Valspar Championship & Copperhead Charities Partner with Eighth Habitat Family to Make Homeownership Dreams Come True

Tarpon Springs, FL – On Thursday, November 10, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties, the Valspar Championship and Copperhead Charities will celebrate a home dedication ceremony with the Montanez family. The family’s home in Tarpon Springs is the eighth to be sponsored by and built with support from the Valspar Championship and Copperhead Charities. 

WHAT: The Montanez Family Home Dedication sponsored by Valspar Championship & Copperhead Charities

WHEN: 9 AM on Thursday, November 10, 2022

WHERE: 1807 Englewood Avenue, Tarpon Springs

“For over 35 years, Valspar has been involved with the Habitat mission. And like so many organizations in our community, Habitat for Humanity has been blessed with the incredible generosity of the Valspar Championship and Copperhead Charities”, said Mike Sutton, president and CEO of Habitat Pinellas and West Pasco.

Locally, the PGA TOUR tournament and its philanthropic arm, Copperhead Charities, have partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties to build safe and affordable homes for seven families. The Montanez family will be the eighth to achieve homeownership with support of the Valspar Championship and Copperhead Charities. 

Tracy West, Valspar Tournament Director and Habitat Advisory Board Member, will be joined by Ronde Barber, Copperhead Charities General Chairman, who will present the keys to the family.The build was made possible by a donation from Copperhead Charities because of net proceeds from the 2022 Valspar Championship. As with all Habitat for Humanity homes across the U.S., every drop of paint used to help make this house a home, has been donated by Valspar.

About the Habitat Program & Montanez Family

Habitat homeownership partner families must demonstrate a need for adequate shelter, the ability to pay back a zero-interest loan and willingness to partner with Habitat to invest 350 to 450 “sweat equity” hours. Soon-to-be homeowners complete 32 homeowner education classes, from budgeting to how to be a good neighbor, to prepare for their new chapter as homeowners.

Denise Montanez and her son, Dylan, arrived in Florida from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria passed through and destroyed their island in 2018. Now, the family of two is finally getting the home they have always dreamt of. 

After moving to Florida to start their new life after the hurricane, the family experienced everything from living in their car, air conditioning issues, months of leaking water, fungus growing inside their apartment, shootings outside, smoke smell from neighbors inside their apartment, and packages being stolen. 

“The first thing I thought when I found out that we were accepted into the Habitat program was ‘now we can enjoy outside’. I felt happiness thinking that we are going to have freedom without anyone bothering my son, stones being thrown, insulted, being looked at, or rejected.” Denise is looking forward to her new home being safe, quiet, spacious, and comfortable.

“Home is where my son and I are. A home of two very large in love and unity, we enjoy our company and feel phenomenal just having each other.”

Thanks to community partnerships, Habitat homeowners will receive another hand up. Feeding Tampa Bay partners with Habitat to stock the pantry for new homeowners, allowing them to open a new chapter with healthy meals. Kid’s Pedal Power has also partnered with Habitat. Through the Upper Tampa Bay Chamber, the organization surprises Habitat homeowner kids with brand new bikes and helmets.

Media are invited to attend this event. Please contact Morgan Brochetti at (727) 512-3781 for more information.

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County and West Pasco Counties

Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties has served over 900 families and individuals through its new home buyer and neighborhood revitalization programs using locally raised funds. Volunteers and the future homeowners construct the homes, which are sold at no profit and financed with a zero-interest loan. 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 invest 350 to 450 “sweat equity” hours. Mortgage monies are used to build even more homes, making each donation to Habitat a perpetual legacy to the community. Habitat believes that homeownership contributes to family stability, leading, in turn, to community stability. 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.

Valspar Championship

The Valspar Championship is Tampa Bay’s PGA TOUR event and a part of the annual FedExCup competition.  The 2023 Valspar Championship will be held on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida from March 13-19.  Sam Burns is two-time defending champion.  The tournament is nationally televised by NBC Sports and Golf Channel; and is owned and operated by Copperhead Charities, Inc.  The title sponsor for the tournament is Valspar Paint.  For more information, visit www.valsparchampionship.com and follow @valsparchamp on Twitter.

Copperhead Charities, Inc.

Copperhead Charities has a history of supporting charities through professional golf that dates back to 1977, with charity funds generated of nearly $49 million. The 2023 Valspar Championship will be the 22nd full-field PGA TOUR event sponsored by the Copperheads (General Chairman Ronde Barber, Vice Chairman John Astrab). Over 200 Tampa Bay area civic and business leaders are members of the Copperheads.  The tournament is managed by Pro Links Sports with Executive Director Hollis Cavner and Tournament Director Tracy West.