Real estate professionals from EXIT Realty Bob Lamb & Associates in Murfreesboro, Tennessee teamed up with Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity (RCHFH) for an exciting one-day “Panel Build” event in which all of the exterior and interior walls for a Habitat house were built in just 5 hours. The family-friendly event included a Kids’ Club and a Homes for Hounds dog house project.
Panel Build participants worked hand-in-hand with Habitat future homeowners, learned about the need for affordable housing in Rutherford County and signed the walls with words of encouragement. After photos with the build crews and event attendees, the walls were dismantled and moved to the actual residential site where the Habitat house will be built.
Kids Club participants built and decorated wooden birdhouses and toolboxes. Homes for Hounds was sponsored by The Taber Team of EXIT Realty Bob Lamb & Associates and featured pet-loving volunteers who built wooden dog houses in support of Operation Education Animal Rescue.
Future Habitat for Humanity homeowner, Alicia Mayfield, was on hand. She has been working to compete her 400 hours of “sweat equity” required to be in the Habitat program. She has also completed the 30-week Financial and Homeowner Education program and has her finances in order so she can qualify for the zero-interest mortgage to buy her Habitat home. This unique process encourages homeowners to be prepared to maintain their home, manage their money, and be invested in the program and the neighborhood.
“The event was a great day,” said Melissa Cross, Development Director, Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity. “Not only did the volunteers build the walls for the house that will become Alicia Mayfield’s home, we attracted a lot of great community exposure and media attention.”
A portion of every transaction fee received by EXIT Realty Corp. International is pledged to its non-profit organization of choice, and to-date $3.5 million dollars has been pledged to Habitat for Humanity. Through the EXIT & Habitat: Dollar-for-Dollar Matching Program, EXIT Realty’s involvement with Habitat for Humanity can potentially reach every community where an EXIT office exists. EXIT Associates anywhere in North America can work in conjunction with their local Habitat for Humanity office to raise funds for a specific project or initiative and submit a proposal to EXIT Realty Corp. International for those funds to be matched dollar-for-dollar from EXIT Realty’s pledged pool of funds to Habitat for Humanity International.
The event raised $5,460.65 which was matched by EXIT Realty Corp. International for a total donation of $10,921.30 to Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity.
“The event was a very successful fundraiser for us,” said Cross.
