June 6, 2008
Dedication, house blessing planned for Purdue Research Park companies' Habitat for Humanity project
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The dream of having a home with a white picket fence will become reality for Lafayette resident Marjorie "Margie" Britton when the Purdue Research Park companies' Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette home is dedicated on Sunday (June 8).
The $40,000 West Lafayette home is the culmination of the combined efforts and contributions of volunteers from the Purdue Research Park and many park companies. Construction on the home began April 12.
More than 100 people are expected to attend the 2 p.m. dedication and house blessing at 2 p.m. at 2428 Crestview Court in Lafayette.
"Building this home for Margie has been one of the most personally rewarding projects I've ever worked on as part of a team," said James Elsner of Butler International Inc., who will be speaking at the dedication. "Even before we broke ground just eight weeks ago, we've been meeting and planning on how to make this happen. Margie has worked hard all her life and owned the previous home on this build site. Unfortunately, that home was literally falling down around her. We are happy that we could help to rebuild Margie's new home, a home that is now safe for Margie and her family."
The enterprise is called Project White Picket Fence, in honor of Britton's lifelong dream of owning a home with such a fence.
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 monetary contributions, corporate donations also were given. Companies and individuals affiliated with New York Life Insurance Co., Endocyte Inc., Research Park Associates LLC, Advanced Process Combinatorics Inc. and Purdue Research Foundation made contributions to Project White Picket Fence.
"The cooperation and collaboration among the park companies and the Purdue Research Park has been phenomenal, as well as the donations by the Lafayette and West Lafayette community and business owners," Elsner said.
The last fundraising event for the project will be Tuesday (June 10) at the Lafayette Brewing Co., with a percentage of the day's profits going to benefit the project.
Past events held to raise funds for the undertaking included:
* Capp 'n Gino's coffee benefit.
* Waldenbooks merchandise fair.
* Nine Irish Brothers restaurant in West Lafayette donated a percentage of its profits of a day's sales to the program.
* Conrad Bone Band performed at the Lafayette Brewing Co. with proceeds benefiting the project.
* Texas Roadhouse night with an amount from one evening's sales supporting the project.
For more information about Purdue Research Park's Project White Picket Fence and to learn how to make donations or volunteer for future Habitat projects, 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 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 1 million 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 39 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. The Purdue Research Park is part of the Purdue Research Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation created to assist Purdue University in the area of economic development. In addition to the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, the foundation has established or is currently constructing technology parks in other locations around Indiana including Merrillville, New Albany and Indianapolis.To the Purdue Research Park, https://www.purdueresearchpark.com
Purdue Research Foundation contact: Cynthia Sequin, (765) 494-4192, (765) 413-6031 (mobile), casequin@prf.org