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Walk raises $5,000-plus for Habitat
Published November 2, 2008
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been modified from its original form to correct the interest paid on Habitat mortgages.
LAKE JACKSON — Believing literally in the old piece of wisdom that every penny counts spurred area students to raise more than $5,000 for Habitat for Humanity, an achievement celebrated Saturday during the 10th annual Walk for Habitat.
Twenty-five schools and many area businesses joined that fundraiser walk at MacLean Park in Lake Jackson.
“This walk is the embodiment of the Penny Drive,” County Commissioner Mary Ruth Rhodenbaugh said. Kids from pre-K to high school gathered to celebrate another successful year of collecting pennies and change to apply toward the construction of a Habitat for Humanity home in the area, she said.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit group that builds homes for people who otherwise might not be able to afford them. Families must invest “sweat equity” through working on other Habitat buildings and meet income guidelines in order to qualify for an interest-free Habitat home mortgage.
This year, the Penny Drive and sponsorships combined to bring in a total of $88,245.46.
“That is enough to build two houses plus money left over,” Rhodenbaugh said.
The announcement of the total came as a big surprise to everyone involved.
“This was a tough year for our community,” said Cindie Suggs, director of communications at BASF, a founding company sponsor of the Penny Walk. “But once again they came out and did it — they beat last year’s record.”
Rhodenbaugh was honored at the event for her many years of service to southern Brazoria County’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
“Mary Ruth founded the Penny Walk,” Suggs said. “She’s been the heart and soul of Habitat for Humanity since it began in this area.”
Rhodenbaugh lost no time attributing the Penny Walk’s 10 years of success to the children.
“We have to remember this is about volunteering, working together and community involvement,” she said. “If they embrace those principles in their life they will be successful.”
Ravi Singhania, a member of the steering committee, agrees children who participated in the walk are the big winners.
“It’s really about instilling in school children the desire to give and to donate something,” he said. “We saw from day one the spirit it instills in them.”
Kids are not the only ones celebrating. Sponsors also joined the long line of students on their walk around Lake Jackson.
Singhania said the sponsors are to be praised for their dedication to the cause. “There are so many sponsors that keep coming back every year,” he said. “We just send them a letter and the money comes in.”
Gulf Chemical and Metallurgical is one of those dedicated sponsors.
“This is not only an effort to support Habitat, but to support the community,” said Nancy Wollam, vice president of public relations for the company. “I am amazed at the dedication shown by the community leaders, Habitat directors and area businesses to this event.”
Also honored at the Penny Walk was BASF. For more than 10 years, it has sponsored the walk and has contributed $100,799.02 to Habitat for Humanity.
Walk for Habitat was founded by BASF and Wholesale Electric. Gulf Chemical, Union Pacific and Texas Dow Employees Credit Union since have signed on as diamond sponsors.
The Penny Walk started after Singhania, then manager of BASF, was visiting Washington, D.C., and saw a long line of school children marching along the street carrying large jars of pennies.
“I could see the gleam in the eyes of the children,” Singhania said. “The kids got my attention and I really wanted to start something like that in our area.”
At the first walk in Lake Jackson 10 years ago, Singhania saw a 3-year-old child picking up pennies on the road. The girl gave them to her mother and told her to give it to the charity, he said.
“That is what this walk is all about,” he said.
The walk has come a long way since those three pennies. The Penny Drive and Walk has raised more than $750,000, every penny of which was used to build homes in Brazoria County, organizers said.
Entertainment on Saturday included face-painting, marching bands and cheerleaders from Brazoswood and Brazosport high schools, the Brazosport Drill Team and the Brazoswood choir. Seattle Mariners pitcher and Brazoria County native Jared Wells signed autographs.
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