2014 Women Build Kickoff

We will be raising the walls on our fifth annual Women Build home on April 12 in Columbia, TN!

Come learn more about how you can be a part of building this special home for single mother Nicole Jones and her three children.  

 Join us:

• Tuesday, March 11 
• Cozymel’s in Cool Springs
• 6:00pm to 8:00pm
• We will have appetizers, beverages (non-alcoholic – wine and beer can be purchased), and great conversation.

At 6:45, we will have a short presentation about the Women Build and tips on fundraising for the event. We will also have veteran Women Build participants there to answer any questions you may have.

The event is free, but please make sure to RSVP on our eventbrite page. Don’t forget to bring your friends! Please have each attendee sign up separately, so we can plan food accordingly. 

Want to join the build, but can’t make the kickoff event? Please email Jennee Galland, and we will make sure to get the volunteer form to you as soon as it is available. We will be sending out a link to sign up to volunteer as we get closer to the build.   

Join our Facebook group to get up-to-date details on the Women Build and Hammers and High Heels fundraising event, which will be happening May 1 at Building 8 at the Franklin Factory.

Williamson County Students Complete 14th Habitat High House

On Sunday, March 9, Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County (HFHWC) will dedicate its 141st home to Marc and Lauren Pelfrey and their 18-month-old son Maddux. Built and sponsored by local high schools through the Habitat High program, this new, energy-efficient residence is located in the Brandenburg subdivision in Fairview, TN. 

Over the last five weekends, Lauren and Marc have worked alongside over 650 students from Brentwood, Centennial, Currey Ingram Academy, Fairview, Franklin, Independence, Ravenwood, and Summit High Schools.  

This is the 14th Habitat High home for Habitat Williamson, and the $70,000 needed for the build was funded through several projects undertaken by the Habitat High clubs at each school and through the generous donations of community sponsors Lasko Products, Inc., the Nashville Predators Charitable Foundation, the Dobberpuhl Foundation, Touchstone Energy®, Middle Tennessee EMC , Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, and Tennessee Housing Development Agency. After the dedication, the home will be sold by Habitat Williamson to the Pelfreys with a zero-interest mortgage.

Despite very cold and wet weather, the Pelfreys’ home remained ahead of schedule thanks to the hard-working students. “We couldn’t have asked for better volunteers,” noted Habitat Volunteer Manager Billy Whipple. “Everyone jumped in and brought great energy to the build each day.” He continued, “This is one of the only Habitat builds of its kind in the country and couldn’t happen without the immense commitment of these schools.” 

Rachel West, a senior and co-president of the Brentwood High School chapter, has been involved in Habitat High since she was a freshman.  She explained what connects her to the Habitat mission. “The beauty of Habitat High is that even as high school students, we are able to band together with other Williamson County Schools to raise money to sponsor a house build. Habitat for Humanity helps others in ways they cannot help themselves. It provides a hand up for families with a dream of raising children in a safe home with a stable environment. Every day, I’m increasingly filled with gratitude for the privilege to be involved in such an amazing charity. One person cannot build a house, but a community of people can build a home.”

Lauren and Marc cannot wait to move in, and when asked what this process has meant to her, Lauren beams, “I have caught myself numerous times stepping back and taking it all in. Watching these students and volunteers working on our house and doing it with such a loving and happy heart is one of the most humbling feelings and experiences. We couldn’t do it without everyone who has been involved and we are very thankful.” 

The dedication for the Pelfreys’ home will begin at 2pm in Brandenburg Cove in Fairview. Members of the participating organizations, board, staff, homeowners, and volunteers will be in attendance. All supporters are welcome! Please contact Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County at 615-690-8090 if you need directions to the event. 

For additional information or to get involved as a donor or volunteer, please contact Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County at 615-690-8090 or visit hfhwm.org.

