'Mission to Mississippi' Wraps Up With Key-Presentation Ceremony in Waveland, MS Wednesday, Jan. 23.

Watch Live On Web at www.missiontomississippi.org

WAVELAND, Miss. -- The Wayland to Waveland Hurricane Katrina Relief Committee wraps up its "Mission to Mississippi" project to build eight new homes for families with a ceremony here tomorrow. The highlight of the event will be a symbolic passing of keys to the recipient families as part of a press conference (Wednesday, January 23) at 10 am outside the four houses on Combel Street. This will formally mark the project's completion. Four other houses were built nearby in town on Taranto and Maple Streets.

"We actually finished ahead of schedule," said lead builder Ken Vona of Kenneth Vona Construction of Waltham. "Originally we planned for 16 weeks, which would have gone into February. Every crew we've sent down there did their job faster and better than we expected."

The more than 400 skilled tradesmen who worked on the project came from the eight building companies Vona assembled and the more than 60 subcontracting companies. Most of these companies donated their workers' time, helping lower the dollar amount that had to be raised ($1.6 million) through donations. More than 100 volunteers also helped, each paying their own transportation, lodging and meals.

The eight builders participating in the project are the Kenneth Vona Construction of Waltham, Mitchell Construction Group of Medfield; Twin Peaks Construction, LLC of Norwood; Thoughtforms Corporation Builders of West Acton; Gallagher Home Builders, Inc. of Maynard; Whitla Brothers Builders of Medfield; CMG Builders of Rowley; and Custom Designs, Inc. of Wayland.

The houses were mostly complete last week as hardwood floors, appliances, and bath fixtures were installed, and electricity and water were turned on. Also, landscaping was completed and the work trailers were removed. These days before the ceremony saw only minor finishes (such as installing electrical outlets and switches, touching up paint, and hanging light fixtures) and a lot of cleaning.

The Wayland to Waveland committee - a joint public private effort by the Town of Wayland, MA - will continue to work with the families as they move in and outfit their new homes. Learn more at www.missiontomississippi.org.