread, Frito-Lay, Weber, The Memphis Flyer and FM 100.

For more information, call 901-761-4771 or go to the Memphis Cars Italia web site: www.mcicars.com, which also features photos from last year’s Exotic Italian Car Show.  The Memphis Botanic Garden is located at 750 Cherry Road in Audubon Park, Memphis, Tennessee. 

- posted on May 21, 2008

Five New Partner Families Welcomed Home

E. Jimmie Holmes, Habitat construction site supervisor, addresses the dedication ceremony crowd before distributing Bibles, bookmarks and birdhouses to the three new Tully Street homeowners. The gifts were donated by Cub Scout Pack 452. Home Depot also donated tools for each of the new homeowners.

Habitat Executive Director Dwayne Spencer reads the Habitat covenant to new homeowners Lanette Coleman and Willie and Lizzie Bright during the Northaven home dedication ceremony on Saturday, May 10th.

Spring Build sponsors, volunteers, homeowners and staff gathered one final time on Saturday, May 10th for the Northaven and Tully Street dedication ceremonies. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis would like to extend a very special thanks to everyone who made the Spring 2008 Build such a tremendous success. For a complete list of sponsors, click here. To view pictures from the dedication ceremonies, please click here.

Home construction will resume in mid-September 2008. For more information about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, please contact Jeff Capps, director of community relations, at 901-761-4771, ext. 215 or at jcapps@memphishabitat.com.

- posted on May 13, 2008

Habitat To Dedicate Five New Homes This Saturday

Five homes will be dedicated this Saturday, May 10th, including 990 Tully Street, the new home of Catina Newsom and family. The home was built in partnership with Tennessee Valley Authority.

This weekend, five more deserving Memphis-area families truly will have a place to call “home” for the first time, as Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis celebrates the completion of three homes on Tully Street in north Memphis and two homes in the Northaven community.

Separate dedication ceremonies will be held at both of those locations. The Northaven dedication, at 5050 Chesterton Cove, will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Tully Street ceremony, at 990 Tully Street is scheduled for 3 p.m. The Tully Street dedication will be followed by a block party for the new homeowners, sponsors, volunteers and neighborhood friends. Snacks and drinks will be provided for all guests, and games and activities will be available for children. For directions to both dedication sites, click here.

The Habitat Spring 2008 Building Blitz started on Friday, March 14 and ended on Saturday, May 3. Spring home sponsors include include Accredo Health IT Department, Allenberg Cotton Company, Bolton High School, Cargill, Cordova High School, Craigmont High School, Cummins Inc., Cummins Mid-South, FedEx, First Assembly Christian School, Germantown Presbyterian Church, Germantown United Methodist Church, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Houston High School, Holy Rosary Catholic Church, International Paper, Medtronic, Philip Morris USA, Running Pony Productions, State Farm Insurance, St. Patrick Presbyterian Church, Tennessee Housing Development Agency, Tennessee Valley Authority, White Station High School and Wright Medical Technology.

For more information about this or other Habitat for Humanity initiatives, please contact Jeff Capps, director of community relations, at 497-7022 or jcapps@memphishabitat.com.

- posted on May 9, 2008