CEO Corner

Happy Fall!

October 1st was an exciting day as Habitat for Humanity celebrated the 99th birthday of President Jimmy Carter. He is the oldest living former U.S. president. He, along with his wife Rosalynn, have been great advocates and contributors to Habitat for Humanity. They have volunteered for over thirty-five years. They started the Carter Work Project in 1984. The project is an annual weeklong event that takes place in a different location in the world each year. The Carters have always been strong advocates of social justice and basic human rights. The 2023 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project was hosted by Habitat Humanitarians and country music superstars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood in Charlotte, North Carolina, from Oct. 1-6, 2023. “Though we could never fill their shoes, we are so incredibly honored to be given the opportunity to carry President and Mrs. Carter’s legacy forward through the continuation of the Carter Work Project,” Brooks said. The link to watch the recorded livestream of this is found below.

At Habitat CFC, we are thankful for the work of President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn. We are also thankful to all of you for donating your time, talent, and treasure to help us continuously move our mission forward. As we acquire more land, we continue to build more houses for low-income, working families. 

In Partnership,

Together, in a relatively short time, we can build these homes. Our campaign seeks to raise $800,000 to build the 4 units. Habitat CFC homes vary in total cost depending on each home’s plan and property. Generally, we list a full sponsorship of a Habitat Coastal Fairfield County (CFC) home as $200,000, however, it costs us well over $200,000 to build each home.

To help us raise the funds, The Elizabeth and Joseph Massoud Family Foundation and an anonymous Fairfield family have each agreed to offer a dollar-for-dollar match for donations up to $200,000 ($400,000 combined)! If Habitat CFC can raise $400,000, the money will be matched, and we will have the funds needed to complete the Fairfield homes.

Please donate today to ensure your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the end of the year. Together, we will build the foundation for a better life for four families.

Our Annual Golf Outing was a Success!

Thank you to all the staff, volunteers, golfers, and sponsors that made our 30th Annual Golf Outing event a hole-in-one, great success!

It was a beautiful day with more than 100 golfers participating. What makes this event truly special is that all the proceeds will support the construction of affordable Habitat CFC homes right here in Fairfield County.

Our main sponsors for the event include David Nissen, Anholt Services (USA), Inc. and Joe Massoud, AT&T, The Elizabeth & Joseph Massoud Family Foundation, and The DiNardo-Aiello Family Fund.

Join us for our Upcoming Women Build Meet-Up

Looking to become part of Habitat CFC's Women Build initiative? Join us for a meet-up where you can connect with other women who are also new or already a part of the group! This event is free and open to everyone, including men! Complimentary pizza and salad, plus one glass of wine or beer will be provided.

WHEN: Thursday, November 16, 2023, from 6 - 8 PM

WHERE: 225 South Frontage Road, Bridgeport CT 06604

To register, click on the button below. This is a popular event. Don't delay, register today!

Corporate Volunteer Spotlight: Bank of America helps install siding on Holly Street! #GlobalBuild

"We come from all over Connecticut. There's a lot of great volunteer opportunities with Bank of America - this is just one that's near and dear to us."

- Melissa, Bank of America

Jay Helmer is the new Development Manager for Habitat CFC. He will have a primary role in events including the annual Gala and Golf Outing, as well as Home Dedications. He will also assist with other Development initiatives. 

Joining Habitat CFC is a homecoming for Jay. A Fairfield County native, he previously interned with us in 2016. Prior to his current role, Jay worked at a small Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Central Pennsylvania where he oversaw operations, fundraising, and volunteer recruitment. He has also served as a Collegiate Challenge program advisor. Jay is thrilled to be part of an outstanding organization and looks forward to supporting the mission of increasing affordable housing in Fairfield County. 

Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County is so lucky to have such a great group of Core volunteers.

Core volunteers support our work on site and in our panel shop weekly. We are grateful to each Core volunteer that currently contribute their time -- anywhere from one to three times a week!

Typically, our Core volunteers are retired men and women who are able to give a regular commitment to volunteering with us, but anyone who has availability and is interested can potentially join!

If you are interested in learning more, please complete the form below!

Thank you to everyone who joined our TWO Homebuyer Informational Sessions!

The journey towards achieving homeownership with Habitat CFC begins with joining one of our Homebuyer Informational Sessions. 

Thank you to everyone that joined our two sessions in October 2023! Stay up to date on when we will host our next session by visiting habitatcfc.org/events.

Thank you to Avangrid executives and staff for your ongoing partnership!

We extend our gratitude to Pablo Colón, Executive Director of the Avangrid Foundation and Director of Corporate Citizenship, and the entire Avangrid team for their visit in October. They witnessed the significant progress we've achieved on Clifford Street and Stratford Avenue, a testament to the invaluable support we've received from the Avangrid Foundation. Also, thank you to the Avangrid employees that helped us build in our panel shop earlier this month!

Habitat CFC is Advancing Black Homeownership (ABH) through Financial Coaching: A New Approach to Advancing Wealth!

Habitat's ABH initiative, led by Eugene Gaillard ABH Program Manager, has amplified the necessity for affordable housing in Coastal Fairfield County. We are excited to announce that Habitat CFC has partnered with Elevate Financial to offer financial coaching for prospective homeowners.

As the housing market continues to evolve, there is a growing recognition of financial education's pivotal role in building sustainable pathways to homeownership. Historically, Black households have faced obstacles in accessing and maintaining homeownership, often due to systemic inequalities, discriminatory lending practices, and limited access to financial resources. To combat these disparities, we offer a fresh approach that strongly emphasizes financial coaching tailored to the specific needs and challenges individuals and families face.