Happy March!

We are thrilled to share that Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County received a $5 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. We are one of 84 United States affiliates along with Habitat for Humanity International that will share a total gift of $436 million. This transformational gift will provide the opportunity to impact more hardworking, low-income families by building more affordable homes for them. Habitat International's goals as it relates to Ms. Scott’s broader philanthropic priorities are to expand our advocacy for policy proposals and legislation through our Cost of Home Campaign, increase our Black homeownership and leverage innovative capital investments that service communities of color.

We are also excited to celebrate Habitat for Humanity Women Build Month during Women’s History Month! Women Build Month is a time for celebration of our Habitat CFC Women Build Program, which seeks to engage and empower women in the work that we do. We are in the process of building our 17th Women Build Home since 1985. We have dedicated a total of 277 homes overall. Women’s History Month theme this year is “Providing Healing, Providing Hope.” Part of it is recognition of the thousands of ways women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history. At Habitat CFC, we constantly provide hope for affordable home ownership for families who qualify. As we recruit families, we work with them from inception to completion of their homes. Some of our Habitat families had lost hope of ever owning their own homes. The possibility appeared to be out of their reach. But the commitment of our donors, volunteers, Board of Directors and staff makes the dream a reality for our homeowners. Our Women’s History Month Speaker this month was Maisa Tisdale, President & CEO of The Mary & Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community. Ms. Tisdale shared the story of Mary & Eliza Freeman who were sisters born in the early 1800’s. They made their home in Bridgeport, CT’s “Little Liberia”. The two homes that they built in 1848 on Main Street are still there. Their journey is interesting and amazing.

Although March is the month that we recognize women, we continue to be overwhelmed with gratitude all year by all that YOU do to positively impact Habitat CFC!

Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (Habitat CFC), along with Habitat for Humanity International, and 83 U.S. Habitat affiliate organizations, recently collectively received $436 million in unrestricted giving from American author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Of that, Habitat CFC received $5 million. This transformational donation will substantially help further Habitat CFC’s vision of a world where everyone has equitable access to a decent and affordable place to call home.

“Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County is thrilled to receive this truly transformational gift from MacKenzie Scott,” said George Keith, Habitat CFC Board Chair. “The affordable housing crisis is affecting many families in Coastal Fairfield County. With this gift we will be able to offer more low-income families the opportunity to become homeowners.”

Habitat CFC will use the $5 million donation to fund their mission of bringing affordable homeownership into reach for hardworking, low-income families in the community.

With a national shortage of affordable homes, housing prices locally and nationally have skyrocketed since the beginning of the pandemic. Through Habitat CFC’s affordable homeownership program, local families partner with the nonprofit to work alongside volunteers building homes, complete a curriculum of financial education and homeownership classes, then purchase a home for an affordable zero-percent interest mortgage. This donation will enable Habitat CFC to expand their efforts and help more families build the strength, stability, and self-reliance of a place to call home.

“When I received the call about this gift, I was overwhelmed with emotion and cried tears of joy,” said Carolyn Vermont, Habitat CFC CEO. “This gift will make a huge impact on the lives of the underserved and marginalized communities in Coastal Fairfield County, especially our Bridgeport, CT community. Thank you, MacKenzie Scott!”

Habitat International will use its $25 million portion of the donation to prioritize advocacy and programmatic efforts designed to dismantle systemic racism in housing. Specifically, the donation will allow Habitat to advocate for policy proposals and legislation that will enable millions of people access to affordable housing through its Cost of Home advocacy campaign; increase Black homeownership in the U.S. by targeting current systemic barriers through a new initiative that will launch this summer; and leverage innovative capital investments that service communities of color.

“Habitat works to break down barriers and bring people together — to tear down obstacles and build a world where everyone, no matter who we are or where we come from, has a decent place to live,” said Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford. “This incredible gift helps make that work possible.”

The silent auction will opening the weekend of April 2nd – check out the auction items and bid online! The proceeds from the evening will support our mission to build decent, stable homes and bright futures for hardworking, low-income Fairfield County families.

