/PRNewswire/ -- In observance of World Habitat Day, Habitat for Humanity International will honor former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter at Habitat for Humanity's "Thanks a Million! A salute to the life and service of our most famous volunteers -- Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter" Gala in Washington, D.C., at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium -- Monday, Oct. 4, 2010.
The evening will include a memorable celebration of the Carters' 27 years of service to Habitat and of their lifetime commitment to strengthening democracy and alleviating poverty. Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Frank Blake of The Home Depot, Andrew N. Liveris of Dow, and Larry Stone of Lowe's Corporation are gala co-chairs. U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan will serve as the guest speaker.
The gala will kick-off Habitat for Humanity's 27th annual Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, where the Carters will lead 1,000 volunteers in a week of helping to build, renovate and repair 86 homes in six U.S. cities -- Washington, D.C.; Baltimore and Annapolis, Md.; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.; and Birmingham, Ala. -- and actively demonstrate the pressing need for stable communities.
"It has been an honor for Rosalynn and me to work alongside so many dedicated Habitat volunteers and partner families over the years," said President Carter. "By joining together, we can build better communities and change lives around the world -- including our own."
President and Mrs. Carter became involved with Habitat for Humanity in 1984 when they led volunteers in New York City to help renovate a six-story building with 19 families in need of decent, affordable shelter. That experience planted the seed for Habitat's Carter Work Project, which has been an internationally-recognized event ever since.
"As tireless champions for social justice, the Carters have set an example of public service that we should all aspire to," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "We're grateful for their volunteerism and servant leadership, which has brought hope and stability to families worldwide."
The gala to honor the Carters will include a program and featured entertainment.
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Showing posts with label jimmy carter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jimmy carter. Show all posts
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter Helps Launch New Book for Young Readers With Habitat for Humanity and Candlewick Press
/PRNewswire/ -- Today, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed copies of a new book for young readers published by Candlewick Press that tells the true-life stories of Habitat for Humanity volunteers and homeowners working to build simple, decent and affordable housing.
If I Had a Hammer: Building Homes and Hope with Habitat for Humanity by David Rubel, with a foreword by Carter and an afterword by Habitat CEO Jonathan Reckford, is now available nationally wherever books are sold.
Fans, both young and young at heart, gathered for the book signing at The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum at The Carter Center in Atlanta.
Carter, who is often referred to as Habitat's most famous volunteer, writes in the book's foreword, "There is no question that helping to create a decent home for a partner family is a significant act of giving, but volunteers typically find that they receive something in return that is even more valuable: a feeling of satisfaction and a connection to other people. Knowing that you worked alongside other volunteers to change a family's life is a powerful feeling that you will want to experience again and again."
The 160-page hardcover book is divided into eight chapters featuring stories of Habitat homeowners and volunteers at build sites in the United States and around the world, and is stunningly illustrated with full-color photos. If I Had a Hammer also tells the story of Habitat's early beginnings in rural Georgia and explores topics from interesting home design (like using window bars in India to keep monkeys out of houses) to the emotional rewards of helping to build a house from the ground up.
"We are immensely grateful to President Carter for his dedicated service and the inspiration he and Mrs. Carter have provided to volunteers," said Reckford. "It is our hope that 'If I Had A Hammer' will inspire a new generation of volunteers to get involved and help create better and safer communities."
Rubel, who authored the book, also has written the Scholastic Encyclopedia of the Presidents and Their Times, the Scholastic Atlas of the United States, and The Coming Free, a book for adults about the civil right movement. Rubel is a graduate of Columbia University and lives in Chatham, N.Y.
"At the heart of this book are the stories that people--homeowners, volunteers, staff-- shared with me about their experiences with Habitat for Humanity and, in particular, the Carter Work Projects. I know these stories will move young readers, because they certainly moved me," said Rubel.
"Candlewick Press is so proud to be the publisher of David Rubel's fascinating and moving tribute to the extraordinary accomplishments, history, and people of Habitat for Humanity. We hope the book helps inspire volunteers of all ages for years to come," said Karen Lotz, President and Publisher of Candlewick Press.
Habitat for Humanity's Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project began in 1984 when the former president and former first lady led a work group to New York City to help renovate a six-story building with 19 families in need of decent, affordable shelter. Each year since, the Carters have given a week of their time--along with their construction skills--to build homes and raise awareness of the critical need for affordable housing. The Carter Work Project is held at a different location each year and attracts volunteers from around the world.
This year, from Nov. 15-20, 2009, Habitat's Carter Work Project will take place in the Mekong region of Southeast Asia. Volunteers will build 166 homes in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and China.
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If I Had a Hammer: Building Homes and Hope with Habitat for Humanity by David Rubel, with a foreword by Carter and an afterword by Habitat CEO Jonathan Reckford, is now available nationally wherever books are sold.
Fans, both young and young at heart, gathered for the book signing at The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum at The Carter Center in Atlanta.
Carter, who is often referred to as Habitat's most famous volunteer, writes in the book's foreword, "There is no question that helping to create a decent home for a partner family is a significant act of giving, but volunteers typically find that they receive something in return that is even more valuable: a feeling of satisfaction and a connection to other people. Knowing that you worked alongside other volunteers to change a family's life is a powerful feeling that you will want to experience again and again."
The 160-page hardcover book is divided into eight chapters featuring stories of Habitat homeowners and volunteers at build sites in the United States and around the world, and is stunningly illustrated with full-color photos. If I Had a Hammer also tells the story of Habitat's early beginnings in rural Georgia and explores topics from interesting home design (like using window bars in India to keep monkeys out of houses) to the emotional rewards of helping to build a house from the ground up.
"We are immensely grateful to President Carter for his dedicated service and the inspiration he and Mrs. Carter have provided to volunteers," said Reckford. "It is our hope that 'If I Had A Hammer' will inspire a new generation of volunteers to get involved and help create better and safer communities."
Rubel, who authored the book, also has written the Scholastic Encyclopedia of the Presidents and Their Times, the Scholastic Atlas of the United States, and The Coming Free, a book for adults about the civil right movement. Rubel is a graduate of Columbia University and lives in Chatham, N.Y.
"At the heart of this book are the stories that people--homeowners, volunteers, staff-- shared with me about their experiences with Habitat for Humanity and, in particular, the Carter Work Projects. I know these stories will move young readers, because they certainly moved me," said Rubel.
"Candlewick Press is so proud to be the publisher of David Rubel's fascinating and moving tribute to the extraordinary accomplishments, history, and people of Habitat for Humanity. We hope the book helps inspire volunteers of all ages for years to come," said Karen Lotz, President and Publisher of Candlewick Press.
Habitat for Humanity's Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project began in 1984 when the former president and former first lady led a work group to New York City to help renovate a six-story building with 19 families in need of decent, affordable shelter. Each year since, the Carters have given a week of their time--along with their construction skills--to build homes and raise awareness of the critical need for affordable housing. The Carter Work Project is held at a different location each year and attracts volunteers from around the world.
This year, from Nov. 15-20, 2009, Habitat's Carter Work Project will take place in the Mekong region of Southeast Asia. Volunteers will build 166 homes in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and China.
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