TOMORROW: Tampa Bay Area CEOs Volunteer Alongside Future Habitat Homeowner in Lealman for Day Two of Habitat's CEO Build.
Six of our 55 CEO's will take part in Day Two of our CEO Build in the Lealman community in St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg, FL – This Friday, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties will host its second CEO Build volunteer day at the Diaz-Gonzales home build site in Lealman.
Last Friday served as the first official build day for Habitat Pinellas and West Pasco's second annual CEO Build led by honorary chairs: Bill Brand, CEO of Rue21 and Habitat for Humanity International Board Member, Mindy Grossman, Partner & Chair of Consello Group (Former CEO WW & HSNi), and Ryan Ross, President of Neiman Marcus.
In 2022, Habitat introduced the inaugural CEO Build, where 55 CEOs joined together to help raise over $140,000 to sponsor the Middlebrooks Family home in Pinellas Park. Due to the overwhelming success of this specialty build, Habitat Pinellas and West Pasco has launched it's second annual CEO Build that will help provide a safe and affordable home for Alex Diaz, Christina Gonzales, and their three children: Olivia, Jackson, and Vivian.
“At Habitat, we partner with businesses across our service area to help local families achieve the dream of affordable homeownership”, explains Mike Sutton, Habitat Pinellas and West Pasco president and CEO. “We are fortunate to have so many local organizations committing to bettering their community through their corporate social responsibly initiatives. The second annual CEO Build will allow that investment to continue through the sponsorship of the Diaz-Gonzales family’s home.” |
2nd CEO EXCLUSIVE BUILD DAY |
Friday, February 24th 9 AM – 12 PM 2773 Grove Park Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33714
On Friday, the following participants will be onsite:
Learn more at habitatpwp.org/CEObuild. |
Recap of Kickoff Reception & First Build Day |
On Thursday, February 16th, CEO Build participants gathered at a kickoff reception hosted by honorary co-chair and President of Nieman Marcus, Ryan Ross. CEO's and their guests gathered to meet their peers, hear from the honorary chairs and meet the family they will be building alongside - Alex Diaz and Christina Gonzales. |
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“The mission of Habitat really supports creating a stable life for people within the community,” said Ryan Ross, President of Neiman Marcus and CEO Build Honorary Co-Chair. “It's something that we strive to do for everyone.”
“It's great to be able to see the work happening here, the leaders showing up, putting in the sweat equity alongside the homeowners,” said Bill Brand, CEO of Rue21 and CEO Build Honorary Co-Chair. Brand also serves on the Board for Habitat for Humanity International. “Hopefully, everyone can take it back to whether it's to their families, to their work, to their neighborhoods and share what they did and the power that each one of us can do a little bit more.”
“I believe that healthy living is a human right,” said Mindy Grossman, Partner & Chair of Consello Group and CEO Build Day Honorary Co-Chair. “A big part of that is a safe home, a home that's your own, a home that you can call your own, a home you can live your life in. It's more important now than ever.”
After the reception the first group of participants got to work on their sponsored home build in Lealman. Framing and exterior paint was completed on the Diaz-Gonzales home with networking between volunteers and the homeowner candidates happening over teamwork. Lunch was sponsored by Big Storm Brewing.
“Alex and Christina have been so humble and so grateful and working right alongside us,” said Bridgette Bello, CEO & Publisher of Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine, which serves as the media partner for Habitat’s three CEO Build Days. “They thanked us every time we did something, but we were thanking them for fighting for the right to have homeownership and to be doing something like this is so special.” |
Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County and West Pasco Counties Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties has served nearly 800 homeowner partners since 1985. Over the last 12 months, Habitat Pinellas and West Pasco completed more new homes than any other affiliate in the country - earning a ranking of #1 producing affiliate in the network. This March, the affiliate will celebrate its 800th Home Milestone. Volunteers and the future homeowners construct the energy efficient homes, and candidates purchase the home with a 0% interest mortgage upon completing the program. Habitat homeowner candidates earn 30 to 80 percent of area median income. Candidates must demonstrate need for adequate shelter; ability to pay back a zero-interest loan and willingness to partner with Habitat to complete a robust homebuyer education curriculum and invest 350 to 450 “sweat equity” hours. Additionally, the affiliate raises funds through their ReStores; home improvement outlets where donated household and building items are sold to the public. For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties, call (727) 536-4755 or visit www.habitatpwp.org. MEDIA CONTACT Morgan Brochetti, Chief External Relations Officer Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties (727) 536-4755, ext. 203 | (727) 512-3781 mbrochetti@habitatpwp.org |