North Carolina First Lady Carolyn Hunt to Raise the Walls of a Habitat Home with First Citizens Bank

House to be constructed by all-women volunteer crews

September 21, 1999

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina First Lady Carolyn Hunt will help Habitat for Humanity of Wake County and First Citizens Bank kick off construction on a Habitat home 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 24, on Merriweather Circle in North Raleigh's Berkshire Downs subdivision. The home will be built completely by women volunteers.

The "First Ladies First Citizens Build" is part of Habitat for Humanity International's First Ladies Build in which the first ladies, concerned women and partnering Habitat families from all 50 states are constructing Habitat homes over the next 18 months.

"I'm truly looking forward to being a part of this project," Hunt said. "It has been a long-time commitment of mine to contribute in meaningful ways to the community in which I live, and Habitat's vision is something we can all get behind.

Construction on the home will begin with a wall-raising ceremony. (In case of rain, the kickoff ceremony will be held beneath a large tent at the same site.) Sponsor and Habitat representatives will join Hunt and the future homeowner in raising the home's first wall. A regular Habitat workday will follow with specially invited women hammering together the exterior walls.

"First Citizens Bank is proud to lend its support to the First Lady's efforts and to Habitat," Wake Area Vice President Angie Dowd said. "The bank is helping a local family, providing a very tangible service and involving our associates in this worthwhile effort. It is a tremendous fit for us as a community project."

After Friday's kickoff event, construction on the home will continue through January 2000 with all-women volunteer groups from area churches, civic clubs and businesses. North Carolina is the ninth state to host a First Ladies Build. To date, women crews have built more than 200 houses in the United States.

"More than 50 percent of Habitat's volunteers nationally are women," Habitat Construction Superintendent Norma Smith said. "We hope projects like this will increase participation and provide an opportunity for women here in Wake County to work together and help Habitat."

The future homeowner, Barbara Miles of Raleigh, will perform her "sweat equity," working alongside Habitat's volunteers throughout the period of construction on her home. When the home is complete, Miles and her two sons, Derrick, 9, and Darius, 5, will join 120 other Wake County families who have become Habitat homeowners. Her monthly payments on the 20-year, no-interest mortgage will go into a revolving Fund for Humanity that allows Habitat to continue its home-building activities.

As with all Habitat for Humanity projects, this effort is a partnership. Local sponsor First Citizens Bank is making the largest financial contribution by donating $25,000. National sponsor Pace Communications of Greensboro and local partners White Memorial Presbyterian Church and The Junior League of Raleigh also are supporting the new Wake Habitat house.

President and owner of Pace Communications, Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, also will participate in the wall-raising ceremony. She is a board member for Habitat for Humanity International.

"The First Ladies First Citizens Build is a Habitat partnership of the highest magnitude, and Mrs. Hunt's support has generated enormous interest," Habitat for Humanity of Wake County Executive Director Greg Kirkpatrick said. "First Citizens stepped up to the plate locally. Pace Communications has made an exceptional national commitment, and we've had a great response from the many groups that we've asked to volunteer."

Directions to the First Ladies First Citizens Build Wall-Raising Celebration 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 24 Merriweather Circle, Berkshire Downs subdivision, Raleigh, N.C.

From the intersection of Capital Boulevard / U.S. 1 and the I-440 Beltline: Take Capital Boulevard / U.S. 1 north about six miles. Pass Mini City, car dealerships and Gresham's Lake. Turn right onto Perry Creek Road. (The Exide plant is on the right, and Hardee's and Durant Road are on the left at this intersection.) Travel about one-fourth mile on Perry Creek Road and turn right onto McGuire Drive (the first street to the right). Take a right at the second intersection with Merriweather Circle (the fifth street to the right). The event will be held at the Habitat work site on Merriweather Circle.