Habitat Williamson and Tuckers House Team Up to Serve Children with Disabilities

This Saturday two local nonprofits will combine their talents to make life easier for one Spring Hill family and their child with disabilities. 

Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County and Tucker’s House are teaming up to create a new bathroom space for 14-year old Ariel Fuentes who has Cerebral Palsy and developmental delays. Despite his physical challenges, Ariel is a happy, energetic boy who navigates his home by gliding on his knees. He enjoys playing with his younger brothers Emmanuel (11) and Alejandro (7) and regularly participating in the therapeutic riding program at Saddle Up! 

While Ariel has little problem getting around, the family’s current bathroom creates great safety challenges. Ariel’s parents Maria and Jose must maneuver a small, cramped space and repeatedly lift their teenage son over the high lip of the bathtub. After the bath, they must then carry him to another room to dry and dress him due to limited space. Potential for falls and injuries are ever-present. 

In order to make this essential ritual safer and easier on Ariel’s parents, Habitat volunteers will enlarge the square footage of the bathroom, mount a more stable toilet, and install a roll-under sink. In addition, they will remove the hard-to-navigate step-over tub and install a zero-entry shower unit. This new addition will make it much easier for Ariel to access the tub and use his new shower chair. The project will take approximately two days and will be completed by six Habitat volunteers. Hiller Plumbing and Bin There, Dump That are graciously donating their supplies and disposal services for this project. 

Ariel’s new bathroom is a testament to the power of partnership. Sunny Rosanbalm, the President and founder of Tucker’s House (as well as the grandmother of Tucker Rosanbalm, the namesake of the organization), explains her organization’s success working with like-minded organizations. “We are thrilled to be partnering this year with Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County. The missions of both organizations complement one another beautifully. With the desire to further good stewardship of our resources, we are linking arms to aid our community. Together we serve by making homes a functional place of refuge for so many precious children with disabilities and their wonderful families. We look forward to partnering on many more projects with Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County as we serve this inexhaustible need.”

Long-time Habitat volunteer Carol McDaniel can’t wait to start work on this project, which resonates personally with her. “My late husband was a paraplegic for 41 years due to a construction injury at age 19, so I am acutely aware of the problems of architectural barriers,” she explains.  “And I know how much better the daily activities of the person with disabilities, as well as the family, can be in an accessible home. I am so happy to be able to donate my time, skills, and money to the Tucker House accessibility projects in memory of Steve — I know he would approve.”

For more information on applying for services from Tucker’s House, please visit www.tuckershouse.org. To sign up to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County, please visit hfhwm.org/volunteer/. 

Click here to see photos from Ariel’s bathroom renovation.

Williamson County High Schools Gear Up for Habitat's Knock and Deliver

On Saturday, January 25th, students from Brentwood, Centennial, Fairview, and Franklin High Schools’ Habitat High Clubs bundled up and braved the cold to visit neighborhoods throughout the county. During this organized “Knock and Deliver” effort, students distributed donation request packets door to door in hopes of receiving tax deductible contributions toward the costs of building the 2014 Habitat High home for a local, hard-working family. 

Over 650 high school students are part of Habitat High Clubs across the county.  These organized clubs in each Williamson County high school pledge to raise funds and provide volunteers to build a home each year in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County. The Habitat High build is always the first of the year for Habitat Williamson, and this year’s build for the Pelfrey family will begin on February 8th in Fairview. 

“Knock and Deliver” is one of several projects undertaken by the schools involved to raise the $70,000 that covers a house sponsorship. The $70,000 pays for the materials to build the home. Students, faculty, other volunteers and the partnering family will work together over a five-week period to complete the home.  The home will then be sold by Habitat to the partner family with a zero-interest mortgage.

Centennial High School biology teacher and Habitat High Club Sponsor Ross Lyons has been hard at work helping his students prepare for the campaign. “The students have an opportunity to be actively involved in the fundraising through “Knock and Deliver.”  Students get involved in Habitat in order to help build the home from the ground up, but “Knock and Deliver” shows them that before there is a ground to build on, there is a lot of work to support the financing of the home.”

