New Habitat for Humanity project leaders started off the project’s 17th year with the goal of bringing together the senior class to raise money to build two houses, one in Waukegan for the Brown family and another in the Philippines.

Project leaders Chloe Jacobs, Sophia Holt, Georgia Caras, Cole Maizel, and Annabel Weyhcrich work with 22 student board members and advisory representatives to fundraise for Habitat for Humanity.

Jacobs said that “everyone should have a decent place to live and the partnership gives NT students the opportunity to make a lasting local and global difference.” Senior girls adviser chair Susan Paunan said, “Habitat for Humanity’s vision is to tackle this societal issue.”

Holt described how her own volunteer experiences resulted in an interest in being apart of the Habitat for Humanity project. “I have had an amazing experience working with community service organizations and Habitat allows me to share and give my senior class these same experiences,” she said.

Board member Bridget Knudson said, “It’s a way for us as a senior class to contribute to the community in a positive way. It’s a bridge between New Trier and the community.”

According to boys adviser chair Chris Pearson, “It allows the members of the class to work together as an entire class to try to accomplish something with a unifying goal. It offers them an opportunity to make a significant impact on something and leave a significant legacy behind.”

Fundraisers that have been previously run by the project, such as Winter Carnival, Feast Week, and the Tom de Luca show, will continue this year due to the Class of 2016’s success.

However, the new leaders plan to make their own mark. “Although last year’s Habitat was extremely successful, we plan to keep the main frame of events and add our own stamp to the project by creating new ones,” Jacobs said.

While planning and starting new fundraisers is crucial, large student involvement in the project is most essential “in order to make the house a reality,” Jacobs said. “We are hoping to make this year the most involved year yet. We really want Habitat to be something that brings the senior advisories together, all while making such a significant impact locally and internationally,” Holt said.

On October 22nd, the leaders met the Brown family, who will live in the house built by the seniors. They “broke ground on the designated lot for the 2017 house, and we commenced the start of the project,” Jacobs said.

According to Holt, the senior classes typically raise around $100,000 every year. However, the money will not used solely to build the Brown family’s home.  “Not only will these funds go to the Brown’s home in Waukegan, but part of the proceeds will also go towards building a home in the Phillipines. New Trier has built 32 houses, 16 locally and 16 internationally,” Holt said.

While the purpose of this project is mainly to create a home for those who need one, its other intention is to bring the senior class together in rewarding community service. The project leaders, therefore, are trying to spread the word and “work with the other leaders, as well as the board and advisory reps, to keep the senior class informed about what Habitat does and how they can get involved,” Jacobs said.

On November 9th, in an all-class assembly, the project leaders will present their goals and new ideas as well as introduce Joy Brown, the mother of the family, to the senior class.

Jacobs said, “We hope to make this the biggest year yet and have the largest turnout we’ve ever seen at the Tom de Luca show. We believe if anyone can do it, it’s our seniors.”