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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                                        CONTACT:  Tom Pittman 662.449.5002

                                                                                                Sister Maureen Delaney

HABITAT GAINS SUPPORT FOR PROJECT BUILD

Volunteers for the West Tallahatchie Habitat for Humanity, the first Chapter in the state, turned out on October 23 for Project Build with an extra incentive…….a $11,689 grant.  Thanks to a generous donation from Gold Strike Casino Resort to the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi’s Volunteer Northwest Mississippi (volunteer center), materials and supplies were purchased for the day’s work.   

“The Community Foundation’s mission is to connect people—and in this case, a business—who care with causes that matter,” Community Foundation President Tom Pittman said. “Habitat for Humanity provides a wonderful way to improve housing and quality of life in a community.”   

Gold Strike’s donation allowed the West Tallahatchie Habitat to purchase materials to complete two houses.  The build consisted of 24 window inserts, 4 doors, vinyl sidings, electrical wiring and installation of heat/air unit.  Normally, projects of this magnitude take a month or so to complete due to lack of resources and funds. 

The Habitat for Humanity sites in Clarksdale and Tallahatchie were a part of Impact Week, an initiative of Gold Strike Casino.  Impact Week is a part of Gold Strike’s Diversity Month.  During this week, employees are encouraged to complete hands on volunteer projects that will greatly impact their communities.  Shulanda Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator for Volunteer Northwest Mississippi, coordinated the project with employees of Gold Strike Casino Resort.  “Volunteer Northwest Mississippi was glad to be a part of this project”, said Shulanda Johnson  “Impact Week’s vision is parallel to that of Make A Difference Day and the mission of our Center.  We look forward to extending our services to organizations, volunteers and the community members to help connect the dots that link them to causes that matter…” (Johnson) 

The West Tallahatchie affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, Inc. built its first house in 1986 and over the span of its operations has built over 30 homes and a dormitory/office to host volunteer groups as well as provide a venue for affiliate related events.  As an affiliate of a larger organization, the West Tallahatchie affiliate ascribes to the same mission statement and values of Habitat for Humanity which is to work in partnership with God and people everywhere, from all walks of life, to develop communities with God’s people in need by building and renovating houses so that there are decent houses in decent communities in which people can live and grow into all that God intended.   

”We are most grateful to Gold Strike and the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi for partnering with the West Tallahatchie Habitat for Humanity”, Sr. Maureen Delaney.  “Together we can continue to build quality housing for people in need.”      

The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi is a charitable organization serving eight counties. Its Advisory Board member from Tallahatchie County is Otey Sherman of Charleston.

To learn more about the West Tallahatchie Habitat for Humanity go to www.wthabitat.org.  Additional information about the Community Foundation is available at www.CFNM.org. To sign on as a volunteer with Volunteer Northwest Mississippi go to www.volunteernwms.org or call 662.449.5002.