Partnering with Charlotte Bobcats and Habitat for Humanity Helps Build a Home

For years the Bobcats have been known for how hard they work on the court. In October, they teamed with their corporate partner, Husqvarna, to give a Day of Service to Habitat for Humanity and continued to show they’re working equally as hard off the court and in the community.

Bobcats players Boris Diaw, Matt Carroll, Shaun Livingston and Javaris Crittenton, along with Bobcats President and Chief Operating Officer Fred Whitfield, Lady Cats Brittany, Lacey and Chimere, Rufus and staff volunteers from both organizations donated more than 200 hours of service to help frame the homes and install sheetrock at two Habitat for Humanity project sites in West Charlotte.

“This is an initiative that we, with our partner Husqvarna, have taken,” said Whitfield. We’re out here to do some great things in the community… We want to help. Things that make sense for us and our partners, we want to be involved in and engaged in – not just throwing dollars at it, but to actually get out and do real work in the community.”

Despite the Indian summer heat pressing down this day, members of both organizations were eager to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

“Today is a day of service for us to partner with the Bobcats, as well as Habitat for Humanity in the community,” said Husqvarna Vice President of Marketing John Marchionda. “We have our associates out here – about 12 members of the Husqvarna team, just to show our partnership – not only with the Bobcats, but the Charlotte community.”

And show it everyone one did – from cutting sheetrock to hammering until their arms were numb, Bobcats and Husqvarna employees alike weren’t afraid to break a sweat in order to help make a difference on this day.

“It’s great to come out here and help build the house for this family and their kids,” said Diaw. “I think it’s great because we’ve really seen everybody coming together helping on this project.”

Added Carroll, “It’s just great to be out here and have a chance to give back to the community and work on this house. It looks like it’s going to be a great place to live once it gets done here.”

Carroll isn’t the only one who thought so. Future homeowners D’Andrae Nicholson, Courtney Moore and their two-year-old and six-month-old daughters will be moving into the house upon its completion. They were glowing at the worksite as they mingled with workers, the Lady Cats and the Bobcats.

“God has truly blessed us,” Moore said. “We’ve come a long way, and overall this has given us a sense of stability – some place that we can call home.”

ABOUT HUSQVARNA:
The Husqvarna Group is the world's largest producer of outdoor power products including chainsaws, trimmers, lawn mowers and garden tractors. It is the European leader in consumer irrigation equipment under the Gardena brand. The Group is also one of the world leaders in cutting equipment and diamond tools for the construction and stone industries. Net sales in 2009 were SEK 34 billion and the average number of employees was 15,000. For more information, visit www.husqvarna.com, www.facebook.com/pages/Husqvarna-USA/ or twitter.com/husqvarnausa.