Jayhawks Give Back Through Habitat for Humanity
April 2, 2012
LAWRENCE, Kan. – More than 46 Kansas Athletics student-athletes, coaches and administrators spent their Saturday building and painting a local house for Lawrence Habitat for Humanity. The student-athletes joined over 2,000 volunteers from the University of Kansas to paint buildings, rake, cut hedges and clean up yards around town in an initiative called `The Big Event.’
During the morning work session volunteers from the men’s and women’s golf team and administrators in student-athlete development constructed a shed from the ground up and primed the house which is located on Comfort Lane in north Lawrence. In the afternoon a large contingent of Jayhawk rowers and members of the sports medicine staff completed the shed, caulked and applied the final coat of paint to the house.
“This was by far the most fun and rewarding community service project I have ever participated in. We just jumped right in and started building and painting and before we knew it three hours had passed. It was awesome to see how much progress we were able to make in such a short amount of time. I can’t wait for another opportunity to help Habitat for Humanity again,” KU senior rower Paige Stephens said.
Kansas Assistant Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Development Tim Schlosser said, “I was amazed at how the student-athletes were so willing to move beyond their comfort zone and embrace a new challenge. It was clear from the onset that they were serious about doing a great job and that they would bring the same passion and intensity to this project that they bring to training and competition.”
The day, sponsored by Kansas Athletics, was part of Habitat’s Women Build national initiative that takes place the week before Mother’s Day and culminates in a celebration as a deserving family receives the keys to a safe, decent, affordable home. Participants are encouraged to cultivate friendships and build with their teams while constructing a home for a family in need.
For more photos from the `The Big Event’, go to: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3629940557315.161303.1538134537&type=1&l=d649acb955
