Schindler Elevator Corporation Partners with Habitat for Humanity® to Build Homes with Two Morristown, New Jersey Families

−      Schindler sponsors two Habitat homes for local families with $100,000 donation

−      Nearly 150 Schindler employees volunteered 1,200 hours to help build, just miles from corporate headquarters

−      Two local families receive keys during ribbon-cutting ceremony

MORRISTOWN, NJ – Schindler Elevator Corporation teamed up with Morristown Habitat for Humanity to build homes for two local families at 10 Willow Street in Morristown, NJ. Over the past year, Schindler has provided both financial and volunteer support for the duplex project, contributing $100,000 and recruiting nearly 150 Schindler employees to participate. Schindler staff worked side-by-side with the Andrade-Escobar and Rico families to complete construction. Today, the duplex was dedicated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the completion of construction.

“Schindler is committed to creating positive impacts in our communities,” said Mike Yurchuk, vice president, Human Resources for Schindler. “It’s so meaningful for us to serve right here in our own backyard. We all feel tremendous pride in being a part of this project that goes beyond our office walls to help these deserving families build their new beginnings.” 

Work on the site began with a groundbreaking ceremony in April 2017. Since then, Schindler employees have regularly participated in essential tasks such as pouring the foundation, framing the homes, completing the roofing and siding, building the side and back fences, and prepping the ground for lawn seeding and sidewalks. For those involved, the change was truly remarkable.

Volunteers started their days at 8:30am, ready to pull on their gloves and get to work. Clive Worley, a project manager in IT with Schindler Digital Business, became involved with the project from the very beginning: “We were doing the work to have concrete poured, and it was amazing to learn how much time and effort goes into a single task.”

Volunteers participated in everything from filling air ducts with caulk to installing kitchen cabinets. Elizabeth Dunn, paralegal, worked on framing the second floor and putting up plywood for the bathroom and shower.

“It was a lot of hard work, especially in that summer heat, but it was fun. It’s both a humbling and rewarding experience to be able to help change the lives of a family right here in our own community,” said Dunn.

Morristown Habitat for Humanity, a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, is dedicated to reducing substandard housing in Morris County by working with low-income families to build new homes and rehabilitate existing homes.

“Schindler has made an extraordinary contribution to 10 Willow, with both funding and volunteer engagement, which has made all the difference in the lives of the Ricos and Andrade – Escobar families,” said Blair Schleicher Bravo, CEO for Morristown Habitat for Humanity. “Working together, we have made it possible for two families to become first-time homeowners and all of our lives have been transformed in the process. Thank you for making the American dream homeownership a reality.”

About the homeowners

The Ricos and Andrade-Escobars were chosen for the 10 Willow Street project from many qualified lower-income homeowners by lottery in April 2017.  Maria Rico is a single mother to her 9-year-old son, and currently works as a quality control inspector at a manufacturing company. Ran Andrade and Gladis Escobar are legal immigrants from Guatemala with two school-aged children: Jocelyn and Kevin, who has an autoimmune disorder. Ran works 15 hours a day between his two custodial and maintenance jobs, while Gladis watches over the children at home.

To view upcoming opportunities with the Morristown chapter of Habitat for Humanity, please visit https://www.morrishabitat.org/volunteer or contact your local Habitat for Humanity affiliate for volunteer opportunities in your area.

About Morris Habitat for Humanity:

Morris Habitat for Humanity is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization committed to building homes, communities and hope. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Morris Habitat builds new homes and provides home repair services to income eligible families.  Morris Habitat collaborates with other Habitat affiliates and related housing organizations to improve the affordable housing stock in the region, and over the last four years has more than doubled the number of homes built. Morris Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and serves people in need of decent housing regardless of race or religion.

Since 1985 Morris Habitat has served over 400 households though home ownership opportunities, home preservation, and international home building programs. Proceeds from the ReStore, opened May 2007, have helped to fund construction of while diverting almost 5,800 tons of useable material from local landfills.   The ReStore store is located at 274 South Salem Street, Randolph and store hours are Tues. & Thur. 10 – 8 p.m., Wed, Fri & Sat 10 – 6 p.m.

About Schindler Elevator Corporation

Schindler Elevator Corporation is the North American operation of the Switzerland-based Schindler Group, a leading global mobility provider of elevators, escalators and related services. Schindler supports sustainable urban development with safe, reliable and sustainable mobility solutions, moving more than one billion people every day all over the world. Behind the company’s success are over 60,000 employees operating in more than 100 countries.  For additional information about Schindler Elevator Corporation, visit the company’s Web site at www.us.schindler.com.