State Farm Awards $10,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County
Grant to Support the Kossuth Street Duplex Project
State Farm® Insurance Companies awarded Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (Habitat CFC) a $10,000 Community Development Grant to help support the construction of two affordable homes in the Pembroke Historic District of Bridgeport. The grant funding helped push the project “over the finish line” and will complete construction on the two family duplex.
“All of us at Habitat CFC are so grateful for the financial support and volunteers from State Farm and all of the companies, foundations, organizations and individuals that make it possible to fulfill our mission,” said Bruce Berzin, Co-President of Habitat CFC. Without “Good Neighbors” we could not help aspiring families help themselves and in turn revitalize neighborhoods and communities”.
The Kossuth Street Duplex Project was developed in partnership with the City of Bridgeport and HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The Pembroke Historic District is located in Bridgeport’s East Side, which is an area that has beautiful 1800’s era Victorian and Italianate homes in need of repair. This project presented Habitat CFC with another opportunity to achieve their goal of providing more affordable homes and restoring abandoned properties to productive and tax-paying use. Throughout the project, Habitat CFC implemented sustainable construction standards in the areas of water use, energy efficiency, safety and health and materials conservation.
“State Farm believes communities are the foundation of society and we’re committed to helping maintain the vibrancy and culture of our neighborhoods,” said State Farm Agent Steve Boyle. “We’re proud to support responsible neighborhood organizations who share our business-oriented objective of building safer, stronger and healthy communities.”
Each year State Farm awards grants to non-profit organizations, governmental entities, and educational institutions for programs that help make communities safer, stronger, and more educated.
To donate or to get more information about Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County, Youth United, or this event, visit www.habitatcfc.org.
About State Farm®
State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 17,800 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts and more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 37 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.
National Women Build Week 2012
Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County and Lowe’s seek women volunteers to build homes during National Women Build Week
Women volunteers will raise their hammers at Habitat for Humanity construction sites across the country in recognition of National Women Build Week, May 5-13. The event is a nationwide initiative of Habitat’s Women Build program developed in partnership with Lowe’s.
Now in its fifth year, National Women Build Week challenges women to devote at least one day to creating simple, decent and affordable housing in their local communities. Nearly 31,000 women volunteers from all 50 states have participated in the previous four events.
To date, women volunteers have helped construct more than 1,900 Habitat houses nationwide. Locally, Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (Habitat CFC) has built 7 Women Build homes.
Habitat CFC’s National Women Build Week kicks off with Mary Himes, Cynthia Blumenthal, and Sonya Finch joining members of General Electric’s corporate women’s network to begin construction of the affiliate’s 8th Women Build sponsored home. Volunteers are needed Wednesday, May 9 and Friday, May 11 from 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. to help frame walls and build sub-flooring. If you can’t spend the whole day, Habitat invites you to stop by between 9:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. to learn more about Women Build and see volunteers in action. There will also be a family program offered Friday, May 11, 3:30 -5:00 p.m. for parents and children to work together and learn more about Women Build and Youth United, Habitat CFC’s program for kids age 5-25. The week will end with a Wall Raising Ceremony on Saturday, May 12, at 9:00 a.m. celebrating the beginning of construction on another safe and affordable home for family in need.
National Women Build Week is held the week leading up to Mother’s Day because of its significance to Habitat homeowners and volunteers. Families with children make up a staggering number of those in need of adequate housing. More than 12 million children – one in six – live in poverty housing in the United States alone.
This year’s theme, “The Build Generation,” reflects the event’s goal to recruit and train women volunteers, as well as welcome the next generation of Habitat Women Builders – young women, ages 18-24 – to help support Habitat’s mission to create affordable housing. Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (Habitat CFC) are looking for women to volunteer at a Bridgeport Habitat construction site for at least one day during this nine-day event that culminates on Mother’s Day. Construction or home improvement experience is not necessary.
Lowe’s contributed more than $1.3 million to National Women Build Week, providing $5,000 Lowe’s gift cards to 275 Habitat affiliates. National Women Build Week is one of the major initiatives supported through Lowe’s five-year, $20 million pledge to Habitat. As the underwriter of the Women Build program since 2004, Lowe’s conducts “how-to” clinics at stores to teach women construction skills, enabling them to support Habitat projects across the country.
To volunteer or donate to this project, please call 203-333-2642, email womenbuild@habitatcfc.org or visit http://tinyurl.com/HabitatWB.
Westport National Bank Donates Trailer
Westport National Bank Donates Trailer to Habitat CFC
Bridgeport, CT (March 16, 2012)- Westport National Bank has generously provided Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (Habitat CFC) with the funding to purchase a new trailer. The donation comes in response to the overnight theft of a Habitat CFC construction trailer in February, 2012. Habitat CFC currently has eight homes under construction that will be sold to working, low-income families with a 0%, mortgage financed by Habitat CFC. The organization uses construction trailers to transport materials between its jobsites.
Westport National Bank President, Richard Cummings recognized the need to replace the equipment immediately. “The Bank has supported Habitat for many years and we have always been impressed not only with their mission, but the demonstrated positive impact Habitat has had in our communities. When we read about the theft of the trailer from a work site, we saw it as an opportunity to help them continue their great work.”
Westport National Bank has partnered with Habitat CFC for more than seven years. “Having the equipment to execute our mission is vital to our ability to serve more low-income families in need of safe and healthy housing. We are grateful for the support that Westport National Bank has continued to show us throughout our many years of partnership and deeply appreciate their commitment to eliminating sub-standard housing in our communities,” said Keith Cook, Co-President of Habitat CFC.