This month we have been celebrating our Women Build Program, which seeks to engage and empower women in Habitat CFC’s work.

On March 10th, we hosted a Lunch & Learn virtual event entitled The Power of Advocacy: Achieving Gender Equality in Land Rights. The focus of the event was to make our Habitat CFC community aware of the work that Habitat for Humanity International is doing as a part of the Solid Ground Campaign and the impact it is having across the globe when it comes to Women’s rights. Watch the recording here.

On Saturday March 12th, we hosted a group of Women Build volunteers who helped us build and transport walls for our Goodwin Place. They were joined by Youth United volunteers who helped us paint 250 pieces of siding for our next home. It was a great day of bringing volunteers together to further our goal of building more affordable housing in this area.

It means looking forward to warmer weather building months ahead. It also means it’s time for companies to schedule 2022 Team Build Days!

Do you work for a company that has been considering an employee volunteer opportunity or been searching for a way to boost morale and create a sense of teamwork among its employees? Through a Team Build Day, employees will enjoy a fun-filled, inspirational day of volunteering on a Habitat CFC worksite. This unique, hands-on opportunity will also help make a family’s dream of homeownership possible. No experience is necessary; our construction staff is trained to teach employees everything they need to know.

For more information, check here (https://habitatcfc.org/volunteer/team-build-days/) or to schedule a Team Build Day, please contact our Director of Development, Kristen Alvanson, by email at kalvanson@habitatcfc.org or call (203) 333-2642 ext. 109.

With Colleen’s event experience and passion for service, we are thrilled to have her as part of the Habitat CFC team.

Growing up in the small town of Niantic, CT, Colleen’s passion for event planning was passed down from her mother. Her Mom, Eileen, ran her own high school reunion business, as well as being the go-to party planner for friends and family. Regardless of the occasion, Eileen always made those in attendance feel welcomed, loved, and connected. Colleen always hoped that one day she would follow in her mom’s footsteps and plan events of her own.

Following graduation from Fairfield University, Colleen traveled abroad to Australia before enrolling in Merrimack College’s Higher Education masters program. There she worked as a Graduate Fellow in the Campus Ministry office where she created the first ever “First Year Retreat” for incoming students. It was at Merrimack that she had her first introduction to Habitat for Humanity. During spring break, she accompanied two student leaders as they led a group of twelve students to Durbin, West Virginia. There, they worked alongside the Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity site leaders who taught them how to lay tarp paper and install new shingles on a roof. She was incredibly touched by the homeowners and their stories of how their Habitat home had impacted their lives.

After graduating with her masters in Higher Education and Student Affairs, Colleen was given the opportunity to return to her Alma Mater and oversee student events at Fairfield University. Over the course of 9 years, she curated everything from small intimate gatherings to concerts, dances, beach parties, tree lightings, Alumni & Family Weekends, and Senior Weeks. These large-scale events became an instrumental part of the Fairfield experience and are highlighted as many alumni’s best college memories.

While working at Fairfield, Colleen was able to reignite her love for service through advising international service immersion trips to Jamaica and Ecuador. Giving back to others has always been an important part of her life, so when the position of Events Manager opened at Habitat CFC, Colleen knew it was the perfect fit. Not only does it infuse her love for events with her passion for service, it provides her with the perfect opportunity to help raise money for those in her backyard.

As our Events Manager, Colleen plays an important role in the Development Department, coordinating in-person and virtual fundraising and affiliate events. She lives in Fairfield with her husband, Daniel Horstmann, Director of Music at Fairfield College Preparatory School and their two cats and rescue pup, Gregg.

Thank you to all who gave - we can't build without YOU. Fairfield County's Giving Day kicked off our fundraising for our 17th home to be sponsored by Women Build - 282 William Street, Bridgeport, CT.

Missed Fairfield County's Giving Day? It's not too late! We will be continuing to fund raise for this Habitat home through March in honor of Women Build Month.

You can help build it by donating here, or by learning how to volunteer here!