Fifth Third Bank Announces Additional Support For UC/Habitat Partnership

Fifth Third Bank has committed $32,000 toward the third University of Cincinnati partnership with Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity, which was formally kicked off at a Sept. 24 ceremony at the construction site on Haven Street in Avondale. Ed Owens III, Fifth Third Senior Vice President and Director for Community Affairs, presented the ceremonial check to Mitchel D. Livingston, UC Vice President for Student Affairs and Services, and Susan Schiller, Executive Director for Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity.

Construction on the new home for Megan O’Malley and her kindergarten-age daughter, Shamia, got underway in early September when a first-year Honors Scholars English class started work on the site. UC volunteers will work on Saturdays through fall, winter and spring quarters until the construction is completed. O’Malley and her family will join the volunteers and invest 500 hours of “sweat equity” before purchasing the home with a 20-year interest-free mortgage payable to Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity.

At the kickoff ceremony, an emotional O’Malley thanked the UC volunteers that she had worked with so far, adding that this was the third time that she had applied for consideration for a Habitat home. “So I guess the third time was a charm,” she said.

Among the UC student volunteers at the ceremony was Meghan Plichta, a first-year architecture major from Youngstown, Ohio. She was one of the Honors Scholars that started work on the home as part of her service-learning English 101 course. “I built houses in New Mexico last summer with my church, so I wanted to use some of the skills that I had learned there for something bigger,” she said. “This is really exciting. I’ve been able to get to know people who are not in my major and it’s been so great being able to share an experience like this together.”

Second-year chemistry major Kimberly Bauer of Mason, Ohio took the same Honors Scholars course last fall, and is back as a regular volunteer this school year. “It was the first time I had ever picked up a hammer. But because of the course, I learned how a home was really made. Also, during my first week on campus, I already knew people and had friends to go to lunch with. I felt like I was part of the campus right away.”

Bauer added that she also formed friendships in the Mt. Auburn community where UC volunteers last year built a Habitat home with Janie Cunningham. “Little kids would come out and talk to us when we were working, so I really think the course helps you realize that you are part of a larger community.”

New homeowner

Janie Cunningham

, the recipient of the university’s second university-wide Habitat project, attended the dedication ceremony, along with her sister,

Sylvia Smith

, the recipient of the first home built as part of the university wide partnership from the 2003-2004 academic year. The two sisters live just down the street from each other on Winkler Street in Mt. Auburn.

Fifth Third Bank has pledged a total of $100,000 toward UC’s three-year partnership with Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity. UC commits to the funding to buy construction materials for the university projects. In addition to Fifth Third Bank, this year’s partnership is sponsored by the Messer Construction Company, with support from University Dining Services.

Schiller says the O’Malley home is the 129th home that Cincinnati Habitat is building in the community. She added that around the world, Habitat for Humanity is now in 100 countries and recently started construction on its 200,000th home.

“When we poured the cement here a few weeks ago, we set the foundation for stronger community,” Schiller said. “When we build the floors, we’re setting the stage for building an impact within our community, and we’re also building confidence in a more secure future for Megan and her family. When we raise the walls, we’re raising hopes.”

UC volunteers expect to complete the roofing on the home on Oct. 1.

Find out how to volunteer

Read more about the history of UC’s efforts to build community by building homes.