Giving back to the West Texas community has always been important to The UT Permian Basin athletic department. Every year our Vice President for Athletics, Todd Dooley, encourages head coaches to get out into the community and find ways to volunteer.  

On September 27, UTPB football players, James Morrow, Coby Calvin, Rafael Vargas, and Girevis Bobey volunteered to help Midland Habitat for Humanity build a home in Odessa.  

"A big piece of our program is getting out in the community and supporting those who support us. So, when you get an opportunity like this you can't say no," said head football coach, Kris McCullough. "It's one of those life building and character-building things our guys can do. Anytime we get an opportunity to volunteer, we want to take advantage of it." 
 

As the sun was rising in Odessa, the Falcons hopped out of bed, got dressed and went down to the job site to help wherever they were needed that day. After a safety meeting and instructions on what the goal was, the players got to work. 

"We were delighted to have members of the UT Permian Basin Football team join us for the OXY build. They exhibited fantastic attitudes, and their size and strength made them naturals for construction. Their eagerness to support our build project exemplifies UTPB's strong commitment to the community," said Jeff Meyers, Chief of Staff for Midland Habitat for Humanity.  

Midland Habitat for Humanity (MHFN) is one of the premier institutions responsible for constructing affordable housing in the Permian Basin. The organization's partnership model offers deserving, hard-working families a hand-up. MHFH uses a rigorous qualifying process that includes progress from the application all the way through homeownership.  

Each participant contributes a minimum of 350 hours of "sweat equity" on the worksite and completes a homeownership education program. Successful candidates are then awarded a 0% interest mortgage, making homeownership a reality for some of the neediest families in the Permian Basin. 

Midland Habitat for Humanity has built 191 houses in Midland and Odessa since 1991. The house the Falcons worked on was sponsored by OXY who also sent volunteers for the week to help build the house.