30 Seconds to Mars and Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity build home

**PurpleHaze** · July 9th, 2008, 10:00 AM

30 SECONDS TO MARS AND HOLLYWOOD FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY UNITE FOR ONE-OF-A-KIND BUILD
6/30/2008

30 Seconds To Mars And Hollywood For Habitat For Humanity Unite For One-Of-A-Kind Build. Over $10,000 raised by band auctioning off the chance to build alongside them and a Habitat for Humanity Partner family in Los Angeles area.

Los Angeles, CA (June 30, 2008) Multi-platinum selling recording artists 30 Seconds to Mars joined hands yesterday with Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity for a one-of-a-kind Habitat build day in Carson, CA. In advance of the build, the band organized an auction of "build slots" to give fans the opportunity to volunteer alongside them and their family and friends. In less than a week, six extra workers were enlisted and over $10,000.00 was raised to fund additional Habitat for Humanity projects.

Working on a home being repaired and renovated through the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles' "A Brush With Kindness" program, the band, their family and friends, and the auction winners joined Melvin Jones as he performed urgently needed repairs to the home that his mother currently resides in and has owned for over 35 years.

The auction winners/volunteers traveled to the build site from as close by as Los Angeles and as far away as Vienna, Austria. Following a full day of hard work on the build site, Theresa, one of the intercontinental volunteers, said of the experience: "We bid because of the band but the experience was more rewarding than we could have ever imagined. It was great to meet some very nice people, have fun and do good... and it was very impressive to see how the band worked their butts off!"

Originally, the auction was intended to be for two morning slots and two afternoon slots, but after an overwhelming response, two additional volunteers were accommodated. Andi, a fan from Budapest, who bid for and won the morning auction was unable to attend and donated her slots to Kira and Jen, two fellow 30 Seconds to Mars fans that she had met on tour.

Fans quickly got involved around the globe. Even those who couldn't outbid the winners were able to participate and support the band's efforts. The Echelon (30 Seconds to Mars' core fans) created their own initiative within "Hope Builders", a program of Habitat for Humanity in the UK, which raises funds to build homes internationally. Within the same week that the auctions were running prior to the band's build day in Los Angeles, "The House that the Echelon Built" had already raised enough money in the UK to fund the construction of more than two homes and is currently approaching their target for a third.

"We are so proud of our friends and family around the world who have put together their own teams and volunteered," commented Jared Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars. "It's a wonderful and selfless gift and we are so thankful and moved by the generosity shown by all. It was a great day today with our family, friends and fans on the build site with the Jones family in Carson, but it was even more special knowing we were joined around the world in this event. We ended the build covered in dirt, sweat and smiles."

"Seeing the work being done on the Jones home, by two generations of family, for two generations of family, and watching the band members introduce their mother to Melvin's mother was truly inspiring," said Allison Winkler, VP of Music and Talent Partnerships for Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity. "Everyone who volunteered worked tirelessly, and was generous with their spirit, in addition to being generous with their time. We are very grateful to 30 Seconds to Mars, to all involved with this unique A Brush with Kindness build event, and for the outpouring of support globally for Habitat for Humanity from the 30 Seconds to Mars community."

All carbon emissions caused or resulted from travel associated with the 30 Seconds to Mars auction for Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity will be offset with a purchase of green tags.

source: Jo-An Turman at Habitat For Humanity - Greater Los Angeles

pictures can be found here

and in case anyone is interested here is the link to "The House That The Echelon Built