Posted by Phillip Poole on 2007-12-10

For the fifth consecutive year, Samford University supported a special "home for the holidays" project with the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate.

About 60 students and employees worked Dec. 8 in near perfect weather on a house for Birmingham-area resident Henrietta Morris as part of a special promotion for 10 corporate sponsors to build a house in 10 days as a holiday gift to the homeowner.

Samford is one of two corporate sponsors to participate every year of the special "home for the holidays" project. Birmingham television station ABC 33/40 coordinates the project with local Habitat for Humanity.

Morris, a Birmingham native and community volunteer, visited the work crew and praised Samford's involvement in the project.

"I don't know what I would do without these new friends," Morris said. "It just overwhelms me that so many people are willing to help me."

Valerie Macon, a sophomore nursing major from Marietta, Ga., and Philip Poole, Samford's executive director of communications, represented the university at the groundbreaking ceremonies on Dec. 6. Macon and Melanie Fox, a sophomore from Pelham, Ala., are coordinators for Samford's Habitat affiliate and enlisted student volunteers for the project.

"This has been such a rewarding project because of its uniqueness," Poole said. "Because it falls during final exam time, we always worry just a bit about having enough volunteers. But, every year, the Samford family comes through in grand style. This year was no exception."

Campus Dining, Inc., the university's food service vendor, provided lunches for the volunteers.

Dedication ceremonies are set for Dec. 20.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.