Yearbook: 2006
Building Hope
Everything that sponsors, grant providers and staff do-from constructing homes to running the Habitat Wake ReStore and its DeConstruction Program-and all the special events and fundraising efforts are intended to help families become homeowners so that they may benefit from the stability of living in a safe, affordable home in Wake County. In 2006, Habitat Wake dedicated homes in Raleigh and Wake Forest. Celebrating with families to dedicate their homes is always a highlight - no matter what the year.
2005-2006 Annual Report
The Report to the Community 2005-2006 reflects a shared mission to build decent, affordable homes with and for God's people in need. Habitat for Humanity of Wake County joined with a multitude of partners-donors, volunteers, municipalities, and others-to work side-by-side with 40 local families who enjoy the advantages of homeownership.
Home Builders Blitz 2006
Thanks to a strong partnership between the Wake County building-related community and Habitat Wake, the dream of homeownership has become a reality for 36 hardworking families since the founding of the Builders Blitz model in Wake County in November of 2002. The first nationwide Home Builders Blitz was led in June 2006 by Habitat Wake Board Member Tom Gipson. 130 Habitat affiliates built 440 homes across the country.
In Wake County, local and national homebuilders built 20 homes in one week in Raleigh. Participating builders donated a week of their time to oversee the work of subcontractors and suppliers (many of whom donated their time, too) using material donated by local and national companies. This year's historic endeavor was achieved locally with the support of City of Raleigh inspectors, realtors, commercial builders, closing attorneys, building insurance companies, the NC Housing Finance Agency, the Home Builders Association of Raleigh/Wake County and many others.
One House Sponsor's Fundraising Tale
Members of St. Andrews United Methodist Church built a Habitat home in Garner for a family that includes one daughter and seven sons. Their fundraising story includes approximately 400 volunteers, 200 local businesses, 375 cakes, 1200 barbecue chickens, 750 plants, 1000 diva dolls, 25,000 donated yard sale items, 45,000 visitors, and one "Heart of Saint Andrews" quilt. Read their tale and see in a pictorial chronology from construction start (in mid-July 2006) to finish (late December 2006).
Habitat Wake Broke Ground for a New Facility
Approximately 140 people gathered Friday, September, 15, 2006, to witness the turning of the dirt and to see building plans for a new facility to house the Habitat for Humanity of Wake County ReStore and affiliate offices. The 6.5 acre site is just off the beltline at Capital Boulevard in Lincoln Park Central. The event was co-sponsored by project partners Jackson Builders and BB&T. The new, purpose-built facility will enable Habitat Wake to better serve homeowners, volunteers, donors and shoppers by improving their access to Habitat programs and services. As a result, the facility will greatly enhance Habitat Wake's ability to continue building simple, decent, affordable homes and creating sustainable communities in Wake County.
Habitat Wake's September 21, 2006 press release reports on the groundbreaking.
Apostles Build 2006
Building on Faith campaigns - such as the Apostles Build program - mobilize the faith community to build houses as an expression of God's love. In 2006, Habitat Wake was fortunate to facilitate two Apostles Build projects for the program's inaugural year in Wake County. Habitat Wake is the second affiliate in North Carolina to launch the program.
The groundbreaking ceremony for Apostles Build 2006 - One was held Saturday, September 16.
NC State Shackathon
The NC State Habitat chapter hosted its annual Shackathon on campus in the Brickyard September 25 - September 29. Participanting student groups raised $20,217.81 for a Habitat for Humanity home in Wake County.
Homes Program at Playspace: October 2006
PLAYSPACE partnered with Habitat Wake and Kids Connect (a local organization that helps families engage in community service together) to offer activities on "homes" in October. Playspace is a children's museum in downtown Raleigh dedicated to the education and development of children (birth to age 7). Children learned about "homes" with stories and hands-on-activities. Kids colored and built homes with blocks. Every Tuesday in October, children made cards and decorated "Welcome Home" banners for the Habitat families who moved into our Idlewood Village subdivision.
N.C. Realtors Raise Walls on Habitat Home Earmarked for Gulf Coast Family
On Tuesday, October 3, 2006, at the NC Farmers Market the North Carolina Association of Realtors® (NCAR) helped Habitat Wake construct walls for a house that will become home to a family in Lacombe, LA. Read more and see photos.
U.S. Navy Salvages for DeCon
The Triangle Navy Week (Monday, October 16 to Sunday, October 22) consisted of a series of community relations events throughout the region. Sailors from the future fast attack submarine USS North Carolina (SSN-777) volunteered on a Habitat Wake deconstruction crew to salvage usable building materials from a Cary residence that was being demolished.
Youth Hike for Habitat
81 youth participated in Hike for Habitat on the afternoon of Sunday, October 29, 2006. In advance of the event, they collected 4,200 aluminum cans (74 lbs) and raised $2,421 through converting cans to cash and through contributions from family and friends!!! Gathering under a sunny sky, they enjoyed 0.5-mile and 2-miles hikes, hammering contests, games and snacks at Blue Jay Point County Park.
6th Annual Habitat Holiday Home Tour
The Sunday before Thanksgiving, Habitat supporters enjoyed the 6th Annual Habitat Holiday Home Tour. For the event, homeowners and volunteers hosted guests in nine Habitat homes trimmed festively for the holidays. Construction staff hosted two Habitat homes under construction. All homes along a common street in Raleigh were decorated with luminaries and wreaths. The Habitat Wake ReStore was decorated with holiday lights and greenery as the hub for the gathering. As part of the program, recent homeowners expressed how their children are benefiting most from the security of homeownership.
The event raised $230,000. The significant amount was raised through event sponsorships and by conducting the affiliate's first Build-a-House Auction to sell 'virtual' house parts. One guest family in attendance pledged $70,000 to fund an entire house. This gift was made in honor of a family member who recently passed away and who was a fan of Habitat's efforts for families in the community. (It takes $70,000 to fully cover the costs of building materials and professional subcontractor services for each Habitat house in Wake County, not including the costs of land and site development.)
DeCon Crew Lent a Hand for Extreme Home Makeover
Carolina Hurricanes Build Walls for a Habitat Home
On Wednesday, December 13, 2006, Carolina Hurricanes players, coaches, staff and booster club members picked up hammers to get the construction started on a home for a family relocating to Wake County after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.Read more and see photos.
Thrivent Builds Project Announced
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans announced its Thrivent Builds 2007 project to work with 256 Habitat affiliates to sponsor and build 355 homes across the United States. Wake County is one of eight counties in North Carolina that will build a home in 2007 in partnership with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Habitat Wake's December 20, 2006 Press release announces the project.
