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.

Please Click here to read the Habitat CFC Media Kit

 * Posted Monday, January 2, 2012 in the Connecticut Post Neighborhood Section.

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.

Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County’s (CFC) Women Build program recently received a $10,000 grant from Near & Far Aid, a philanthropic organization dedicated to eliminating the causes and effects of poverty in Fairfield County. The award will assist in funding the current project, called “Women Build 7”, which consists of one unit in a two-building condominium complex located in Stamford’s West Main Street Commons.

Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County’s Co-President and Chief Operator Officer Bruce Berzin said that this expansion into Stamford represents the Women Build program’s largest project to date. In addition, it’s the first time that Habitat CFC is constructing projects in three different communities — Bridgeport, Stratford and Stamford — simultaneously.

Berzin stated, “We are pleased to partner with Near & Far Aid as we continue to grow and support the construction of safe and affordable housing for low-income families in more communities throughout Fairfield County. This is the third year that Near & Far Aid has funded Women Build projects. We appreciate their continuous generosity.”

Since 2000, Near & Far Aid has donated $10 million to support programs that address families at risk, adults in crisis, homelessness, elder care, hunger, education and job training, health services and academic and cultural activities for disadvantaged youth.

“Near & Far Aid is delighted to continue to support The Women Build program as they expand into Stamford,” said Jeanne Burris, Vice President, Projects Review. “We share a commitment to serving as many communities as possible in Fairfield County, and applaud their continued effort to expand affordable housing opportunities for our area’s neediest individuals.”

Habitat CFC’s $2.5 million West Main Street construction project is comprised of eight Energy Star-rated, condominiums. There are three two-bedroom and five three-bedroom units. One of the three-bedroom units is wheelchair-accessible. Eileen Bakos, Habitat CFC’s Volunteer Manager and Women Build’s Co-Chairman, along with Ellen Quinn, pointed out that there is a critical need for affordable housing in all of coastal Fairfield County. They’re excited to be at the helm of Women Build’s first venture in Stamford.

Bakos said, “We provide sustainable homeownership solutions which not only improve the lives of Habitat families, but also stabilize neighborhoods and create community. This result would not be achieved without strong partners like Near & Far Aid.”

Caitlin Scanlan, Habitat for Humanity CFC’s Director of Development, explained that plans for the Stamford construction project have been underway since 2006. By collaborating with the City of Stamford, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), corporations, private donors and non-profit organizations, such as Near & Far Aid, construction started more than a year ago.

Based in Bridgeport, Habitat for Humanity CFC has completed 152 homes that have served more than 700 children and adults in Bridgeport, Stratford and Stamford. For 25 years, low income families have been able to purchase homes by contributing 500 hours of “sweat equity,” or volunteer hours, financed by a Habitat-provided 0 percent, 30-year mortgage. In keeping with Habitat’s mission, eligibility requirements are based upon a total family income that is 35 to 60 % of the median income for that specific community. In past years, single mothers with children have been offered priority placement for Women Build projects.

Women Build encourages and empowers women to learn construction skills and to use those skills to help move families out of poverty by building simple, safe and affordable homes. Launched in 2001, Habitat CFC’s Women Build has funded and constructed six homes.