Willis gives Knights of Columbus information on Habitat for Humanity

Chip Willis, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, was the program speaker at the Knight of Columbus social meeting and dinner recently at in Breen Hall at St. Therese of Lisieux Church. Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland brings people together to build and repair homes, communities and hope, Willis explained.

Many families in Bradley County are in need of decent and affordable housing, which might be anything from overcrowding, homelessness, unsafe living environment, structural damage or a variety of other needs.

Habitat provides a long-term impact that changes a family’s life forever.

Habitat homeowners partner with Habitat for Humanity through working sweat equity hours, completing homeowner education courses and paying a zero-percent interest mortgage on their home. Habitat works with families to build better lives in order to build stronger communities, Willis said.

The Knights of Columbus undertake several fundraising activities throughout the year, including a Labor Day and Super Bowl barbecue roast sale, a golf tournament held each year in May, and valet parking services, to raise funds to donate to charities in the community that help those in need.

The Knights of Columbus are dedicated to the principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism.

Photo: Knights of Columbus Council No. 4572 Grand Knight Dale Foust and fellow Knight Barry Boettner, who is currently the project manager of Habitat’s Victory Cove Phase II and past board member and past president of Habitat of Cleveland, presented a donation to Chip Willis, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland.

Story by: Cleveland Daily Banner 

Habitat’s Women Build anchored by 40 local teams

Almost 40 teams of approximately 10 women each are participating in this year’s Women Build initiative by Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland. The construction of two homes for two single mothers began in late February, and is continuing in the Southgate Hills Subdivision on South Lee Highway, just beyond the highway’s intersection with APD 40. The initiative unites teams of women of all ages and skill levels to build homes for families in need of the stability a Habitat home can help provide. This year’s new homeowners will be Amber Smith, and her 2-year-old daughter, Brylee; and LaTonya Clark, a single mother of three children, Clayshion, 6; Brooklyn, 1; and Brysten, 4 months. Smith and her daughter say they love living in Bradley County. She attended Bradley Central High School, and she is currently working at a Dollar General store. While she aspires to become a registered nurse, she really enjoys where she is working now. Smith and her daughter are currently sharing a room in her mom’s house. The house is nice, but they are very overcrowded. This hard-working mom already has a full-time job, and on her days off she volunteers at the Habitat ReStore. She says, “I have always worked hard for the things I want out of life. Now that I am a single mom and raising my daughter on my own, I try to work even harder to give her the best life I possibly can.” Clark, has lived in Bradley County for 12 years. As a single mother, she has been working at the Duracell warehouse for four years. She and her children currently live in a townhome located on a very busy street, and her kids are not able to play outside. Clark’s current home is also too small for a family of four. Having a safe home for her children has been a goal Clark has had for a long time. Clark likes that Habitat for Humanity requires sweat equity hours. She said, “It really shows your appreciation, and it’s your way of giving back to the community.” The opportunity to build a home for a family is satisfying for participants in the annual Women Build. Some of the volunteers are experienced in this type of effort, while others have never used a hammer or a power tool. Team participants in this year’s initiative include: Bank of Cleveland, Bayer Healthcare, the Blue Women Group, Bradley Central High students sponsored by Athens Federal Community Bank, Bradley Central High School teachers, Bradley Sunrise Rotary, CHI Memorial Team No. 1, CHI Memorial Team No. 2, Circle of Friends, Cleveland High School Students sponsored by Tennessee Sen. Mike Bell, Cleveland Middle School Transformers, Cleveland State Community College, First United Methodist Elan Circle, FSG Bank, Grace Point, Hammer Time, Kiwanis Club of Cleveland, Mally B’s Boutique, and Mayfield Elementary; Team Morgan No. 1, Team Morgan No. 2, Orange Blossom Boutique, PEO Sisterhood Chapter AL Team, Plastic Surgery Clinic, SANTEK Sassy Sallies, Simply Chic Boutique, Southern Heritage Bank No. 1, Southern Heritage Bank No. 2, Southern Heritage Bank No. 3, the SONshine Team, St. Therese Women of Faith, UNVEILED Team, Walker Valley High School students sponsored by State Sen. Todd Gardenhire and State Rep. Dan Howell, Wesley Memorial FOCUS Team, Whirlpool Corporation No. 1, Whirlpool Corporation No. 2, Wolfpack Team, and Yates Primary School. The opportunity to assist this year’s two new homeowners is satisfying to the women who participate. “I love Women Build because these teams of women come out for a great purpose, but also for great support of one another,” said Lisa Geren, 2015 and 2016 Women Build Committee member. “These women are incredible,” Geren added. “They keep their home and family organized, maintain jobs and still find time to build a home for another family. It is a gratifying, team-building experience that often brings these teams even closer together. I look forward to hearing more great stories this year about the building teams and their experiences.” This year’s title sponsors are Toyota of Cleveland and Whirlpool, and foundation sponsors include FSG Bank and Publix Supermarkets Charities. In order to be a part of Women Build 2016, each team must have a team leader who recruits five to 10 women to be on a team. Women Build is a “pay-to-play” volunteer experience in which each team member pays a $50 build fee. The $50 fee goes back into funding the construction of the two homes the teams will be building. This is a unique volunteer experience because Women Build teams are building the two homes from start to finish through their donation of hours on-site and the cash donation. Each team’s donations will purchase construction materials necessary to build both houses.