Habitat Williamson Volunteer Coordinator Billy Whipple has been working with the high schools since the beginning of the school year.  “We are blown away by the hard work of the students. The clubs have come up with so many creative ways to raise funds, and individual students have created online donations pages that have together raised almost $4000 through social media for the Pelfrey’s home.  We even had one student from Ravenwood High School who on her own collected $600 through her online giving page! We are off to a great start, but “Knock and Deliver” will be paramount to our fundraising efforts. We still have a long way to go. We hope everyone who receives a request will donate and support the efforts of their local high school students.” 

The Habitat High home will be dedicated on Sunday, March 9 to the Pelfrey family. The Pelfreys can’t wait to start building and will be working each weekend alongside the high school students. “We want to become homeowners so we can have a stable and secure place for our child to grow up. We are forever thankful and grateful to everyone for helping our dream come true.”

Devoted volunteer is also a Habitat success story

“When my co-worker asked me to come out and volunteer for Habitat’s 2011 Women Build, I thought she was crazy; I didn’t know a thing about building a house,” recalls veteran Habitat Williamson volunteer Tyler Morgan. “I showed up on the first day to a cement foundation with chalk lines on it and a big pile of walls. When we left at the end of the day, there was a shell of a house, including a roof. I was amazed! I worked every weekend on this house and fell in love with Habitat. Everyone was so helpful, and I was learning something new each work day.”

Each Saturday during the build seasons one can find Tyler on the Habitat build site with ample enthusiasm and her infectious smile. She is now a Crew Leader – one of an elite group of experienced Habitat Williamson volunteers who teaches and leads others. “During the week I sit behind a desk processing medical claims, so it is so satisfying to get out on the weekends and do something physical,” she explains. “There is nothing more rewarding than working alongside a home’s partner family as they make their dreams of owning a home come true.” 

And Tyler should know . . . not only is she a Habitat Williamson volunteer, she is also a Habitat Homeowner. 

“During my first build, I realized that I meet the requirements to apply for homeownership,” explains Tyler. “I completed the paperwork and was accepted into the program five weeks later. I built my home in the spring of 2012, right next door to the first home I volunteered to build. Now I finally feel safe and settled. My son is doing well in school and has tried new things like chorus, soccer, and football. It is a wonderful place to call home for a very, very long time.” 

When most people think about volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, they picture a day of swinging hammers or painting walls. While Habitat Williamson is always in need of build volunteers and crew leaders like Tyler, the organization also requires the time and talents of volunteers in many other areas of its operation.

“We need individuals who are interested in helping with donations at the ReStore, budget coaching with our partner families, and filing and data entry in our administrative office,” explains Volunteer Coordinator Billy Whipple. “We are also always in need of hearty snacks and lunches at the build site for our volunteers. The preparation and delivery of these donated meals are a great way for younger volunteers (or church groups) to support Habitat. Volunteers also serve on our board and committees, bringing their specialized skills to the table to help further our affordable housing mission,” he added. “We would love to utilize your talents. Reach out to us and let us know how you would like to help!”

Tyler has advice for those who want to join on the build site, but might be apprehensive, “You don’t have to have building experience. Habitat Williamson has great people who are willing to help you learn something new and teach you to be safe while doing it. Before you know it, you will be fixing your own door or insulation.”  Tyler has only one warning for the future Habitat volunteer, “Be careful – it might get in your blood, making you a volunteer for life like me!”

For more information or to become a Habitat Williamson volunteer, please visit http://www.hfhwm.org/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/.

