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News: Amazing Days with Horizon Hobby and the Overcast Family (2007)

1105 N Goodwin, Urbana

Imagine the excitement at Habitat when we received a call from Terri Kirby of Horizon Hobby saying, "We'd like to build a Habitat house." Just weeks later we found ourselves sitting at a table with Horizon staff hammering out details to move forward on a new partnership.

Horizon Hobby, one of the world's largest hobby companies, was founded in 1985 by Rick Stephens. Horizon Hobby became a 100% employee-owned company last year and is known throughout the industry for its exceptional attention to customer needs, outstanding product expertise and, most importantly, integrity.

Rick's company philosophy is the foundation of support for their success. He and his brother Larry's commitment to "give back" by helping others with basic needs has always been an important part of the makeup of the company. Horizon has a commitment to the community in which it lives and to the international community as well. Horizon's core values encourage community, action and volunteerism. The term "servant leadership" captures the character of Horizon Hobby and is frequently used in conversations with their staff.

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habitatchampaign's 07 Horizon Hobby photoset habitatchampaign's 07 Horizon Hobby photoset

Horizon is known for being a business that has repeatedly invested in people outside of their walls. Through ongoing financial support and the talent of their employees, Horizon supports a number of charitable efforts. This will mark the first house Horizon has built with Habitat for Humanity, but they have built six houses in conjunction with Operation Hogar, a home building mission of the United Methodist Church, in Juarez, Mexico. "We are pros at mixing mortar…by hand" says Beverly Huffman, Director of Services.

For three years, Horizon employees have taken their personal time to build housing for families in Mexico. While this has been a fulfilling experience, the Horizon crew wanted to do something that directly impacted their local community.

"We see the impact our efforts have made in Mexico and we want to do the same thing in our home town," said Rick Stephens, "There are hard-working, needy families right here in Champaign County that just need a little boost to get them out of out of living in poverty. We are blessed and consider ourselves fortunate to have the opportunity to pass our blessings on to a hard working family like the Overcasts."

On August 11th, at 10 a.m., Horizon Hobby will break ground for the future home of single Native American mother, Amber Overcast and her three little girls at 1105 N Goodwin in Urbana. Amber grew up in Champaign. Her daughter, Aisha was born while Amber was still in high school but that didn't keep Amber from earning her diploma from Centennial in 1997 and a certificate in Information Processing from Parkland the following year. Since 2002 she's been driving trucks for a US Postal Service contractor. "I learned to shift those gears in an hour. I fell in love with it."

Mother Rhonda Overcast gets all the credit for Amber's success. "There's no telling where I'd be if it wasn't for my family." Amber's done the same for her girls, fighting to get her daughters tutoring, equal access to quality education. "If I have to sit through their classes and walk them down that stage, they will graduate from high school."

Nothing will keep Amber and her three girls, Aisha (12), Ta'La (10) and Bri Lynne (1.5), moving into a new Habitat home. "This is my outdoor girl," she says pointing to Bri Lynne, "and she can't go outside here." Not only that, the family is tired of windows being broken by stray children, vandalism on their doors and walls and a lack of breathing room.

The Overcast home will be completed by November 3rd, and they will have a new home for the holidays.

The home will be built in a new concentrated format, called AMAZING DAYS. Horizon employees will volunteer on the build for six straight days, then take three weeks off allowing subcontractors to complete their work, Horizon returns for another six days to complete the home. After twelve AMAZING DAYS (and three weeks) Horizon Hobby will have completed a new home for the Overcast family.

"I had no idea there were people like this in the world," said Amber, "to think that a local business would give two weeks of their employee's time to build a house for my family, it's incredible. This is a gift that will help my children and one day my grandchildren, and will make all the difference in our entire family's future. The generosity and compassion Horizon has for me and my girls is touching. It is truly AMAZING."

Groundbreaking August 11, 2007: video

Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County & ReStore
PO Box 1162, 119 E University, Champaign IL 61824
Tel: (217) 359-0507 admin (217) 355-6460 ReStore

Fax: (217) 363-3373 - E-mail: info@cuhabitat.org

The Habitat for Humanity International web site contains more information on Habitat's history, mission, volunteer opportunities and contact information for other Habitat affiliates around the world.