WILLIAMSTON, Mich. (March 27, 2012) – Habitat for Humanity of Greater Ingham County is holding the 5^th Annual Arbor Day Tree Sale!  This fun-filled community event engages youth volunteers to plant trees and shrubs.  The carefully supervised volunteers get outdoors and in the community to support Habitat for Humanity.  The event is good for the environment and beautifies our neighborhoods while raising funds for HFHGI home builds.

This year’s offering is expanded to include the following: Trees (Honeycrisp Apple, Red Sunset Maple, Red Flowering Crabapple), Pines (Eastern White Pine, White Spruce), and Shrubs (Butterfly Bush, Patriot Dream Rose, Summer Wine Ninebark).

If you are interested in purchasing trees and shrubs, download and fill out the  Arbor Day Tree Sale 2012 flyer.  Forms are also available for pickup at the Williamston ReStore, 1500 W. Grand River Avenue.  Or, you may call the office directly at (517) 655-1872 and have a form mailed to you.

The deadline for orders is Tuesday, April 10, 2012.  Planting service depends on geographic location and order size.  Please call if you have any questions.

Resource Development:

• Foster and maintain healthy relationships with major donors and house sponsors, including regular follow-up with current sponsors.  Also, work to expand the number of corporations and organizations who actively support Habitat.

• Coordinate and support special events to develop donor relations.

• Grant preparation and identifying opportunities to partner with like-minded organizations on major projects.

• Maintain effective communication with Habitat for Humanity Michigan (HFHMI) and Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) to ensure participation in all state and international programs.

• Recognize that volunteers are a critical resource; support and expand an already strong volunteer base.

Community and Government Relations:

• Be proactive in cultivating relationships with other community not-for-profit organizations.

• Seek opportunities to partner on projects that would have a major impact on a neighborhood.

• Develop and maintain positive relationships with representatives of government agencies.

• Become recognized as the “face” of HFHGI, advocating for cooperative action to address the needs of low-income families.

Non-profit Management:

• Oversee and manage all aspects of the Restore.

• Work with the HFHGI Board to formalize a strategic plan and modify as appropriate.  Establish financial and other performance measurements and report progress against the plan on a regular basis.

• Participate in the recruitment and selection of new Board members.

• Actively participate in all standing committee meetings.  Assist with operational planning and coordinate communication among the various committees.

• Hire, supervise, and evaluate subordinate staff.

• Collaborate on various public relations initiatives.  Review and contribute to our newsletter.

Executive Director – Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• A deep understanding of, and enthusiasm for, the mission of Habitat for Humanity.
• Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience with a record of accomplishment.
• Highly motivated and results oriented.
• Excellent written, oral, and group presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Three years of managerial experience
• Fundraising and grant writing experience
• Familiarity with major gift and planned giving campaigns and programs
• Experience developing community partnerships

Compensation:
Competitive salary and benefits will be based on qualification and experience.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Ingham County is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.  We seek to employ and assign the best qualified personnel for all of our positions in a manner that does not unlawfully discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, gender, marital status, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, veteran/reserve and National Guard status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

Todd Pierce-Ryan, current executive director, is resigning at the end of April 2012 to pursue graduate studies. “I am so grateful to have been a part of Habitat for Humanity since 2006. It is an incredible privilege to work with so many wonderful people to improve our community. Habitat for Humanity empowers people to live better lives. I am putting these principles into practice in my own life by furthering my education,” said Mr. Pierce-Ryan.

To see a full position description click here.

Applicants may submit a cover letter and resume to 1500 W. Grand River Avenue, Suite B, Williamston, MI 48895, email to director@inghamhabitat.org, or fax to (517) 655-5727. Applications are due by the 5pm on Wednesday, February 29th, 2012. HFHGI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Ingham County
HFHGI is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate substandard housing and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. HFHGI builds simple and affordable homes, renovates existing houses, performs critical repairs, and constructs wheelchair ramps in partnership with local families in need.

Marilyn Schofer’s peppermint roof house prompted the most donations, taking 1st place in
the Adult division and 1st overall. Katherine Esterline’s barn and farm scene placed 1st in the Middle/High School division and 2nd overall. Ciara Brown won the Grade 5 and Under division and the Pennington Family won the Mixed Ages. Habitat would like to thank all thirteen creators for their entries.

“The Gingerbread House Competition is a great way to encourage community awareness,
especially with our youth participants,” said Todd Pierce-Ryan, executive director of HFHGI. “By building a gingerbread house, the creators help build Habitat houses!”

Habitat would like to extend a special thanks to Kathy and Shaun Sodman at The Daily Scoop in Mason and to Susan Byrd at Living Arts Dance Studio in Williamston for hosting the event! We would also like to thank our wonderful volunteers who made it possible!

WILLIAMSTON, Mich. (September 28, 2011) – Habitat for Humanity of Greater Ingham County joins worldwide celebration of 500,000th/500,001st milestone houses as part of World Habitat Day events on Oct. 3.  Habitat for Humanity will mark a major milestone Oct. 3 when it dedicates its 500,000th house in Maai Mahiu, Kenya, and begins construction on its 500,001st house in Paterson, N.J.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Ingham County is among the more than 2,300 Habitat affiliates worldwide that have made this milestone possible, having built 10 houses  and conducted 9 critical home improvements since its founding in 1996.