Habitat for Humanity Celebrates its 140th Home

Franklin, TN – On Friday, December 6, Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County will dedicate its 140th home to Frank Lemus, just in time for the family to celebrate Christmas in their new home.  Frank has worked at Lasko Products in Franklin for six years as a welder on the manufacturing line. He is a single dad, and he and his son Frankie currently live in a small apartment with a tiny kitchen and no outdoor yard space. Frankie loves to play outside, and Frank worries about his safety. Their new home is being built in Spring Hill and is located on a cul-de-sac. It has a spacious yard and will provide them with security and plenty of room to play. 

Frank explains what the home means to his family, “It’ll change our lives in ways we never could have imagined. My son wants to play ball outside and run freely in a large space instead of always being stuck inside watching TV with nowhere else to go. He now has that chance to explore.  It’s just what I’ve always hoped for: a place where we could live as a happy father and son.”

Each year since 2003, The Jones Company, a Nashville-based home builder, has partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County to build a home for a local, hard-working family. This, their tenth home, is being built in partnership with Crye-Leike, Realty. 

“We’re pleased to partner with Habitat on this year’s Fall Build,” remarked Kenneth Stricker, Jones Company CEO.  “It’s important for The Jones Company’s team to give back to the community by designing and building beautiful homes for deserving families. We can’t wait for the Lemus family to see the finished product.”  

The year 2007 marked the beginning of  Habitat’s ‘Building New Traditions’ program, which was a four-year, $5,796,000 affordable homeownership initiative under which Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County worked to improve the architectural style of its homes, acquire and develop both residential lots for individual homes and residential tracts for small distinctive Habitat neighborhoods in Williamson County, and build and sell 46 affordable Williamson County Habitat homes in partnership with hard-working, lower-income families living or working in Williamson County.  Although The Jones Company and Crye-Leike were involved with Habitat for a few years before this initiative began, the program really solidified their commitment and involvement for years to come.

“For the last 10 years, the Jones Company has worked with Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County to provide local hardworking families with our philosophy of a hand up, not a handout, through our zero-interest mortgage and homeownership program,” said Becket Moore, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County.  “From the donation of their architectural services to redesign our home plans to sponsoring a whole home each year, the Jones Company has been making a real and measurable difference in the lives of local families. We here at Habitat, and all those we serve, are truly blessed by their ongoing partnership.”

Nissan Employees Build Their Seventh Habitat Home in Williamson County

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (Nov. 8, 2013) – Today, at a dedication ceremony conducted by Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County, Nissan Director Erich Marx presented the keys to the latest Nissan-sponsored Habitat home to homeowner Annie Dixon. Over the prior five weeks, more than 150 Nissan employee volunteers helped to build the Dixon home located near downtown Franklin.

“Nissan is a longstanding partner of Habitat for Humanity, and its commitment to building sustainable communities aligns with our corporate vision to enrich people’s lives,” said Marx. “We are honored to have worked with Ms. Dixon to build her new home and to have had this opportunity to make such a positive contribution in our hometown community.”

Dixon has a son and a daughter who are attending Middle Tennessee State University. A Franklin native and lifelong resident, she has worked as a teacher at the Community Child Care Center off Natchez Street for 38 years.  Since she does not have a driver’s license and has relied on public transportation to get to her workplace, she is excited that her new home is located within walking distance of her job.

“This is a dream for me and my children, and I plan to settle in this place for the rest of my life,” said Dixon. “‘I am so grateful to everyone at Nissan who has worked so hard to help me.  I have peace of mind now, knowing that I have a safe, comfortable home to take care of and call my own.”

The Dixons’ home is the 139th home built by Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County since the organization was incorporated as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International in 1992.  This is the seventh house built by Nissan in Williamson County.

 “Community partnerships are the foundation of Habitat’s impact and success as a charitable organization,” explains Becket Moore, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County.  Our “hand up” philosophy of providing affordable and safe housing cannot be accomplished without the generosity and support of community-focused volunteers and sponsors. We are honored to have a corporate sponsor like Nissan, who commits to funding and building a whole home each year. We are excited about today’s dedication; we will be able to officially thank Nissan and celebrate Ms. Dixon’s future in her new home.”

