Anniston Star
August 1, 2002

Solutia's $50,000 donation gives Habitat a boost toward its goal

By Amy Sieckmann
Star Staff Writer

Local groups set aside their differences, and even lawsuits, Wednesday to applaud Solutia
Inc., as it made the largest single donation ever given to the Calhoun County Habitat for
Humanity.

The $50,000 donation, combined with money Habitat for Humanity already has received,
guarantees Habitat has the funding to build 20 homes next year when the Jimmy Carter Work Project comes to town, said Bill Wright, director of Habitat for Humanity until he
officially retires this Friday. The project's goal is to build 50 homes.

Solutia's Anniston Plant Manager, David Cain, who represented the company before a crowd of about 50 people at the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce, said he and the
company have been looking for the last two years for a project that would reflect their desire to move the community forward.

Thanking Wright for his years of service to the community, Cain said his feelings and those of many others in the room could best be summed up with the old saying, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

"I'm excited; the company is excited, and the employees are excited," Cain told the assembled guests, including representatives from many area businesses, churches, the city of Anniston, Community Against Pollution and The Anniston Star.

Cain said the company also would be encouraging employees to invest some "sweat-equity" to help build the 50 houses.

Wright said the funding for the remaining 30 houses the work project plans to build should be in by the end of the year.

The work project, which is scheduled for June 8-13 of 2003, is a coordinated effort with Habitat for Humanity in which volunteers will build up to 50 homes. The majority of the homes will be built in Wellborn Heights, off Parkwood Drive, and the remainder will be in western Anniston, said Dana van Ekris, the soon-to-be director and current assistant director for Habitat for Humanity. Several houses also will be revitalized during the weeklong project.

About 1,500 out-of-state volunteers and between 1,500 and 2,000 local volunteers are expected to help build the houses, Ekris said.

Ekris, who was introduced at the announcement as the next Habitat for Humanity director, said she was astonished when she heard about Solutia's proposed donation.

"All I could think was 'holy cow,' " she said, adding that the strong show of support from so many groups that turned out for the announcement was indicative of the project's future success.

"It takes everyone working together to do this," she said. "To me, everyone is a part of it because as we eliminate substandard housing, we attract businesses; we create homeownership that provides more property taxes, and we create active members of the community."

David Baker, president of Community Against Pollution, said he appreciated Solutia's donation to the cause and that he was at the announcement to show how "everyone can come together at one point to work for the betterment of the community."

Baker added that he, Cain and Wright had met last week and agreed that any new houses they build will be on pollution-free lots.

Karin Hanford also attended the announcement, but had a different take on what was going on.

She moved into a home built by Habitat for Humanity in 1995 and said it has changed her life. She has since become active in Habitat for Humanity, and next month she will be named president of the Homeowners Association.

"Before 1995, I lived in a trailer that was in really bad disrepair," she said. "Moving into my own home was like a miracle. I have new friends. I have more self-confidence. My life is totally different."

Changes like this, van Ekris said, illustrate the good that Habitat for Humanity can do for the whole community.

"We are building a foundation for the community," she said.