WOMEN BUILD raises more than $220,000 for Habitat Homes 

The generosity and hard work of Women Build 2024 Presenting Sponsor One  Florida Bank and 16 other corporations and grassroots teams were honored this morning, and two new affordable homes were dedicated as the new homebuyers cut red ribbons and received their ceremonial keys.  This is the 11th Anniversary of WOMEN BUILD, a transformative experience that enables women (and some men) to directly help other women and families in Seminole County and Apopka by raising dollars for and helping to construct Habitat homes. This year, the women raised $220,418. The hardworking new homebuyers, Calesha Flores and Devora Slaughter, are grateful and proud. 

“Today, we’re celebrating Women Build 2024 and all the women who raised money and built these two houses for our two homebuyers,” said Habitat Seminole-Apopka CEO Penny Seaterin, presenting plaques to the teams. We had Corporate Sponsors, grassroots fundraising teams, and individuals who raised money to underwrite the cost of these homes. One Florida Bank was our Presenting Sponsor again this year, and we are grateful. We  had new teams and those with us since the beginning, such as Wondrous Women and First Horizon Bank.” 

“About 70% of the people we serve are single women,” said Habitat Board Chair and Seminole County Property  Appraiser David Johnson in co-hosting the event. “That makes Women Build so much more important, as there is a connection. Many team leaders were single mothers themselves and understand the struggles.” 

New homebuyer Calesha (above) is the mom of two teenage daughters. After a job injury left her dependent on a short-term disability of half her income, the family lived in their car and, most recently, in a shelter. There, Calesha received training, landed a good position in internet technical support, and applied to Habitat. With dreams of breaking a “generational curse” of moving and renting and the desire to provide security and stability for her daughters, her mother and daughters worked hard, saved money, and agreed to stay put until they could buy their home. “This means the world to me. It’s the end of a tough era and the beginning of a more  successful, promising future, not just for me, but for my children.” 

Devora (above) tried to explain to her three children that she could only rent what she could afford. Unfortunately,  those places were full of mold…and even bats! She first applied to Habitat in 2021 but didn’t meet the financial  criteria and was denied. After taking the Financial Academy, finding a higher-paying job, improving her credit  score, and saving money, she reapplied and was accepted. When emergency surgery happened, her kids  encouraged her to keep going and she did. “I did it! For two years I had my ups and downs, but I did it. I want  to thank everyone who pushed me and told me I could do it!” 

At today’s event, the various monetary level sponsors and grassroots teams were recognized with a framed  photo of their onsite build day. The unique “Traveling Trophy,” designed and built by women builder Jamie  Everett, was presented to the grassroots team raising the most money. For the second year in a row, that team  is WONDROUS WOMEN, led by Carla Hogan of Look Local Magazine, raising $22,358. 

Special acclaim was given to Susan Rich from One Florida Bank as the Top Individual Fundraiser for singly raising  $11,707; followed closely by Rose Castano, of WONDROUS WOMEN, who raised $11,218. “Rose was in the  lead most of the time,” said Rich. “We kept going back and forth…but I had a bunch of directors at my bank come through at the last minute. It is such a rewarding experience to work with Habitat…to see the smiles on  the faces of the homeowners and to participate in building the homes.” 

Awards were also presented to Cheetah Girls, from the Seminole County Property Appraiser’s Office, as the  Most Spirited Team and to FINFROCK for the Most Creative Fundraising Event. The Heart of Habitat Award went to Kadijah Williams, Addition Financial, for sharing her Full-Circle moment of childhood in a Habitat home. Fourteen (14) “Dazzling Divas” were acknowledged with bedazzled hard hats for raising $1,000 or more each. 

Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka 

Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka has completed 240 homes in our 33 years of serving the local community. Through financial donations and volunteer labor, Habitat builds simple, decent, affordable homes which are sold to low-to-moderate income families in the community at no profit and are financed with a modest mortgage.   Homebuyers contribute sweat-equity, helping to build their home as well as those of other, future homebuyers. To learn more about Habitat Seminole-Apopka or to donate, visit http://habitatseminoleapopka.org, follow them on Facebook and Instagram, or call (407) 696-5855.