The Nissan-sponsored Habitat home is equipped with many “green living” features, including low-flowing plumbing fixtures, programmable thermostats, energy-efficient fluorescent lighting, high-performance windows and ENERGY STAR® appliances. These eco-friendly amenities align with Nissan’s Green Program, which supports efforts to reduce the company’s impact on the environment.

Funding for Dixons’ home is part of the $1.5 million donation to Habitat for Humanity International made by Nissan in 2013. Nissan is funding the construction of homes in Arizona, California, Michigan, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Toronto, Canada. The company is funding grants and providing Nissan vehicles to 10 Habitat affiliates that make commitments to sustainable construction practices. Habitat is using a portion of Nissan’s donation to conduct sustainability “summits” for Habitat affiliates and their local communities. Nissan funding has also supported the annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project in October 2013, when six Nissan employees joined more than 500 volunteers to help build or renovate homes in five U.S. cities during the weeklong project.

Nissan’s partnership with Habitat dates to 2005, following hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Nissan donated 50 Nissan Titan trucks to assist Habitat’s response efforts in the Gulf Coast and mobilized employees to assist in home building. Since 2006, Nissan has provided cash and in-kind donations of $7.8 million, and Nissan employees have worked with homeowners across the United States to help build more than 50 homes.

Habitat CEO to Visit Franklin Nissan Build Site

Franklin, TN – For the last 20 years, Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County has provided life-changing stability by working with countless community partners to provide hardworking, low income families with a hand up, not a handout, through its zero-interest mortgage and homeownership program.

On Friday, Oct. 25 Habitat Williamson will kick off a year-long community engagement campaign, celebrating our 20 years of service, with a visit from Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. Reckford will be visiting the Nissan build site in downtown Franklin, where volunteers from the Nissan finance department will be helping to finish a home with Franklin native Annie Dixon. Annie has worked at the Community Child Care Center for 38 years, and her new Habitat home will be within walking distance of her place of employment.

“We are very excited to welcome Mr. Reckford to Williamson County and thank him for taking time to celebrate the beginning of this important milestone,” explains Jennee Galland, marketing manager for Habitat Williamson. She adds, “In the coming year, we hope to have numerous ways to engage the community in the Habitat ministry, from fund-raising events like concerts to educational workshops on home buying. We have also designed 20 unique goals to help advance our mission, ranging from obtaining new partner families to securing long-term sponsorship support. Our biggest goal is to build 20 houses in 2014 – 10 here in Williamson County and 10 overseas through our tithing program. If you have ever wanted to be part of Habitat, now is the time! Every family in Williamson County deserves a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home, and we look forward to putting your skills and talents to work to create these opportunities.

To learn more about how you can be involved in Habitat Williamson’s 20^th Anniversary, please visit www.hfhwm.org and join our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HabitatWilliamson. Want to volunteer? Please visit www.hfhwm.org/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/ and tell us how you would like to help. Interested in becoming a Habitat homeowner? More information on the program can be found here: www.hfhwm.org/homeownership/how-the-program-works/.

Williamson Habitat Dedicates Two New Homes in Fairview

On Sunday, October 20, friends, family, sponsors, and well-wishers will join Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County (HFHWC) as they dedicate and bless their 137^th and 138^thhomes, both in Fairview, TN.

The affiliate’s fourth Women Build home will be dedicated to Tracie Johnson and her four children: Destiny, Hope, Joseph, and Jacob. Tracie and her children worked each weekend alongside volunteers from local civic groups, sponsor organizations, and churches. In addition, 229 individuals came out as Women Build volunteers, which required a pledge to fundraise at least $250 toward the cost of the house and to work at least one day on the build site.

