14 Year Old Youth Raises Money to Build Tulsa Habitat House
TULSA, OK (March 19, 2010) – Ryan Coretz, 14 year old Tulsa boy, has seen a need for better housing in Tulsa and decided to do something about it! Ryan, the son of Rob and Kim Coretz, asked friends and family to donate money to Tulsa Habitat for Humanity in lieu of giving him presents for his Bar Mitzvah. This is the beginning of a dream fulfilled for TeJaJuana Goff and her children, a Habitat Partner Family in our community.
When Ryan was 12 and began anticipating his Bar Mitzvah, he decided to ask people to donate gifts to Tulsa Habitat for Humanity so a family could get a house built. Almost $9,000 was given honoring Ryan. Knowing this was quite a bit of money but not nearly enough to build the house –Ryan set out to raise the money! What did he do? He asked! Ryan received funds from the Bezalel Foundation, the Hille Foundation, the William K. Warren Foundation and others. At the same time Coretz was working to raise money, Ms. Goff was working towards completing the Homeowners Education Program and soon their paths will cross as they raise the wall on this special home!
“It is exciting to see young people such as Ryan who are making a difference in our community,” said Paul Kent, Tulsa Habitat Executive Director. “Ryan leveraged his relationships for the benefit of someone else—a pretty amazing and self-less thing for a 14-year old!”
“Ryan’s House” is also being used as a fundraiser event for Youth United, a Tulsa Habitat organization for youth and young adults up to the age of 25. The group’s mission is to build homes with Habitat. Young people 16 – 25 years old who want to help build the “Ryan House” can participate by raising at least $100 for the Youth United 2010 House scheduled for this September. To participate, log on to www.yubuildathon.kintera.org and sign up as a Habitat Builder. Raising $100 gives Builders the opportunity to build for one half day and raising $200 gives them a full day to build. Through the Youth United Build-a-thon website, Builders email friends and family and ask them to provide support as the Habitat Builder helps build this home for TeJaJuana and her children.
TeJaJuana Goff has completed 450 hours of her 500-hour Homeowners Program. The program has included building various home components that will go into Habitat homes and completion of a 60-hour money management classes along with various workshops. The final 50 hours will be spent building the home alongside the youth volunteers who come out to build it. Ms. Goff will repay a zero-interest mortgage of which the principal will be used by Tulsa Habitat to support building future Tulsa Habitat homes.
Updated 04-02-2010
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