Monday, April 18, 2022

The 2022 Family Fundraiser winner was announced Monda morning at Easy Auto Cleveland, 100 25th St. NE. This was an exciting moment, captured on Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland’s Facebook live, after a three-month competition among five future Habitat homeowners.

From Dec. 10, 2021 until March 18, the five families have collectively raised $10,586 to help build Habitat homes in Bradley County. Felicia Rhan is the winner of a 2015 red Kia Soul car, donated by Easy Auto. Ben Chandler, president of Easy Auto, made the surprise announcement to Ms. Rhan Monday morning, along with Tammy Johnson, executive director of Habitat of Cleveland.

Ms. Rhan came to the car lot thinking she was doing a video about her experience participating in the Family Fundraiser. She was very pleasantly surprised to learn that through the many generous donations of family and friends, she is the winner. 

Mr. said, “The Easy Auto and Habitat partnership goes all the way back to the year 2000. We’ve been involved in multiple building projects. We did the Leaders Build, and we’ve always sent out groups of employees. When you talk about service work within the ranks of the people of Easy Auto and Sunrise Acceptance, one of their favorite things to do is to go out and work on a home right here in our community. It’s been a wonderful partnership for us over the years, and we are truly excited to be invested with Habitat for Humanity, here in Bradley County.”

Ms. Johnson said, “The more we can work together, the more we can impact the community together. This has already been a huge team effort, and will help with this year’s home builds in the new Morelock Meadows subdivision. Felicia, and all the families work so hard through the Habitat program. Felicia has been putting in her sweat equity as our receptionist in the office, and she will soon be out on the build site working on her home.

“I would like to thank Easy Auto and all the people who donated on our behalf to the Family Fundraiser," said Ms. Rhan. "I was so overwhelmed, and definitely surprised, when I found out this morning that my family won the car. This is so amazing and definitely a God send. So much money has been put into my other car in the last couple years, that I knew I’d be needing a new one soon. I had no idea where that money would come from,” Her teenage daughter, Mackensie understands that when she gets her driver’s license, she will get the older car.

They are both deeply appreciative to everyone involved in this wonderful opportunity.