What a Great Day!
On June 4, 2005, Prince George's County Association of REALTORS® (PGCAR), in partnership with Habitat for Humanity International of Prince George's County, broke ground on a new house in Riverdale, Maryland. Bea Rodgers, PGCAR President, presented a $37,000 check to complete the construction of Tracie Woodridge's new home.
PGCAR raised $27,000 in funds for the build, and will take an active role in the construction of the house. First Horizon provided matching funds $5,000 during PGCAR's initial fundraising efforts. The Partnership for Housing Foundation made the final contribution of $5,000, through a grant from the Maryland Association of REALTORS®, to make the dream of homeownership come true for the Woodridge family. This unique funding joint venture is part of the Partnership for Housing Foundation's Creating Homeownership Opportunities in Maryland program.
At the ceremony, Ms. Rodgers said, “This is the beginning of the real work-the building effort itself. We will be there and see this to its conclusion.” The groundbreaking ceremony is a special milestone in the Habitat home building process. “And next time we meet for a ceremony, it will be turn the keys over to a very special family”, she added. What a great day indeed.
The House that MAR Built
Snow Hill, Maryland is a town that has benefited greatly by the commercial boom of nearby Ocean City. With that prosperity, there have been disadvantages as well. With the increasing pressure on finding available buildable lots, housing prices have soared and affordability has become an issue for many hardworking families In Worcester County. Leslie Dix and her three children knew first hand the difficulty of finding a safe and affordable home. Ms. Dix applied to Habitat for Humanity of Worcester County to be part of their self-help program.
On June 23, 2004, the Dix's dream of homeownership came true when they became the recipient of the House that MAR Built. The $65,000 to build the house was raised through donations from hundreds of our members and large corporate donations from First Horizon Mortgage, Ivy Mortgage, Coldwell Banker and EVG Mortgage, as well as several local boards and associations.
Frederick County HFH
The Frederick County Association of REALTORS® (FCAR) has a long history of service in the community, especially with the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate. FCAR has been a vital partner on many builds. So, when a local build needed a fresh infusion of volunteers and funds, local Realtor was called. Chuck Hawley , FCAR member and HFH volunteer extraordinaire organized volunteers and the impressive fundraising effort.
In order to finish the house, FCAR raised over $10,0000 with a matching grant of $5,000 from the Partnership for Housing Foundation. The house will be dedicated to a local teacher and her family in a ceremony on December 14, 2004. With its breathtaking views of Frederick, this house at 162 B and O Avenue will give its new owners a safe haven.