GREENVILLE, S.C. – On a street off of White Horse Road, the Samora family walked into the first home they have ever owned Wednesday afternoon.
And 30 some community and business leaders were there to make it happen.
Habitat for Humanity Greenville CEO Build is an annual event where business owners leaders the board room and help build a house, said Monroe Free, President and CEO of Habitat Greenville. Each of the participating CEOs pledges company funding and staff volunteer hours to help build the project houses. They also work on-site personally during construction alongside their own team members, community volunteers and future Habitat families, to broaden their perspectives on issues of importance to our community.
“For 12 years, we have brought together diverse groups of people who unite under one mission: affordable housing,” Free said. “They do this because they believe that a strong Greenville starts with strong families. And strong families start at home.”
CEOs on this year’s build at 115 Sturtevant were Scott Weaver of Carolina Foothills Federal Credit Union; Jane Harrison Fisher, chairwoman of the 2023 CEO Build as well as Chief Operating Officer with Coldwell Banker Caine; Bob Morris of the Community Foundation of Greenville; John Boyanoski of Complete PR; Stephen Davis of Davis and Floyd; Phil Howard of Ethox Chemicals; Chris Bailey of Greater Greenville Association of Realtors; Tommy Jenkins of Greenville Maintenance Services; Dr. Keith Miller of Greenville Technical College; Seabrook Marchant of Marchant Real Estate; Kerri Paulino of Meritage Homes; Hank McCullough of Piedmont Natural Gas; Josh Covington of QLM and Southern Harmony; Brian McKay of Spero Financial; Steve Spinks of Spinx; David Lominack of TD Bank; Randy Hunter of Terminix; Delisa English of The Blood Connection; Steve Magruder of Warehouse Services, Kirsten Zinkann of Kirsten Zinkann Real Estate; Mike Coggins of South State Bank; Douglas Deitz of The Reynolds Company, Walmart Distribution and John Castile of the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority.
An Iowa native, Michelle Samora and her four children moved to South Carolina in 2021, and she found work with a health care management company and in home health care as a companion aide. Having known about Habitat since her teens, she decided to apply for the home-ownership program.
Michelle said she enjoyed working on her sweat equity in the ReStore with her oldest son. The budgeting, meal prep, and other financial education classes have been a huge help to her, but most important to her are the relationships built with others in the program. Her home is the fifth completed of the currently planned nine Habitat homes on Sturtevant, which sits on 1.708 acres donated by Creative Builders and Fitch Irick.
“Home ownership wouldn't be possible for me at this time without the program due to the rising cost of property, and the high and increasing interest rates,” she said. “This program is a blessing for me and my family and I'm very thankful.”
About Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County:
Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County opened its doors in 1985 to bring families, community partners, and volunteers together to construct affordable, energy-efficient homes that help families build strength, stability, and self-reliance. As of April 2024, Habitat Greenville has completed the construction of 410 homes. Habitat Greenville ReStores are located at 3033 Wade Hampton Boulevard in Taylors and 1818 Woodruff Road in Greenville. Call 864-312-5016 for free donation pickups. Learn more at www.habitatgreenville.org.
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