Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga’s recent Women Build breakfast netted over $100,000. The local affiliate has big plans for the funds noting an aggressive build schedule of nine additional Habitat homes for the Chattanooga area in the coming months. Due to the changing economy, construction costs for a Habitat home have risen from $120,000 to $150,000 over the last year.
The 2023 Women Build recipient is Wilma Crockett, a single mom who has raised four children while working at a local plant making boxes for the last 40 years. "Like so many, Ms.
Crockett is a member of the ‘sandwich generation,’ caring for her ailing mother as well as working full-time. She has completed Habitat’s educational programs, sweat equity requirements and will soon be moving into her very own home. When she moves, she will have a zero percent 30-year mortgage, allowing her to build equity and more importantly, generational wealth for her family.
Habitat Board Chair Patrick Daugherty noted, “Habitat’s mission for Chattanooga is to bring together people to build homes, communities and hope. Our vision to have a world where everyone has a decent place to live. This year’s Women Build breakfast committee embraced both the mission and vision and the result was nothing short of incredible.”
This year’s committee was chaired by Robin Derryberry, of Derryberry Public Relations. Members of the committee included Patricia Daniel, Jennifer DeSha, Hallie Williams Haley, Arielle Hayes, Mark Hite, Ginny Kelly, Barbara Marter, Kelsey Pollard, Carol Seal, Fabiola Smith, Jessica Snyder and Harriett Whitaker. The committee decided early in the planning process to keep the expenses of producing the breakfast to a minimum allowing for more dollars to go into Habitat’s programs and raised over $80,000 before the breakfast began. Thanks to a challenge grant of $10,000, the hour-long breakfast raised an additional $42,000, with the cost of the event being under $20,000 to produce.
Ms. Derryberry said, “Wilma has spent the last 40 years making boxes and thanks to the help of so many, she’ll be filling moving boxes to go to her new home. We couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome of the effort. We’re excited for what the future holds for so many Habitat homeowners.”
“We are grateful to have had a committee that was so dedicated to Habitat’s purpose that they limited the expense of the event wherever they could,” noted Habitat President and CEO Jens Christensen. “We have a great deal of work to do and a very aggressive schedule. This means that every dollar raised is critical. Habitat is playing a key role by providing affordable housing in Chattanooga. The City’s Chief Housing Officer Nicole Heyman, provided valuable insights into the challenges we face as a community at the event. We know there is a great deal of work to be done, but with efforts like Women Build, we are confident we can reach our goals.”