Habitat for Humanity of Central Iowa is currently in the running for a major grant that could help it house families in need.

The organization is a finalist for the second annual Gerry Rauenhorst Building Community Award, a $63,000 grant.

The award, named after the founder of The Opus Group, recognizes his entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and commitment to finding a better way to building a business.

Katie Hanson, junior in management and volunteer at Habitat for Humanity of Central Iowa, acknowledged the impact this award can have on Story, Hamilton and Hardin counties.

“[The grant] could potentially buy houses,” Hanson said. “It’s probably not enough money to build a house, but it could potentially be enough money to buy a house, which is a huge deal because it would house an entire family.

“If Habitat for Humanity of Central Iowa were to win this grant, it would mean that a lot of people in the community care about secure houses for other members of the community.”

Kevin Ruth, junior in construction engineering and president of ISU Habitat for Humanity, said the award could go a long way.

“These homes are built completely on donations out of the kindness of people’s hearts, and $63,000 is almost three quarters of the way to building a home,” Ruth said. “That’s huge. Another family’s life can be changed for the better, and I really think these families deserve it. Money just helps out tremendously to make a dream become reality.”

As a freshman, Ruth was enrolled at Iowa State as an electrical engineer, but changed his major after spending a Spring Break in Texas volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. He credits meeting with construction engineers on a volunteer trip as the reason he changed majors only weeks later.

“I just fell in love with construction engineering and the people,” Ruth said. “The quality of people is just fantastic in construction engineering. That makes me really happy to think that I figured out what I wanted to do through Habitat for Humanity.”

Ruth also said he plans to continue volunteering for Habitat for Humanity in his post-college life.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “Since it’s such a large organization no matter where I end up living there’s probably going to be an affiliate. I love helping out, going on build days and working with my hands and meeting the families. It’s really such an awesome experience when you finally see who you’re helping out and how much it means to them. That’s really the reason why we do this.”

As president for ISU Habitat for Humanity, Ruth attempts to get people involved with Habitat for Humanity. As a student chapter, members work with Habitat for Humanity of Central Iowa and Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity to encourage people to volunteer.

ISU Habitat for Humanity also hosts service events such as Rake and Run, an event in which the chapter helps families rake their yards in the fall. The group also runs social events to get to know people and fundraisers.

ISU Habitat for Humanity goes on trips every Spring Break, visiting Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the United States.

“It’s a fun way to see different communities and realize that through Habitat for Humanity you can impact all of America and all of the world,” Ruth said.

The chapter’s main focus, however, is build days. Working with Habitat for Humanity of Central Iowa, it helps build one or two homes each year.

“Basically once a family has presented a clear need and they want to progress we’ll start building the home,” Ruth said. “As many days as I can get people to get out there we’re going to be swinging hammers and painting.”

Habitat for Humanity of Central Iowa only builds one or two homes each year, but Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity can build close to a hundred homes.

Anyone who wants to support Habitat for Humanity of Central Iowa can vote at The Opus Group’s website through Friday.