When Chalonda Simpson signed the frame of her new home, her message was simple: ???To Dominique, Love Mommy.??? The proud beneficiary of a new Habitat for Humanity, home, the Hurricane Katrina victim marked one of the most important days of her life with a message to the most important man in her life ??? her 3-year old son.

Shortly after Hurricane Katrina, the NCAA and Habitat for Humanity established a partnership to help provide displaced individuals with new homes across the country. There have been Habitat builds at many of the NCAA???s championships since that time, as each community comes together to give back.

Yesterday, nearly 100 student-athletes from seven area colleges and universities showed up in Atlanta???s Centennial Park to build two homes, one for Chalonda and Dominique and the other for a local Atlanta family. Despite a bit of rain and cool temperatures, enthusiasm was high and everyone enjoyed what they were doing.

I had the chance to chat with a bunch of folks, including student-athletes from each of the three divisions, Chalonda, Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford and NCAA President Myles Brand, who was out helping with the build during the afternoon.

What I love most about Habitat builds is the hope it brings. Chalonda was beaming all day and it was refreshing to see her smile after hearing what she???s been through. At the time of the hurricane, she was finishing up her degree at Xavier but moved out to Atlanta after she lost everything. She enrolled at Georgia Tech and received her degree from Xavier last spring. Now, she???s about to become the proud owner of a brand new home she helped build and is looking forward to beginning graduate school.

Chalonda was delightful to speak with and is grateful to have this opportunity. She is a hardworking, intelligent girl who will now have the means to make her mark in the world and provide a warm home for her son. Isn???t that what it???s all about?