Thoroughbred Community Comes Together For Habitat for Humanity

The local Thoroughbred community came together in Lexington this summer to help Habitat for Humanity. Thanks to their combined efforts, Kia Langford and her two daughters, Kerrington and Kyla, were handed the keys to their new home Aug. 29.

From June 17-Aug. 19, volunteers worked alongside Langford, 28, and her family to build them a new home. The completed house comes with three bedrooms, one bathroom, a large kitchen, a front room, a laundry/utility room, and a fenced in backyard.

"The best thing about it is that the sponsor is the horse industry, and my dad works for Sallee (Horse Vans)," Langford said. "He has been there for over 30 years."

Main sponsors of the project were: Darley, The Bell Group, Blood-Horse Publications, Blue Grass Farms, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Henkel Denmark, Hillenmeyer's, Creech, The Jockey Club Information systems, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Salle Horse Vans, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, and the Thoroughbred Times.

"In giving just a little time, we got so much enjoyment from meeting the family and being a part of something that was very, very special," said Jimmy Bell, president of Darley USA, during the dedication program. "It is our pleasure and our privilege to be here today and to make this a reality."

Darley, the initial sponsor, got interested in the concept because of its human resource director, Laureette Durick, who put forth the idea three years ago. She initially became involved with Habitat for Humanity through her church.

Although the house dedication was cheerful, there was a somber air as well due to the death of long-time Habitat for Humanity volunteer Pat Smith, who perished in the Aug. 27 crash of Comair Flight 5191. Smith was a board director for Habitat for Humanity Internationals.