Additional funding for the home was provided by sponsors Fourth Ave Church of Christ, Darrell Waltrip Automotive, NIC, Landscaping by John E. Waller, CRT, Alpha Technology, VGT, Walmart,and the Rotary Clubs of Williamson County; The Hammers and High Heels silent auction, which raised $14,000; and the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) Housing Trust Fund Grant, which awarded $1.4 million to Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee (HFHT) to help build 65 homes across the state.

This is the third year in a row the Rotary Clubs of Williamson County have built with HFHWC. Cool Springs Rotary member Brian Wilcox explains what keeps all five clubs engaged each year, “Rotary appreciates how Habitat provides a structured and well-organized opportunity for volunteers of all skill levels. Volunteers use their own hands to help a neighbor with a hand up, thereby making our community stronger. We are excited to come back each year and be part of the Habitat experience.”

After a long year of health issues, multiple surgeries, and financial struggles, Tracie is looking forward to the stability that her new home and zero-interest mortgage will provide, “I can’t think of the words to express how thankful I am for all of the wonderful women and sponsors who are giving me the chance to give my kids something that seemed unattainable for a long time.”

Right across the street, Habitat’s Fall Community Build home will be dedicated to Kelvin and Kelly Bell and their four young children: Tresavious, Karizma, Zakiyah, and Keeno.

Despite working full time at Cool Café and NHC and raising four kids, the Bells were always the first to their build site and the last to leave. “We really looked forward to it,” explains Kelly. “Every weekend was like Christmas. We couldn’t wait to get out and build on our home and couldn’t believe that all these volunteers came out to help build. They didn’t even know us, and here they were bettering our family. It was amazing.”     

Beaming with pride Kelvin adds, “When you put the nails in the wood, you know the house is being built right. You know your home is going to be safe. Our new house is going to be 100 times healthier than the house we have now. We are excited about our new home, but it is really for our kids. They deserve a great place to grow up in. They have never had a neighborhood – a safe place to play, but they will now.”     

The Bell’s home was sponsored and volunteer-built by First Presbyterian Church of Franklin, Harpeth Presbyterian Church, Franklin Christian Church, Nashville Presbytery, Mapco (BP), and HP.

Pastor Kip Rush from Brenthaven Presbyterian Church explains why the Nashville Presbytery chooses each year to be part of the Habitat ministry: “Since 1992, Nashville Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church has given $10,000 a year to Habitat for Humanity in the surrounding counties. This is the second year that we have had the privilege to work with Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County. It is always a blessing to share our gifts with families and friends as we join together to help build. We have been blessed by the Bell family and share in their excitement as their dream comes true. Habitat has made a difference in their lives and the Bells have made a difference in ours. Can there be a better reason to serve?”

The dedication for both homes will begin at 2pm on Brandenburg Cove in Fairview. Members of the participating organizations, board, staff, homeowners, and volunteers will be in attendance. All supporters are welcome!

For additional information or to get involved as a donor, volunteer, or partner family, please contact Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County at 615-690-8090 or visit www.hfhwm.org

Photos can be found on our Facebook page!

Habitee – October 14

On Monday, October 14, 2013, Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County (HFHWC) will host a golf challenge at The Governors Club of Tennessee called the “HABITEE.” The HABITEE provides an opportunity for businesses, churches, and individuals to join together to support HFHWC’s mission to create partnerships to build affordable homes, develop stronger communities, and provide life-changing opportunities for hard-working families. Registration, warm up, and lunch begin at 9am and the challenge starts at 11am. The event concludes at 3:45pm with food and prizes.

Our goal this year is to raise $100,000 through this event and tell our story to 5,000 new people in our community.

PLAYERS AND SPONSORS STILL NEEDED
Anyone interested in playing in the Challenge can contact Jennee Galland at 615-550-5617 for more information. Sponsorships are also available ranging from $250 for a hole sponsorship to $5000 for a corporate sponsorship (which includes four player spots). 

Please click here for more information on player incentives.
Please click here for more information on corporate sponsorships.