Athletes, administrators and others picked up the hammers to build wall panels for an affordable home. Photo by Jada Gangazha.
SAWYER GOLDWEIN | SPORTS EDITOR | sgoldwein@butler.edu
The Butler community came together on the morning of Sept. 20, volunteering to build wall panels to be used in a future Indianapolis Habitat home. The event — a collaboration between Greater Indy Habitat, Butler and the NCAA — garnered attendance from student-athletes, coaches, athletic administrators and other students.
One of Greater Indy Habitat’s initiatives is to provide house construction at an affordable cost for those with low to moderate incomes. In addition to the panel build at Butler, the NCAA has partnered with Greater Indy Habitat as a sponsor for a new Devon Creek community. The NCAA made a $500,000 investment towards Devon Creek, where construction is set to begin in 2026.
Felicia Martin, the NCAA’s senior vice president of inclusion education and community engagement, is appreciative of the turnout, as well as the relationship between the NCAA and Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity.
“To see Butler and the student-athletes and even the national office staff show up for today, it’s the outcome of a vision that we had about making sure we have a lasting legacy in the community,” Martin said. “Habitat has been an amazing partner.”
The partnership began in 2018 as a way to provide disaster relief for NCAA schools in affected areas. Today, more than 80 builds have taken place in Indiana, Minnesota, California, North Carolina, Arizona and Louisiana.
With the most recent event taking place in the Bulldogs’ own backyard, Martin encourages students to show up to events such as the community home build.
“Take a look at the impact,” Martin said. “Say, ‘Hey, how do I want to show up in my community for my neighbors? How can I give back in a way that is significant for those around me?’”
For some volunteers, the build represented not only an opportunity to serve the community but also to return to a familiar one.
Butler alumnus Kobe Mosley, an internal and member communications intern with the NCAA, was among those in attendance. He appreciated the opportunity to be back on campus with a selfless purpose.
“Being back here always feels like home,” Mosley said. “It’s definitely more meaningful to come back and not just go to a game, but to be outside Hinkle and make an impact in the community.”
The rewarding experience Mosley received was shared among his fellow builders, including members of Butler’s men’s basketball, women’s basketball and softball teams.
Jim Morris, the president and CEO of Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity, sees immense upside in volunteering, particularly for student-athletes.
“The value is both for them and the community,” Morris said. “The community sees them as student-athletes, but they also recognize that they’re young and learning. Part of learning is a more comprehensive understanding of what goes on in communities. Whether you’re going to stay there or not, that investment will carry forward and you will start to understand the depths of a community.”
With over 150 people giving up their morning to help, Bulldogs from all over campus are embracing their community. Anyone interested in contributing can visit the Greater Indy Habitat website and navigate to the volunteer tab.