‘Hard Hats and Heels’ Saturday

Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland is on the threshold of its third annual Hard Hats and Heels gala. Saturday’s 6 p.m. celebration at Toyota of Cleveland, the event’s sponsor, will be in conjunction with Habitat’s Women Build initiative. The automotive firm has been a title sponsor for the Women Build initiative and has hosted the Hard Hats and Heels celebration since 2014. The gala is a unique event, taking place in the auto dealer’s maintenance shop. This makes it an event unlike any other. Saturday’s celebration will be catered by Tasteful Gatherings and will have adult beverages provided by Tarver Distributing and Ooltewah Discount Liquors. The event includes a charity raffle, a silent auction and a live auction Hard Hat Fashion Show. The evening will also feature jazz music by local musicians Shawn Perkinson, Shaun Sneed, Patrick Keeling and Dan York. The event’s live auction portion will feature high-value items including a Whirlpool custom double oven, a Tennessee Titans sports package, Bristol Speedway tickets, and a seven-day vacation to the Royal Haciendas Resort in Cancun, Mexico. The silent auction includes more than 50 prize packages donated from local businesses. The charity raffle items are some of the best offerings of the evening. In addition to the 28 different items, there will be a drawing for a $1,000 cash prize, presented by Cleveland Insurance and Grange Insurance. For every $2 ticket purchased, the guest will automatically be entered into the cash prize drawing. Toyota of Cleveland’s general manager, Monte Burney, recently moved to Cleveland with his family from Montgomery, Ala. He expressed excitement about the Habitat gala, this year’s Women Build, and the opportunity to be in Cleveland. “I’m honored and excited to be working with an amazing family-owned group in Bowers Automotive, and look forward to growing a customer-focused team, developing future leaders within the business and making Toyota of Cleveland one of the best places to purchase and service your vehicle,” said Burney. “I’m most excited for my wife and I to share Cleveland and Chattanooga with our daughter, Bella.” Officials with Toyota Motor Corporation say their mission is to build more than just great cars. They want to help build great places to live. “Any way we can use our platform to garner exposure for a great cause (like Habitat for Humanity) we will; it’s all about being a great steward of the resources you’ve been blessed with in order to help others,” said Burney. All of the proceeds from this year’s Hard Hats and Heels event will go toward building the Habitat homes of Amber Smith and LaTonya Clark, the two future homeowners who are a part of the Habitat Homeownership Program. Both of these women have worked hard to provide the best life possible for their family. “I believe Habitat is important to any community,” said Burney. “Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland is doing great work within the community and that’s evident in the passion and amount of work they’re pouring into this fundraiser.” Organizers of the Women Build, and Saturday evening’s gala event, emphasize Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to “build and repair homes, communities and hope.” They said Habitat provides a long-term impact that changes the lives of families in Bradley County by partnering with them to build better lives and stronger communities. For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, visit habitatofcleveland.org.

Photo: PARTICIPANTS IN THIS year’s Women Build for Habitat for Humanity were building more than new homes. They were building, and strengthening, personal relationships. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO.

Story by: Larry C. Bowers - Cleveland Daily Banner 

Hard Hats and a whole lot of Heels

By: Elizabeth Sheeks, Habitat PR Intern This weekend, Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland will be having one of the most enjoyable events happening in Cleveland this spring – Hard Hats and Heels 2016!

Toyota of Cleveland is partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland and hosting the third annual Hard Hats and Heels event in conjunction with Habitat’s Women Build 2016 initiative. Hard Hats and Heels will take place on Saturday, April 2 at Toyota of Cleveland beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Toyota of Cleveland has been a title sponsor for the Women Build initiative and has hosted Hard Hats and Heels since their inception in 2014. Toyota of Cleveland’s General Manager, Monté Burney, and his family recently moved to Cleveland from Montgomery, AL.

