Hornets Join Habitat in Dedicating Homes 13-15
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com
February 26, 2009
Three and a half years after Hurricane Katrina devastated countless neighborhoods in New Orleans East, rebuilding in that portion of the city continues, with an invaluable assist from the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. On Thursday, Feb. 26, a group of roughly 100 Habitat volunteers – many of whom traveled last year to Louisiana from their home state of Michigan – joined the Hornets in a wall-raising ceremony on Ray Street in New Orleans East.
As part of the Hornets organization’s ongoing Hoops for Homes programs, work has begun on the 13th, 14th and 15th residences, located on Ray and Reynes Streets in Orleans Parish. When work is completed, three families will have new homes. Overall, the goal of the Hornets’ Hoops for Homes initiative is to build 20 new houses in New Orleans.
“We are very appreciative of the Hornets’ commitment to our families,” New Orleans Habitat for Humanity executive director Jim Pate said. “The city may have gained a top-notch basketball team, but we gained a long-term partner who is interested in making lives better for our families.”
The families of Ebonee Richardson, Crystal Galloway and Rose Francois – all natives of New Orleans – will be the recipients of these three Habitat residences.
“After Hurricane Katrina hit, we relocated to Atlanta,” said Richardson, a dialysis technician. “I wanted to come back to New Orleans, because my patients needed my service. I always wanted to own my own home, but I couldn’t afford it. The Habitat program is making it possible for me to afford my home.”
“Owning my own home has been my dream for so long and now my dream will come true,” Galloway said. “This is a new beginning for my family.”
Francois: “I am very excited, thrilled and happy to become a homeowner.”
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com
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Three and a half years after Hurricane Katrina devastated countless neighborhoods in New Orleans East, rebuilding in that portion of the city continues, with an invaluable assist from the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. On Thursday, Feb. 26, a group of roughly 100 Habitat volunteers – many of whom traveled last year to Louisiana from their home state of Michigan – joined the Hornets in a wall-raising ceremony on Ray Street in New Orleans East.
As part of the Hornets organization’s ongoing Hoops for Homes programs, work has begun on the 13th, 14th and 15th residences, located on Ray and Reynes Streets in Orleans Parish. When work is completed, three families will have new homes. Overall, the goal of the Hornets’ Hoops for Homes initiative is to build 20 new houses in New Orleans.
“We are very appreciative of the Hornets’ commitment to our families,” New Orleans Habitat for Humanity executive director Jim Pate said. “The city may have gained a top-notch basketball team, but we gained a long-term partner who is interested in making lives better for our families.”
The families of Ebonee Richardson, Crystal Galloway and Rose Francois – all natives of New Orleans – will be the recipients of these three Habitat residences.
“After Hurricane Katrina hit, we relocated to Atlanta,” said Richardson, a dialysis technician. “I wanted to come back to New Orleans, because my patients needed my service. I always wanted to own my own home, but I couldn’t afford it. The Habitat program is making it possible for me to afford my home.”
“Owning my own home has been my dream for so long and now my dream will come true,” Galloway said. “This is a new beginning for my family.”
Francois: “I am very excited, thrilled and happy to become a homeowner.”
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