Lauren Haskett this one’s for you…

You see, my co-blogger Lauren has always had a thing for JBJ (Jon Bon Jovi if you want to get technical).  I remember her going on about JBJ during studio classes back at O.U., on her 18th birthday when everyone else was asking for makeup and clothes, Lauren was begging for JBJ concert tickets, and her first dance with her husband at her wedding was to what else? A Bon Jovi song.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this poster was hanging from her ceiling right now…

So now I’ve combined her two favorite loves in one post-JBJ and Elle Decor.  Today must be her lucky day!  I think I deserve some kind of gold star for merging the two together for Lauren.

We recently were sent these photos from the December 8th event introducing Newark’s HELP Genesis JBJ Soul Homes, a new groundbreaking “green” housing project which was developed as a result of a public-private partnership between HELP USA and Jon Bon Jovi’s Soul Foundation.

{Exterior}

Fifty one new units of affordable housing with support services for special-needs individuals living with HIV/AIDS and low-income families were unveiled.

{Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Elle Decor Editor-in-Chief Margaret Russell, and Jon Bon Jovi in the model apartment}

Elle Decor supported and donated to the project as well as MG favorite, Home Goods.  The model apartment was completed using stylish and affordable accessories from the retailer and was created by talented designer (and one of our favorite people) Elaine Griffin.

{Elle Decor’s Model Unit (designed by Elaine)}

All of the items in the model home will be given to its residents through a lottery so everyone in the building will benefit from the donations.

{Designer Kenneth Cole, Margaret Russell, Elaine Griffin}

What a wonderful outcome- it’s so great to see such talented and successful people give their time, talent and resources to a project such as this.  On a related topic, let’s keep the spirit of giving going…only two more hours left of Pencils of Promise Blog Day!