Photo Caption:
Photo : ( l-r) Westport National Bank President Richard Cummings and Vice President Ken Eckert with Habitat CFC Co-President Keith Cook in front of the newly purchased trailer.
About Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County
Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County is an independently run, local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. As a housing ministry, Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County seeks to build community and to improve lives by partnering with low-income families and with community volunteers and donors to build simple, decent, safe and affordable neighborhoods. For more information or to make a donation, visit our website at www.habitatcfc.org or call 203.333.2642, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitatforhumanityofcoastalfairfieldcounty.
Kids Camp Out for Habitat
News 8 – WTNH.com
Kids camp out for the homeless
Updated: Saturday, 28 Jan 2012, 6:37 PM EST
Published : Saturday, 28 Jan 2012, 6:37 PM EST
Orange, Conn. (WTNH) – A group of kids in Orange are spending their Saturday night camping out, but it isn’t for fun. They are holding a “freeze out” to raise awareness about homelessness.
The camp-out is taking place on the front lawn of theOrange Congregational Church , located at 205 Meetinghouse Lane.
Approximately 25 kids are participating in the event as part of their youth program. They will take one-hour shifts throughout the night, until 9 a.m. Sunday.
The kids will be spending the night in a make-shift shanty town made entirely of cardboard boxes, tape and string.
“Each year we have a different design with the boxes,” said Beth Rafferty, Orange Congregational Church, “this year is a big open space so they can just kind of hang out and talk. And it actually stays quite warm in there, which is nice.
This year marks the fourth year the church will be hosting the “freeze out,” raising money for Habitat for Humanity.
The church has already raised enough money to build one house for the homeless, and now they are hoping to build a second. Their goal is to raise $2,000.
The church says anyone who wants to bring hot chocolate down for the kids and possibly make a donation is welcome.
Habitat for Humanity Dedicates Townhomes
Updated 01:07 p.m., Sunday, December 11, 2011 
, Darien News
Robert Stephan of New Canaan, president of the Community BridgeBuilders Coalition, presents a welcome home gift to the Habitat homeowners. Photo: Contributed Photo / CT
Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County joined with community leaders, project sponsors, volunteers and partner families to dedicate the first four units of its 251 West Main Street townhome complex in Stamford. This is Habitat CFC’s first ever project built in partnership with the City of Stamford and is located in the city’s target revitalization area, a fewblocks away from downtown. The complex has a total of eight townhomes. Construction is expected to be completed in Spring 2012.
The West Main Street complex was funded through a unique partnership of public and private stakeholders who helped to create this much needed, first time homeownership opportunity for local low-income families. Key contributors include General Electric, The City of Stamford, the Stamford Community Development Office and the Community BridgeBuilders, a coalition of more than 20 churches. Additional sponsors are the Trust Estate of Frances Mackie Cain, New Alliance Foundation, Citizen’s Financial Group, Purdue Pharma, HEI Hotels & Resorts, Habitat CFC’s Women Build program, LISC, Fairfield County Links, Inc., Pitney Bowes, Near & Far Aid, St. John’s Community Foundation, Perna Foundation for Hope, RBS, Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, First United Methodist Church of Stamford, Goodway Technologies and Genworth Financial.
The home dedication ceremony took place during the final phase of construction. Families are expected to move in within the next few weeks. The four townhomes were built primarily by volunteers and whenever possible, with donated materials, helping to keep the costs well below fair market value. The homes will be sold at cost to working families, who invest 500 hours of “sweat equity,” and are financed through a zero-interest mortgage provided by Habitat.
Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County is an independently run, local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, which is dedicated to eliminating poverty housing wherever it exists. Habitat CFC seeks to build community and improve lives by partnering with low-income families in need of a place to live and with community volunteers and donors to build simple, safe, and affordable neighborhoods. Habitat CFC provides no interest, 30-year mortgages to partner families to purchase homes priced at construction cost. Partner families of Habitat CFC go through an application and approval process and perform 500 hours of sweat equity. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.habitatcfc.org or call 203-333-2642. To donate new or used furniture, appliances and building materials, visit www.fairfieldcountyrestore.org or call 203-383-4358.
Habitat Helpers
* Posted Monday, January 2, 2012 in the Connecticut Post Neighborhood Section.
Helping is Its Own Reward for Fairfield County Man
FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Marc Perrone doesn’t need rewards. Sure, he recently received his company’s “Be Inspired” award for his 15 years of work with Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County. But Perrone, who works at RBS Citizens Bank in Bridgeport, insists his work provides its own gratification.
“The best thing about volunteering with Habitat is seeing how excited the homeowners are when their home is completed,” Perrone says. “You work side-by-side with the families for months on building their home and you get to really understand how important the home is to them and their families.”
Perrone does most of his work with the international charity in the Greater Bridgeport and Stamford areas, building homes for and with low-income families. But his volunteer work has also taken him across the country. In recent years he’s traveled to the Gulf Coast to help rebuild homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
Perrone also has a personal reason for volunteering. “The hands-on construction aspect of Habitat is most appealing to me because my grandfather was a carpenter,” he says. “He taught me the basics of building as a child. I think of him whenever I’m building.”
If you’d like to join Perrone in helping Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County, you can volunteer or make a donation at the organization’s website.You can also make donations of used appliances, furniture, or building materials to Fairfield County Restore, 1785 Stratford Ave., Stratford.
Call (203) 333-2642 or visit the organization’s website for more information about Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County.
Fairfield County Youth Building Better Communities
Sacred Heart University’s Habitat for Humanity Student Chapter has been recognized as one of the top student chapters in the country.
Read the article from Sacred Heart University- SHU Habitat Campus Chapter