Habitat for Humanity has a well-deserved reputation. Its concern for others and the provision of new or re-furbished homes for working, low-income families has been known to Volvo for some time. Recent efforts by Habitat to build six new homes in Las Vegas caught the attention of Volvo Group North America.

Volvo Group affiliate companies (Volvo Construction Equipment, Mack Trucks Inc. and Volvo Rents) promptly joined the effort to clear, grade and excavate a six-home tract in North Las Vegas. While Habitat usually relies on volunteer help to meet construction needs, this complicated work required a different level of voluntary participation.

Volvo and its partner companies organized a one-day work event that drew “expert volunteers” from the ranks of the nation’s top industrial press. Editors and reporters from trucking, construction equipment and building trades media came together with Habitat engineers and Volvo equipment specialists to “get ’er done” over the course of a single workday. Habitat estimated the job would have normally required more than a week and at significant cost.

“Volvo asked these people to set aside their laptops and tape recorders, get into the operator’s seat, and use their skills and our equipment to help Habitat help others. The response was truly impressive,” said Stefan Lorentzson, president of Volvo Group North America.

Gaining access to a Habitat home is not easy. For those who qualify it becomes a life-changing event.

“We want our candidates to succeed as home owners and to encourage others. Keeping building costs low is critical to our mission and ground preparation charges are usually an issue, particularly when the soil requires excavation and compaction before a slab can be poured. Today’s work is of immense value,” said Habitat Las Vegas President and CEO Guy Amato.

Joining trade media experts and encouraging from the sidelines were local media representative and members of the Nellis Air Force base construction battalion; several airmen operated Volvo construction equipment and Mack Granite model dump trucks.

“We are very proud that, for more than 100 years, Mack has been a part of some of America’s most significant construction projects, including Boulder Dam and the Interstate Highway System,” said Paul Vikner, president and CEO of Mack Trucks. “But we’re just as proud of our role in thousands of projects that, while smaller in scope, still have a direct impact on improving lives every day across this country. It’s in that spirit that we participate in this effort supporting Habitat for Humanity.”

“We, at Volvo Construction Equipment, are very proud to join Mack Trucks and Volvo Rents in serving our communities and helping provide less fortunate individuals and families with the most basic of human needs,” added Denny Slagle, president and CEO of Volvo Construction Equipment North America.

“In this case, it’s great to see everyone work together for such a good cause. We’re already looking to the next opportunity to help others make a better life. That’s the Volvo way,” Lorentzson concluded.

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