March 20, 2008

Purdue Research Park companies unite to benefit Habitat for Humanity project

"Spring for Habitat Book Fair"
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"The goal of Project White Picket Fence is to raise the $40,000 needed to construct a Habitat home," said Joseph B. Hornett, senior vice president, treasurer and COO of the Purdue Research Foundation, the organization that administers the research park. "This project is an opportunity for us to become even more involved with the community where we live and work." 

"Volunteers at the Purdue Research Park are spearheading the project and coordinating fundraising projects with park company officials. 

"Stephen McCauley, an agent with New York Life Insurance Co. located in the research park, made a monetary donation. 

" "There are a variety of ways to make a contribution,"  McCauley said.  

"Events throughout the park will be held to raise funds and recruit volunteers to benefit the project. Coffee, snacks and pizza will be for sale at various times during the fundraising period. "Spring for Habitat Book Fair" will feature selections from Waldenbooks with 20 percent of all sales going toward the project.   

"Fundraising activities sponsored by Purdue Research Foundation are open to all research park employees. Many companies, such as Butler International Inc., are getting actively involved.  

"Our employees are enthusiastic about the project and plan to host several events to create awareness and raise money," said James Elsner, operations manager at Butler. 

"McCauley agreed and added that he plans to help build the house. 

" "I like the idea that I’ll get a chance to work with the family who will live in the house," McCauley said.   

"A Lafayette native, Marjorie "Margie" Britton, is the recipient of the Purdue Research Park Habitat sponsored home. She is responsible for the project’s name. 

" "My lifelong desire is to own a home with a white picket fence," Britton said. 

"Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette chooses recipients based on a set of guidelines that include the need for housing, willingness to partner in the program and the ability to repay the mortgage.  

"In addition to individual contributions, corporate donations also are being accepted. Companies such as New York Life Insurance Co., Endocyte Inc., Research Park Associates LLC, Advanced Process Combinatorics Inc. and Purdue Research Foundation have already made contributions to Project White Picket Fence. 

"For more information about Purdue Research Park’s Project White Picket Fence and to learn how to make donations or volunteer, contact Constance Alstad, project coordinator, at (765) 496-7721, cmalstatd@prf.org.   

About Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity International (https://www.habitat.org/) is a nonprofit, housing ministry dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action.  There are more than 2,100 active affiliates in 100 countries, including all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. Habitat has built more than 250,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. 

About Purdue Research Park

The 725-acre Purdue Research Park (https://www.purdueresearchpark.com)

has the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The park is home to more than 140 companies. About 90 of these firms are technology-related and another 57 are incubator businesses. The park was ranked No. 1 in 2004 for university- affiliated research parks and received the 2005 Outstanding Commercialization Award, both from the Association of University Research Parks. The park's companies also have received numerous recognitions, including a 2006 MIRA Award: Innovation of the Year for Purdue Research Park/Quadraspec Inc. and a 2005 CoreNet Global Innovators Award finalist. 

To the Purdue Research Park, https://www.purdueresearchpark.com

PHOTO CAPTION:  Participants at the "Spring for Habitat Book Fair" discuss items for sale during a fundraising event held this week at the Purdue Research Park. From left are Sascha Harrell, Purdue Research Foundation; Marjorie "Margie" Britton, recipient of the Habitat for Humanity home sponsored by Purdue Research Park companies; and Constance Alstad, Purdue Research Foundation. The event was held to raise money for Purdue Research Park’s Habitat home "Project White Picket Fence." (Purdue Research Park photo) 

A publication-quality photo is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2008/PRFbookfair08.jpg

Writer:  Maureen S. Ward, (765) 494-6872, msward@prf.org

Sources:  Joseph Hornett, (765) 496-1658, jbhornett@prf.org

Steve McCauley, (765) 497-3727, stmccauley@ft.newyorklife.com