Nissan Teams up with Heisman Winners and Habitat for Humanity to Tackle Affordable Housing

Six Heisman Trophy winners give two days of service in LA neighborhood

LOS ANGELES -- May 11, 2015: Juan Loza works three jobs as a banquet server to provide for his family. This weekend, he’ll add a fourth role – construction crew member – beginning the build of his family’s new home with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles. He will be joined by six of college football’s most outstanding players, former recipients of the Heisman Memorial Trophy, whose efforts will help change the lives of this local Los Angeles family.

“The Heisman Trophy Trust is proud to partner with Nissan, Habitat for Humanity and the dedicated Heisman Trophy winners for this annual home build”

This unique collaboration grew out of existing relationships among Nissan and its longtime partners Habitat for Humanity and the Heisman Trophy Trust. The three organizations come together each year to bring awareness to the need for affordable housing across the country. Joining Nissan and Habitat this weekend are Heisman winners:

Tony Dorsett, 1976, University of Pittsburgh running back;

Doug Flutie, 1984, Boston College quarterback;

John Huarte, 1964, Notre Dame quarterback;

Matt Leinart, 2004, University of Southern California quarterback;

George Rogers, 1980, University of South Carolina running back; and

Troy Smith, 2006, Ohio State University quarterback.

The Heisman Trophy recipients will begin their weekend by leading a football clinic on Friday, running drills and engaging up to 250 young people at Carson High School in Carson, a city in southern Los Angeles County. The next day they will trade footballs for hammers, helping to raise the walls of the Loza family’s new home.

“Working with Habitat, Nissan employees have logged more than 70,000 volunteer hours to improve communities across the country over the past 10 years,” said Nissan Marketing Vice President Jeremy Tucker. “Now, with the personal commitment of time and effort from the Heisman winners, we’re creating a one-of-a-kind partnership that can bring even greater attention to local needs for decent, affordable housing. We’re grateful for their participation.”

“The Heisman Trophy Trust is proud to partner with Nissan, Habitat for Humanity and the dedicated Heisman Trophy winners for this annual home build,” said Rob Whalen, Executive Director of the Heisman Trophy Trust. “The union of professional athletes and business leaders into one team to help a family build their dream home is truly remarkable. The Heisman Trophy Trust has a charitable mission to serve those less fortunate. This home build further cements our mission and highlights the basic human nature in each of us.”

The Heisman winners will be working alongside Juan and Gloria Loza and their three sons, who currently live in a two-bedroom apartment in Norwalk. The construction crew directed by Habitat LA will also include employee volunteers from Nissan’s Western Region operations in Orange County.

“This partnership with Nissan and the Heisman Trophy Trust will make a great impact in our community, from the clinic engaging so many local youth, including some of the children of our homeowners, to the build day with the Loza Family,” said Erin Rank, Habitat LA President/CEO. “The Heisman athletes who will be joining us know firsthand the meaning of hard work, and we appreciate them helping the Loza family with some of the sweat equity hours that they will be putting into building their Habitat LA home.”

The “Heisman House” concept launched by Nissan in 2011 highlights its sponsorship of The Heisman Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to an outstanding college football player. The campaign features some of the most celebrated college football players in Heisman history in the fraternal order of the Heisman House.

Nissan’s national partnership with Habitat dates to 2005, following hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Since 2006, Nissan has contributed more than $12 million to Habitat for Humanity. Nissan employees have helped to build more than 60 homes across the United States, and the company has donated 120 vehicles to support Habitat’s mission. In February 2015, in connection with its Super Bowl XLIX commercial called “With Dad,” Nissan donated $500,000 to Habitat for Humanity to help people working to build a better future for themselves and their families.