Building a new Heisman house
For the fourth consecutive year, the Heisman Trophy Trust is partnering with Nissan to begin construction of a Habitat for Humanity home in a community where the automaker has a business presence. This year the home is located north of Nashville.
Participating Heisman Trophy winners include Tim Brown (Notre Dame), Mark Ingram (Alabama), George Rogers (South Carolina), Billy Sims (Oklahoma) and current Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (Oregon).
Before starting the Habitat home, upon their arrival in Nashville today, the Heisman Trophy winners helped to lead a youth football clinic at Nissan Stadium. The football clinic engaged 200 student members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee who ran drills and practiced basic football stances.
Construction of a new home kicked off on April 22 with the Heisman Trophy winners and new Habitat homeowners, Mohammed Berema and his wife, Khadija Aldom. Over the next four weeks, groups of Nissan volunteers will complete the house with the homeowners and other Habitat volunteers.
Starting in 2013, this unique collaboration grew out of existing relationships among the Heisman Trophy Trust and its longtime partners, Nissan and Habitat for Humanity.
The Heisman House concept launched by Nissan in 2011 highlights its sponsorship of The Heisman Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to an outstanding college football player. The campaign gathers many of the most celebrated college football players of the last 30 years into the fraternal order of the Heisman House.
“While every Habitat home is a blessing, the special relationship with Nissan and the Heisman Trust makes this home build extra special,” said Danny Herron, CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville. “We take pride in empowering families in realizing the dream of owning their first home, and having the Heisman winners working alongside the many generous volunteers to make this family’s dream come true is an experience we will always remember.”
The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Heisman Trophy Trust ensures the continuation and integrity of this award.
The Trust, furthermore, has a charitable mission to support amateur athletics and to provide greater opportunities to the youth of our country. Our goal through these charitable endeavors is for the Heisman Trophy to symbolize the fostering of a sense of community responsibility and service to our youth, especially those disadvantaged or afflicted.
Source: Nissan Image Library
