PRSSA
reconstructs Habitat for Humanity
By
Sara Esquivel
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
After being inactive for three years due to a lack of commitment, the Cal State
Long Beach chapter of Habitat for Humanity (H4H) is hoping to revive itself
with the help of Public Relations Students Society of America (PRSSA) and
the University Student Union.
Thanks to the Bateman Team, a semester project from PRSSA where students design
a campaign for a non-profit organization, the Habitat for Humanity club is
being upgraded as a result of a national Competition. The Bateman team at CSULB
was picked to do public relations for H4H and will be responsible for reviving
the chapter.
“
Habitat for Humanity is a good client for us, and we went far and beyond
by reviving Habitat for Humanity at the Beach,” PRSSA Vice President
Katie DeBoer said.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles is a non-profit organization that
has been building affordable housing for low-income families since 1990. PRSSA
will be acting as the selection committee for H4H.
“
We are looking for officers and people who are dedicated to the cause,” PRSSA
president Louis Afrouznia said.
H4H South Bay/Long Beach affiliate and Habitat for Humanity International merged
July 2005 and the organization became H4H of Greater Los Angeles. H4H of Greater
Los Angeles has helped build housing in Los Angeles County and even more recently
in the areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina, according to DeBoer.
Greater Los Angeles has developed “Operation Home Delivery,” which
is a long-term relief effort for Hurricane Katrina victims that builds houses
in L.A. and then ships them to the East Coast. In addition to “Operation
Home Delivery,” H4H has built hundreds of homes, in both the Los Angeles
area and the Long Beach area, since 1990.
The goal of the H4H chapter at CSULB is to bring awareness to the student population,
to keep the club going, get students to help the cause and make new homes.
“
This club is here for the greater good,” DeBoer said. “The club
is not just there for the community, but for the students.”
Aside from targeting public universities, H4H has begun to target high school
students throughout California.
“
Habitat for Humanity really needs that next generation,” Afrouznia
said.
By increasing participation among students at CSULB the Habitat for Humanity
is hoping to contribute to the goal set by Habitat for Humanity of Greater
Los Angeles — to eliminate poverty throughout the world by building homes.
Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Los Angeles does more than just hands-on
work; it also requires fundraising and in-house work.
“
Most students do not understand what Habitat for Humanity is,” DeBoer
said. “They think we provide housing for animals but it is more than
that, it is about gaining a perspective within the community, helping the
cause and getting everyone involved.”
“
At first my mentality was to win the competition, but after 8 hours of painting
base-boards I met a single-mother of six children and it hit me like a train,” Afrouznia
said. “I am doing something special, this is not just a competition.”
H4H representatives Afrouznia and DeBoer have been actively participating in
recent school events to promote its return. PRSSA made its presence known at
Homecoming. In addition to attending school events, the Habitat for Humanity
club will be targeting sororities and fraternities for future assistance in
the program.
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