MOORESVILLE, N.C. (October 17, 2012) – The Jamie McMurray Foundation announced today that it will provide the greenery for homes in Joplin, MO. The homes are being built as part of the recovery efforts in the wake of the EF5 tornado that ravaged NASCAR driver Jamie McMurray’s hometown on May 22, 2011. The donation is to support Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s, Joplin Challenge with Habitat for Humanity. McMurray will donate all of the shrubs and trees that will be planted around the houses in the NASCAR neighborhood in Joplin as part of this initiative.
McMurray offered his support to Gov. Nixon’s Joplin Challenge when he first learned of the effort to build the 35 new homes in seven neighborhoods. Each neighborhood is assigned a sponsor among the major athletic organizations in Missouri including the following: St. Louis Blues (NHL), St. Louis Cardinals (MLB), St. Louis Rams (NFL), Kansas City Royals (MLB), Kansas City Chiefs (NFL), University of Missouri and a partnership of NASCAR Unites and Kansas Speedway.
Notes of Interest:
· The challenge, in partnership with Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity and Missouri’s major athletic organizations, aims to build 35 new homes in the heart of Joplin during 2012 to provide continued aid to the city’s recovery.
· Gov. Nixon’s administration will provide a $3.6 million Community Development Block Grant to support construction and organizational management, as well as pave the way for future builds.
· Donations to support the Joplin Challenge can still be made by visiting www.joplinchallenge.mo.gov . The Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity is also accepting in-kind donations to help build homes in Joplin during the Governor’s Joplin Challenge and beyond. .
· In April NASCAR also committed through its participation in the 2012 Governor’s Joplin Habitat Challenge, by donating 100 trees to be planted in conjunction with its green initiatives.
Quote Board:
Jamie McMurray: “One of the things that stood out to me after seeing Joplin was just how bare the path of the storm was. I think we take for granted the trees and plants that we see along our way every day, but the tornado took a lot of that away from Joplin. This is a way for me to offer something to my hometown that will hopefully be around for years to come in addition to making someone’s new home look beautiful.”
