TROY, N.Y. — On Monday, April 8, Habitat for Humanity International (HHI) will honor the student chapter of Habitat for Humanity at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Millard Fuller, founder and president of HHI, based in Georgia, will kick off the event with a speech at 10 a.m. at the Chapel and Cultural Center, 2125 Burdett Avenue. He will talk about the need to build decent, affordable housing. His talk is free and open to the public.

At 1 p.m., Fuller will honor the students for establishing the 700th HHI campus chapter. The ceremony will take place on the northwest deck of the Student Union, weather permitting. It will be held at Mother's café on the first floor of the Union in inclement weather.

The Rensselaer students are coordinating efforts to build a house in Troy with the Rensselaer County Habitat for Humanity. They also are collaborating with colleges and area high schools to raise the first $10,000 for the house project. That amount will be matched by HHI in recognition of the 700th chapter status. It costs about $50,000, most of it for materials, to build a Habitat for Humanity home.

Joining fund-raising forces are students at Siena College, Hudson Valley Community College, Skidmore College, the College of St. Rose, Union College, Russell Sage College, Averill Park High School, Troy High School, Hoosick Valley, and Galway High School.

In addition to a quilt project in which individuals or groups can purchase eight-by-eight-inch cloth squares for $100, Rensselaer students will be selling T-shirts designed with a Habitat for Humanity logo for $9. For more information about the quilt, contact the Rensselaer Student Union at (518) 276-6505. For information about the T-shirts, contact Rensselaer's Office of the First Year Experience at (518) 276-6864.

Contact: Jodi Ackerman
Phone: (518) 276-6531
E-mail: N/A