Kelley students, faculty and staff will partner with other IU students, Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County and Whirlpool Corporation employees to build a home for a Bloomington family, as they did in 2018.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Amid the colorful autumn leaves and campus excitement for football, another Indiana University tradition – now established after 15 years – continues, with the construction of a new home for a Bloomington family, built by students, faculty and staff from IU and the Kelley School of Business.
With support from Whirlpool Corporation, Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County also will celebrate the construction of its 250th home in its 37-year history. The house also will be part of a new, historic framing blitz of five houses in its Osage Place neighborhood. Once completed, the first phase of the neighborhood’s development will be complete.
More than 3,300 IU students, staff, faculty, and alumni have come together over the years to build homes alongside Monroe County families through the partnership.
A public celebration will take place during IU’s Homecoming Weekend, at 9 a.m. on October 18 at the build site. Among those expected to attend will be several people involved with the first project in 2010, including Jeff Fettig, retired Whirlpool CEO, who initiated the annual Habitat build, which initially took place near the home of the Hoosiers, Memorial Stadium. In the early years, houses were built on the IU campus and then moved to a permanent location.
Jeff Fettig, a Kelley alumnus and retired CEO of Whirlpool Corporation, initiated the annual Habitat builds.
“It’s truly inspiring to see how a simple idea 15 years ago has blossomed into such a powerful relationship between Whirlpool Corporation, Indiana University, and Habitat for Humanity,” Fettig said. “The dedication of employees, students, faculty, staff, and community volunteers alongside the incredible families we support, continues to make a profound difference in the Bloomington community, building not just homes, but hope and brighter futures.”
With this build, Whirlpool Corporation has sponsored 15 homes in Bloomington over the course of the relationship. And all five houses being framed the week of Oct. 13 are supported through BuildBetter with Whirlpool grants. As part of the BuildBetter with Whirlpool program, all five homes will be net zero-energy ready helping homeowners save on utility costs.
“We are grateful for Whirlpool Corporation’s sustained investment in Monroe County which has delivered transformative results over the past 15 years. In partnership with Habitat for Humanity and Indiana University, Whirlpool has broadened its commitment from supporting homeownership to advancing energy efficiency and sustainability,” said Wendi Goodlett, president & CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County. “This evolving vision continues to shape stronger, more resilient communities—one home at a time.”
Onga Masumbuko and Emmanuel Ngongo Kanamuli are excited about the new home being built for them and their four children. The couple, who originally are from the Republic of Congo, emigrated to the United States in March 2023, after being refugees in the East African country of Burundi for 23 years. “We came because of peace; in Congo, no peace,” Masumbuko said.
Emmanuel Ngongo Kanamuli, center, and Onga Masumbuko and their four children.
They look forward to living in a larger house that will meet their family needs better than the cramped apartment where they now live. It also will be a tremendous improvement over the simple three-room house they rented in Burundi, which did not have running water.
Kanamuli, 53, works as a custodian for IU and Masumbuko, 38, is a housekeeper at Bell Trace Senior Living Community. He will be the first IU employee to procure a home through this partnership with Whirlpool Corporation and Kelley. Their children are Joseph, age 16; Orly, 14; Elisabeth, 11; and Gael, 7.
“It’s a joy that falls from the sky for us, because having a house here is a dream,” he said. “We consider this house to be a blessing, because we tell ourselves that it is a special gift for our family and through it, we are going to live in a better condition. It is what we were waiting for in our life.”
Families qualify for the Habitat program based on three criteria: need for housing, ability to pay back their affordable mortgage and a willingness to partner. Each adult member living in a Habitat home must invest 250 hours of volunteering, called “sweat equity,” before closing on their house. The couple has been actively involved in prior Habitat construction projects and volunteered at the ReStore.
There is a significant population of Congolese refugees living in Bloomington, and Masumbuko and Kanamuli look forward to hosting gatherings for family and friends. “The first day, we pray and thank God for the blessing of the house,” he said, “After we invite the friends and brothers to celebrate together, we will invite our neighbors to do so with us”
When a home was being built with the Kell Family in 2012, construction took place along 17th Street, across from the IU Athletics complex. This house was moved later to its permanent location.
All the houses will be net-zero homes. Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County received a $250,000 grant from the City of Bloomington to install solar panels on other homes. Combined with private donations, the organization has raised nearly $300,000, which will enable it to put solar on all homes in Phase 1 of Osage Place. The solar panels come with monitors, which allow homeowners to manage the electricity usage in their homes.
Local volunteers will be joined at the dedication by Pat Hopkins, dean of the Kelley School and the James R. Hodge Chair of Excellence, and current and retired Whirlpool Corporation representatives, including Fettig and Whirlpool Foundation President, Pam Klyn.
“Our ongoing partnership with Whirlpool Corporation and Habitat for Humanity reflects Kelley’s deep commitment to community engagement and socially conscious leadership,” Hopkins said. “The support from Whirlpool not only helps make these builds possible but also connects meaningfully with our students, offering them a firsthand look at how corporate responsibility and professional development can go hand in hand. Through the Kelley Institute for Social Impact, our students are empowered to give back to Bloomington and the State of Indiana in lasting ways.”
The family will symbolically receive keys to their home after the ceremony, in the endzone of Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium, before IU’s game against Michigan State University. Masumbuko has become a fan of the Hoosiers in football and soccer, and they look forward to receiving their keys before IU beats the Spartans.
The Whirlpool Corporation is a long-term corporate partner for the Kelley School, and the project enables students to work alongside company employees, some of whom are IU alumni. Many students participating in the build are involved with the Kelley Institute for Social Impact (KISI), which serves as a hub within the school for socially conscious undergraduate students who want to make a difference in local and global communities through education, service, career development and leadership opportunities.
Many students participating in the build are involved with the Kelley Institute for Social Impact, which serves as a hub within the school for socially conscious undergraduate students who want to make a difference in local and global communities.
“This enduring relationship with IU and Habitat exemplifies Whirlpool Corporation’s commitment to building stronger communities,” said Klyn. “Through the dedication of countless volunteers and the support of our BuildBetter with Whirlpool program, we are not only providing comfortable, energy-efficient homes but also fostering hope and creating lasting impact. We look forward to continuing this vital work, expanding our reach, and supporting even more Bloomington families in the years to come.”
The company has been invited by KISI to participate in the Jellison Living Learning Center’s professional development series on Oct. 16, to discuss Whirlpool Corporation’s engagement efforts, its mission and why it supports reputable organizations such as Habitat for Humanity International.
Since its founding in 1988, Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County has housed more than 900 individuals, including more than 500 children, helping to address a need for safe, decent and affordable housing in the community.
The dedication ceremony will take place at the building site on Bernard Drive, west of the intersection of Rockport and Rogers roads and adjacent to RCA Community Park, 1400 W. RCA Park Drive, where parking will be available.