Forging a “Comradery of a Powerful Kind”, Execs to Venture from Building Business to Building a Safe, Decent and Affordable Home for Local, Hard-Working Habitat Family
Continuing to “build” on the rare and powerful network and success of Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County’s (HFHSPBC) previous CEO Build initiatives, the nonprofit is now recruiting senior business leaders to create the fourth “House That CEOs Built” in South Palm Beach County.
Veering outside their traditional business environs, senior executives and company owners are invited to “climb another ladder of success” on the CEO Build construction site on Friday, October 15 and Saturday, October 16. Donned in hard hats and construction gear with hammers and power tools in hand, they will help build a safe, decent, and affordable three-bedroom, two-bathroom home for a local, hard-working Habitat family.
No building experience is necessary; CEO Builders work under the guidance of HFHSPBC construction professionals and crew leaders alongside the future Habitat homeowners. Participants will get the chance to learn new carpentry skills, or perhaps hone the skills they may already have.
To participate in this signature “leadership in action” experiential opportunity, each CEO Builders must donate or raise an individual minimum of $2,500 to underwrite the construction materials for this and other Habitat homes. When they meet or exceed their individual fundraising goal, each CEO Builder will participate in a full scope of building tasks on the home, working alongside the Habitat family who will purchase and reside in the home they are building.
“We are exceptionally pleased to once again welcome community-minded trailblazers back to an annual tradition that collectively celebrates and harnesses the unstoppable power of corporate leaders,” shared CEO Build Co-Chair Tom Moraca whose company Moraca Builders is the annual fundraiser’s presenting sponsor, “Giving this inspiring, transformational ‘hand-up’ to a South Palm Beach County family helps to break the poverty cycle for that family and their generations to come while collectively making an indelible impact on the fabric of a community. CEO Build homeowners become taxpayers and engaged citizens who strengthen their community.”
The roster of CEO Build alumni has included top execs from Moraca Builders, Sunflower Landscaping, Wells Fargo, Vertical Bridge, Akel Homes, Boca Raton Resort & Club, Boca Raton Airport Authority, CP Group (formerly Crocker Partners), ADT, Truist (formerly BB&T), Aldora Aluminum & Glass Products, Smart Family Wealth Management of Raymond James, Kaufman Lynn Construction, Crowe, CenterState Bank, RCC Associates, Comerica Bank, Capitol Lighting, Sklar Furnishings, Boca West Country Club, ESPN/Boca Raton Bowl, and other businesses and nonprofits.
CEO Build Co-Chair Doug Fash, owner of Sunflower Landscaping who served as 2019 CEO Build chair added, “As a four-year CEO Build alum, I can attest that this is truly a ‘none-like-it’ fundraiser and an invigorating, rewarding environment for South Florida’s C-Suite leadership. Looking forward to working again with past CEO Builders and new recruits.”
CEO Build Helps to Break Challenging Economic Cycles
Funds raised are critical to the mission and needed now more than ever, to help hard-working, low-income families in the South Palm Beach County community who have been unable to get ahead by qualifying for traditional bank mortgages. When applicants qualify for the HFHSPBC homeownership program, each future homeowner must invest a minimum of 300 hours (per applicant) of “sweat equity” in helping build their and other future Habitat homebuyer homes and complete financial literacy and homeownership maintenance classes. Upon successful fulfillment of requirements, families are able to secure an affordable, interest-free 30-year mortgage from HFHSPBC.
How to Register and Fundraise
To participate, each “CEO Builder” must commit to fundraise or donate $2,500 via the designated HFHSPBC CEO Build campaign website. Registration is now open at www.habitatsouthpalmbeach.org/ceo-build where participants can select their build shifts and create their fundraising page. If someone cannot participate, they can make a donation to the general CEO Build fund or support a participating CEO Builder featured on the dedicated fund site.
“Take-off Hangar Party” to Kick-off CEO Build 2021
All registered CEO Builders and those interested in learning more about participation, are invited to attend the “Take-off Hangar Party” to network and launch CEO Build 2021. It is set for Friday, September 17 at Signature Flight Support at the Boca Raton Airport.
HFHSPBC, headquartered at 181 S.E. Fifth Ave., Delray Beach, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that brings people together to build homes, community and hope in the cities of Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, Florida. The nonprofit depends upon volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money, materials, services and property to fulfill its mission.
To learn more about the HFHSPBC CEO Build, register as a builder and/or recruit volunteers to help fundraise and build, sponsorship opportunities, and attend the “Take-off Hangar Party,” visit www.habitatsouthpalmbeach.org/ceo-build or contact Marta Knowles at [email protected] or 561.819.6070, ext. 208.