“I’m honored and excited to be working with an amazing family-owned automotive group with Bowers Automotive and look forward to growing a customer-focused team, developing future leaders within the business and making Toyota of Cleveland one of the best places to purchase and service your vehicle,” said Burney. “I’m most excited for my wife and I to share Cleveland and Chattanooga with our daughter, Bella.”

Toyota Motor Corporation’s mission is to build more than just great cars; they want to help build great places to live. “Any way we can use our platform to garner exposure for a great cause we will; it’s all about being a great steward of the resources you’ve been blessed with in order to help others,” said Burney.

Hard Hats and Heels takes place in Toyota of Cleveland’s Maintenance Shop ─ making it this event unlike any other. The event will be catered by Tasteful Gatherings and will have adult beverages provided by Tarver Distributing and Ooltewah Discount Liquors. The event includes a time of raffles, a silent auction and a live auction Hard Hat Fashion Show. The evening will also feature jazz music by local musicians, Shawn Perkinson, Shaun Sneed, Patrick Keeling and Dan York.

The event’s live auction portion will feature high-value items including: a Whirlpool Custom Double Oven, a Tennessee Titans sports package, Bristol Speedway tickets and a 7-day vacation to the Royal Haciendas Resort in Cancun, Mexican. The silent auction portion includes over 50 prize packages donated from local businesses. The raffle items are some of the best offers of the evening. In addition to the twenty-eight different raffle items offered, there will be a drawing for a $1,000 cash prize, presented by Cleveland Insurance and Grange Insurance. For every $2.00 raffle ticket that is purchased, the guest will automatically be entered into the cash prize drawing.

All of the proceeds from this event will go toward building the homes of Amber Smith and LaTonya Clark – the two future homeowners who are a part of the Habitat Homeownership Program. Both of these women have worked extremely hard to provide the best life possible for their family.

“I believe Habitat is important to any community,” said Burney. “Habitat for Humanity ofCleveland is doing a great work within the community and that’s evident in the passion and amount of work they’re pouring into this fundraiser.”

 Tickets for this event are $50 per ticket or $400 per table (8 seats). Purchase your tickets HERE!

For more information about the great work Toyota of Cleveland is doing in our community, visit: www.toyotaofcleveland.com

Toyota of Cleveland

3560 Village N Blvd McDonald, TN 37353 (423) 339-1138

A Small Seed of Faith: Tami Croft

By: Elizabeth Sheeks, Habitat PR Intern “All some people need is just a little seed of faith – someone who believes in them. Habitat is just that. It’s that faith that keeps me coming back.”

Tami Croft is no stranger to Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland. She started off as a homeowner in the Habitat program and decided to give back to Habitat for Humanity by volunteering in many roles. She became a family advocate, began serving on the Family Selection Committee and and is currently serving as the front desk receptionist. Croft continues to pour out endless time into the families that are part of our program through her great work as a volunteer.

About ten years ago, Tami Croft and her family were accepted into the Habitat Homeowner program. She completed all of the sweat equity hours and took part in all of the education classes that the program requires before you can own your own home. Once Tami and her two children moved into their home, she knew her involvement with Habitat was not supposed to end there.

“I don’t come from wealth, but that is not the only thing it takes to give back. I knew that I was passionate about giving back to Habitat – so I’ve tried to do that.”

Croft serves at Habitat Tuesday through Friday in the administrative offices and as a family advocate full-time. Most often she spends her weekends and evenings helping Habitat for Humanity’s community outreach efforts at different schools, campuses and surrounding areas with our Family Services Coordinator, NaCole Harris-Massengill.

Tami is one of the most dedicated and faithful family advocates that Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland has had the privilege to work with. She greets every homeowner she works with with the upmost care and intentionality. She walks with them from the beginning process of qualifying for a home, all the way through the move-in to help with any questions, suggestions and simply to be a guide. In almost every case Tami becomes one of their most treasured friends.

“I just get so excited for these families. I have been through the exact process that all of these families embark on; I can relate which makes it so much more rewarding. I’m not there to tell them what to do or not to do. I just want them to know someone is always fighting for them. I aim to be their friend, and I continue to plant the seed of faith that Habitat started.”

Through one conversation with Tami, it is so easy to see the pure joy and emotion that radiates to anyone that is around. There is something special about someone that chooses to spend their time giving back to others, and putting God’s love into action.Tami Croft is one of the best examples of exactly that.

“Habitat believed in me and now all I want to do is be a part of that same process for someone else, because my life was forever changed.” -Tami Croft