Benson: It only takes one to make a difference
Michigan Habitat for Humanity President Ken Benson said he has built houses with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter for 20 years.
“I’ve traveled around the world with him,” he said. “He’s quite a guy.”
Benson spoke on behalf of the international nonprofit organization Wednesday evening to a crowd of 25 in Bovee University Center’s Lake St. Clair Room.
His strongest statement, one he reiterated many times, was that it takes one person to make a difference.
“Many nonprofit (organizations) are crying for people to come out of school and lead them to the future,” Benson said. “Every one person can make a difference for Habitat and for the world.”
Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to building “simple, decent and affordable” houses for those who are less fortunate, according to its Web site. It has built more than 200,000 houses around the world in more than 100 countries.
Marysville sophomore Haley Rank was impressed with Wednesday’s speech.
“He did a great job at explaining everything,” she said. “I’m part of the Habitat on campus and I learned a whole lot more. It opened my eyes on how to get more involved and make a difference.”
Homes are built with volunteer labor and are sold with no interest charged to the mortgage.
Benson got involved with Habitat 20 years ago and has helped start more than 80 affiliates in Michigan.
“We are the number one charity in the country,” he said. “We’ve surpassed Red Cross and we’ve surpassed the Salvation Army.”
Benson has helped the organization build 3,000 houses and aid 12,000 people in Michigan alone.
A campus organization for Habitat also was started last fall by a group of students, including Dundee junior Katie Herberholz.
“There’s a lot of people at Central Michigan University that don’t know a whole lot about Habitat,” Herberholz said. “It’s good to have someone come here to educate about it.”
Benson’s visit was part of Act, Speak, Build week, started by the Habitat organization at CMU, to raise awareness of substandard housing.
