Habitat for Humanity Orlando recently celebrated National Women Build Week – an event designed to empower women to take action against poverty housing conditions. Locally, 420 women volunteered to build seven townhomes at Stag Horn Villas, Habitat Orlando’s first multi-family community. During the week-long effort, the nonprofit also received more than $75,000 in donations.
The annual event was made possible through a national partnership with Lowe’s; lead sponsors were Delta Air Lines and Universal Orlando.
Volunteers sported pink hard hats and tool belts while donating their time. Among them were well-known personalities like Miss Florida 2009, Rachael Todd and Vienna Girardi, winner of last season’s “The Bachelor” TV show.
“We are so grateful to all the women who participated,” said Dee Danmeyer, executive director for Habitat for Humanity Orlando. “Their hard work helped create future homes for seven Central Florida families.”
In support of the build, Lowe’s provided Habitat Orlando with a $5,000 store gift card, as well as in-store volunteer training. As part of Lowe’s five- year, $20 million pledge to Habitat, the company also committed more than $1 million to National Women Build Week this year, providing grants and support materials to 200 participating affiliates nationwide.
“We have been the proud sponsor of Habitat’s Women Build program since 2004. This innovative program encourages women from all walks of life to pick up a hammer and build homes alongside Habitat partner families,” said Larry D. Stone, Lowe’s president and COO, and chairman of the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. “This year marks the third anniversary of the event. We salute the women who have volunteered on Habitat jobsites across the U.S.”
To date, more than 7,000 women volunteers have built 1,400 Habitat homes nationwide. For additional information on, visit www.habitat-orlando.org/Women-Build.