“We operate in the rural areas of Ingham County, bringing neighbors together to help other neighbors in need.  It is awe-inspiring to see the magnitude of what we can accomplish globally through working together locally,” said Todd Pierce-Ryan, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Ingham County.

The milestone houses represent the steady increase in Habitat for Humanity’s scale and scope to help more families in need of decent, affordable housing. In 2005, Habitat celebrated its 200,000th house. Six years later, Habitat for Humanity has more than doubled that number through new, rehabilitated, repaired and improved homes.

“It is a testament to the power of what God can do when people come together to build homes, communities and hope,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “I am so grateful to all of the volunteers, donors and advocates who share our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.”

In Kenya, Habitat for Humanity will complete the 500,000th house on Oct. 3 in partnership with families who were displaced after post-election violence erupted in the country in late 2007.  That same day, volunteers will raise the walls on Habitat’s 500,001st house in Paterson, N.J. The house will be built in one of the inner-city neighborhoods where Paterson Habitat for Humanity has been continuously building since 1984.

Habitat for Humanity is a worldwide organization that operates in nearly 80 countries, including all 50 states in the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. Thanks to Habitat for Humanity’s help, a family somewhere in the world improves its housing situation every 7 minutes of every hour of every day of the year. In 2010, Habitat for Humanity served a record 74,960 families in need.

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Ingham County

HFHGI is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate substandard housing and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.  HFHGI builds simple and affordable homes, renovates existing houses, performs critical repairs, and constructs wheelchair ramps in partnership with local families in need.

About Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope.  Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 500,000 families without regard to religion, race, gender or nationality by constructing, rehabilitating or repairing homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to financing to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitat.org, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitat or at www.twitter.com/habitat_org or join Habitat’s blog community at www.habitat.org/blog.

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WILLIAMSTON, Mich. (August 24, 2011) – The Williamston D&W was a top earner in the state-wide Spartan Stores’ fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity!  D&W cashiers presented customers at checkout with the opportunity to donate to help build Habitat homes.  The campaign started February 20^th and ran through March 12^th.  The generosity of D&W shoppers resulted in a $2,324.65 check to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Ingham County!

Amy Berry, D&W Store Director, said “Our cashiers really got behind it.  We enjoyed a spirit of friendly competition with other stores to see who could do the most for Habitat for Humanity.”

The donations of the shoppers are helping HFHGI with its mission to eliminate substandard housing in the rural areas of Ingham County.  HFHGI recently completed a total roof tear off and installation in Dansville and a wheelchair ramp north of Williamston.

Katie Drews, Assistant Store Director, likes supporting Habitat for Humanity because “it’s local, doing good in our community!”

For more information about HFHGI programs and how you can help, please visit the website at www.inghamhabitat.org or stop by the office at 1500 W. Grand River Ave. in Williamston.

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Ingham County

HFHGI is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate substandard housing from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.  HFHGI builds simple and affordable homes, renovates existing houses, performs critical repairs, and constructs wheelchair ramps in partnership with local families in need.

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WILLIAMSTON, Mich. (August 17, 2011) – Habitat for Humanity of Greater Ingham County helped keep a roof overhead on a Dansville home.  Volunteers and staff recently completed a critical home repair: the complete tear-off of the existing roof and installation of new plywood sheathing and shingles.  Before the repair, the old farmhouse roof was actively leaking, threatening the health of the home and inhabitants; now, a new roof protects the home.

An exciting new partnership with USDA Rural Development made the project possible.  Rural Development offers Home Repair Loans and Grants to help remove health and safety hazards, make essential repairs or change accessibility of a home.  On this project, Rural Development provided funding for the project expenses while HFHGI contributed volunteer hours and its construction infrastructure to perform the work.  By working together, HFHGI and Rural Development leveraged non-profit resources with government funding to do more to impact local families in need.

For more information about HFHGI programs and how you can help, please visit the website at www.inghamhabitat.org or stop by the office at 1500 W. Grand River Ave. in Williamston.  For more information about USDA Rural Development, please contact the Mason Area office at 525 Okemos Rd., Suite B, Mason or (517) 676-1808.

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Ingham County

HFHGI is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate substandard housing from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.  HFHGI builds simple and affordable homes, renovates existing houses, performs critical repairs, and constructs wheelchair ramps in partnership with local families in need.

The original damaged roof

Habitat volunteers removing old roof

Finished roofing project

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If you drive by 238 W. South Street in Williamston, down by the football field, check out the new wheelchair ramp recently built by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Ingham County (HFHGI).  Volunteers built the 72-foot ramp in 4 days.

Habitat volunteers joined with the Human Biology Club, a student group at MSU, as they volunteered build the ramp.  Michael Reader, owner of MGR Custom Carpentry, generously provided the concrete work for that portion of the ramp.

Wheelchair ramp projects have a dramatic effect on the quality of life of families in our communities.  These high-impact projects can usually be completed in a weekend and are a great way to become involved with Habitat for Humanity.

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March 2011: PDF