What do you get if you add 10 new houses for 10 deserving families?
The answer – the way 2010 alumnus Megan Jones figured it when she came up with the idea for UNC Build a Block during her final semester – is one Carolina.
On Sept. 18, Jones will return to Chapel Hill to join in the UNC Build a Block dedication at the Phoenix Place subdivision.
She will be joined by Chancellor Holden Thorp and his wife Patti, who helped Jones enlist broad-based support throughout the campus community to realize her vision. Also on hand will be Jonathan Reckford, the CEO of Habitat for Humanity International who visited Phoenix Place last fall to help kick off the project.
Since the project began last September, more than 1,400 Carolina students, faculty and staff have spent more than 7,052 hours constructing the homes.
Build a Block Champion groups, individuals, and the UNC Habitat Club contributed $350,000 to help finance the project.
The ambitious project led to Carolina’s selection this summer as Habitat’s Campus Chapter of the Year.
Susan Levy, executive director of the Orange County Habitat for Humanity, said the event is open to the entire University community.
“Megan called upon the entire campus community to make this project happen,” Levy said. “We especially want all the many people who responded to her call to join us so that we can thank them – and so they can see all that they helped to make possible.”
Lunch will be served at 1 p.m. followed by remarks from Reckford and Thorp. Following the program, Build a Block families will open their homes for tours.
Get directions from Orange Habitat or Google.