Catch that Whittlemania fever for Habitat on The Murfreesboro Post

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Catch that Whittlemania fever for Habitat

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By: LISA MARCHESONI, Senior Writer

Posted: Sunday, March 1, 2009 6:28 am

Catch that Whittlemania fever for Habitat | Event

"Old Whittlemania" meets with Norma J. Williams and her daughter Roshunda.

Moments after Ben Weber learned he had terminal cancer, he spotted co-worker Dan Whittle at a gas pump during a sleet and ice storm in the early 1990s. Weber asked Whittle to pray with him — but didn’t pray for himself, Whittle remembered. “I pray to be able to leave a home for my wife and newborn baby,” Weber prayed. Whittle, a newspaper columnist, was so touched he contacted volunteer Jack Goodrich of Habitat for Humanity who agreed to build a house for the Weber family. Habitat for Humanity helps low-income families build simple, decent homes by partner families and community volunteers. It is sold to the family at no profit with a zero interest mortgage. Habitat families and community volunteers have built 83 homes in Rutherford County. Four more are under construction on South University Street in Murfreesboro. Executive Director Beth M. Smith of Habitat for Humanity said families start out working on other families’ houses and must work on their house through sweat equity, attend 30 weeks of financial budgeting classes and make a monthly mortgage payment. Since Weber wasn’t able to do the required sweat equity, volunteers pitched in. Weber died just two weeks before the house was completed in 1994. After his funeral, a despondent Whittle went to Toot’s restaurant where he talked to owner Wade Hays about Weber. Hays offered to host an annual fundraiser with Demos’ restaurant, nicknamed “Whittlemania — Catch It. Don’t Fight the Feeling ” after the columnist. People buy a $5 ticket for either Demos’ or Toot’s restaurant in March redeemable for $7 worth of food at the restaurants in April. The annual fundraiser helped 15 more families move into Habitat for Humanity homes. Smith said tickets will go on sale this week at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 850 Mercury Blvd. next to Peebles’, Pinnacle Bank at the intersection of Maple and College streets in downtown Murfreesboro, at the Murfreesboro Post offices at 630 Broadmor Blvd. next to Through the Grapevine restaurant and from Habitat board members and volunteers. Toot’s and Demos’ donate all the food with the $5 going directly to the Whittlemania house. Whittle said the fundraiser collects about $18,000 to $20,000 a year toward a Habitat home. Disabled mother Norma J. Williams, 62, and her disabled daughter, Roshunda, 28, moved into the latest Whittlemania home in October on Wolverine Trail in La Vergne. Also contributing to the cost was the “Bowling to Build” fundraiser sponsored by the Junior League of Murfreesboro and Square D/Schneider Electric who provided most of the labor and lunches. Waldron Enterprises donated the lot. Whittle and Habitat officials attended a housewarming for the family last week. David Waldron and his business partners, brothers Charles and Greg Waldron, wanted to honor their parents, Vester and Charlene Waldron, who were dedicated to public service. “What better way to honor our beloved parents than to build a Habitat home in La Vergne,” David Waldron said. U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon congratulated Waldron Enterprises for their 50th anniversary. “I can think of no better way to help the company milestone than to help Whittlemania to help a deserving family,” Gordon said. Smith said Whittlemania was Habitat’s first and longest-running fundraiser. The Demos’ family and Hays are “so kind and generous,” Smith said. “We receive 100 percent of the ticket sales. That’s a huge donation they’re making.” Habitat houses are the catalyst to changing a family’s life. “We see so many happy and beautiful stories that come out because of Dan Whittle, the Demos’ and Hays,” Smith said. “It gives families a pride they were not able to experience before. It’s something they’ve worked and paid for.” Lisa Marchesoni may be reached at 869-0814 or at lmarchesoni@murfreesboropost.com.

Tagged under Event

Member Opinions:

By: greaterhands on 3/1/09
Thanks Dan Whittle and Demos. I am glad you are my friends.

Dwight

By: Macgyver on 3/1/09
Win, win all the way around! I get a few to hand out as gifts at work, and who doesn't like toots or demos?