Construction began May 24 on two Habitat for Humanity homes in Philadelphia using lumber milled from the 2011 Rockefeller Christmas Tree. Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia was joined by volunteers from Tishman Speyer, the co-owner and manager of Rockefeller Center, to assist in building the homes, helping two Philadelphia families realize the dream of homeownership.
“We are pleased to be a part of this wonderful tradition that delights so many people,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, “and we are grateful to Tishman Speyer for partnering with us so that the Rockefeller Christmas Tree can live on in Habitat homes and be remembered for generations to come.”
The 79th Christmas tree was milled into lumber shortly after the holiday season and was returned to its home state of Pennsylvania to be used in the construction of the homes, which will be situated on Morse and Gratz streets in Philadelphia.
“Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia is looking forward to hosting the Tishman Speyer team to work on homes that will incorporate lumber from the 2011 Rockefeller Christmas tree. It’s going to be a great build,” said Frank Monaghan, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia. “The homeowner families are equally excited that a portion of the Rockefeller tree will be used in their new homes. It will bring as much joy to them as it did to the visitors of Rockefeller Center.”
Since 2007, Tishman Speyer has donated lumber from the tree to Habitat for Humanity.