Thousands of students volunteer with Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge program during spring break
ATLANTA (Feb. 24, 2015) — Nearly 8,000 college and high school students will spend their spring break this year volunteering to build homes and help improve communities through Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge program.
Students will volunteer in 195 communities across the U.S., donating more than 1.8 million to help Habitat offer more homeownership opportunities in partnership with low-income families.
“Collegiate Challenge engages thousands of students each year who work diligently toward improving communities and building decent, affordable housing,” said Mark Andrews, Habitat for Humanity International’s vice president of volunteer and institutional engagement. “We’re grateful for their support as they help families realize their dream of homeownership. Communities will benefit from their hard work for years to come.”
The alternative spring break program, which invites students to spend one week working with Habitat affiliates, was started in 1989. Since then, nearly 240,000 students have volunteered to take part in Collegiate Challenge, donating more than 25 million to Habitat affiliates.
The Collegiate Challenge is one of the many programs Habitat has to engage the next generation of leaders in Habitat’s work. For more information or to register for a Collegiate Challenge event, visit http://www.habitat.org/youthprograms/collegiate-challenge.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a path out of poverty, since 1976 Habitat has helped more than 5 million people through home construction, rehabilitation and repairs and by increasing access to improved shelter through products and services. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and offers a variety of housing support services that enable families with limited means to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org.