Blitz Home Builders Background

Objective

Annually participate in a Habitat for Humanity Blitz Build by supplying experienced, skilled, and most importantly – enthusiastic volunteers that support Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the United States.


Background

The volunteers have similar roots as to how they came together as a group to participate in Habitat for Humanity projects. Many of the volunteers are either current or past employees of Honeywell, or are a family member of a Honeywell employee.

In 1995, Honeywell established a partnership with Habitat for Humanity consisting of financial, in-kind donations, and volunteer support of Honeywell employees from around the world.

In 1996 and 1997 Honeywell sponsored a number of employees to participate in Jimmy Carter Work Project Habitat for Humanity builds in Vacs, Hungary and Pikeville, Kentucky.

Honeywell stepped up its support of Habitat for Humanity and sponsored its first Honeywell CEO Blitz Build in 1998 in Minneapolis. More than 500 Honeywell volunteers from around the world in cooperation with the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity affiliate built four houses in 18 days. In 1999 the Blitz Build moved to Glendale, AZ where five houses were built in twelve days. The momentum continued and in 2000 the Honeywell volunteers built five houses over a two-week period in Albuquerque, NM. This pattern of commitment continued and included builds in Snoqualmie, WA (2 homes); Richmond, VA (4 homes), and South Bend, IN (4 homes). Honeywell’s support of Habitat for Humanity has seen many changes over the years including different approaches in how Honeywell addressed its community involvement efforts. A new strategy that provides a broader level of support across fewer organizations rather than focusing in on many charities resulted in Honeywell supporting its last CEO Blitz Build in 2003.

Blitz Home Builders was formed by a dedicated group of volunteers that could not allow the tradition of the annual blitz build to end and in 2004 we built 2 ½ homes in Madison, WI. Blitz Home Builders continues to grow and completed builds in Covington, LA (1 home), Witcita, KS (4 homes), Portland, OR (3 homes), Covington, LA (3 homes), and most recently 2 homes in Rockford, IL in 2009.

Every year, between Blitz Builds, the volunteers spend considerable time supporting their hometown affiliates and further developing their skills. The volunteers eagerly anticipate the annual Blitz Builds and the great sense of teamwork and camaraderie that has developed amongst the volunteers over the years. Some of the volunteers from the original build in Vacs, Hungary are still “hooked” and many of the volunteers have participated in most of the builds since 1996.

This journey has resulted in a very close-knit team of dedicated and experienced volunteers.