Student honored by Habitat for Humanity

A Cornell College student has been named a Habitat for Humanity Illinois Hero in recognition of his work to raise money and awareness for the organization.

John Bendewald, who rode 1,000 miles to raise money for Habitat for Humanity, received the Marketing/Public Awareness Volunteer Award at the Habitat for Humanity Illinois Conference on Nov. 14. Bendewald rode in a loop from his hometown of Wheeling, Illinois, to Duluth, Minnesota, and back. He performed magic shows in each place he stopped, and the money raised during those shows went directly to a local Habitat for Humanity affiliate.

Bendewald made the trip, which took three weeks in all, while he was a student at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, Illinois. He transferred to Cornell College this fall and is majoring in psychology. Bendewald was inspired to support Habitat after he went on a trip to build homes in Mississippi over spring break of his first year at Oakton and found he loved the organization.

“Not only was I able to make some amazing friends, but I was also able to find something I’m passionate about,” he wrote on the website dedicated to the trip, www.1000milesforhumanity.com. “Habitat has shown me just how rewarding it can be to help those in need, and it is something I plan on doing for the rest of my life.”

In addition to winning an award, Bendewald was the keynote speaker at the statewide conference.

A video of Bendewald being honored at the conference is available on YouTube.