Steve Thomas, Emmy Award-winning television personality and former host of the home improvement shows This Old House and Renovation Nation, will join Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area and local home building professionals to help build, renovate and repair three homes in Chattanooga’s Southside with families seeking decent and affordable housing as part of Habitat for Humanity’s Home Builders Blitz 2014.
"Over the course of his career, Mr. Thomas is recognized as the 'ultimate home enthusiast' and an 'expert-on-demand' on the home renovation process.
A much-in-demand speaker as well as a home renovator, Mr. Thomas advocates for greener building and renovation techniques. Mr. Thomas first worked with Habitat for Humanity during a 1990 trip to Charlotte to cover the launching of a new Habitat affiliate. He subsequently showcased the 1993 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Winnipeg, Canada, and thereafter continued to integrate coverage of Habitat's activities into his professional projects," officials said.
Habitat’s Home Builders Blitz is a partnership between Habitat and the building community to build and renovate homes across the United States. Builders and Habitat affiliates work closely to organize all aspects of building, including securing subcontractors and suppliers, fundraising and seeking donations of materials. During this year’s event, 83 Habitat for Humanity affiliates will take part in the nationwide building effort.
"During this year’s event, the nationwide project seeks to build and renovate more than 250, thanks to the skilled labor provided by local professional homebuilders and construction firms," officials stated.
Locally, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga gathered subcontractors and suppliers including members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga and Chattanooga Remodelers Council, America’s Home Place, Collier Construction, Bell Development and Dexter White Construction to obtain materials and professional labor for the build.
Participants in this project include: Mr. Thomas; the founder of Habitat for Humanity’s Home Builders Blitz, Tom Gipson; Mayor Andy Berke; officials from Habitat for Humanity International, Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee, and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area; and more than 60 volunteers. ,
The project will be on Wednesday, June 11 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Location of construction projects are:
1131 E. 14th Street
Chattanooga, TN 37408
Note: Steve Thomas and Tom Gipson will be onsite from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
3331 Hughes Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37410
Note: Steve Thomas and Gipson will be onsite from 11:45 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Formal program, including remarks from Mayor Andy Berke, will be held at 3331 Hughes Avenue beginning promptly at 12:30 p.m.. Itinerary of the program is outlined below:
12:30 p.m. - HFHGCA, David Butler, executive director
12:35 p.m. - City of Chattanooga, Mayor Andy Berke
12:40 p.m. - Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga, Teresa Groves, executive director
12:43 p.m. - Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee, Colleen Dudley, executive director
12:48 p.m. - Tom Gipson, creator of Habitat’s Home Builders Blitz
12:53 p.m. - Steve Thomas
1:00 p.m. - Photo Ops