Nine new homes for deserving families were dedicated – five on June 13 and four on June 18 – totaling 20 homes built in Timberwood since the beginning of the year.

June 13 Dedications

The Kenedi Kabavamwo and Yuriana Mukandoli family

Sponsor: First Presbyterian Church – Nashville (FPC)

Kenedi and Yuriana are immigrants originally from Burundi who came to the U.S. in 2007 after living as refugees in Rwanda and Tanzania where their children were born. Kenedi and Yuriana have six children – sons are Emmanuel, Damas, and Eric, and daughters Beatrice, Francoise and Marceline. Upon arriving in the U.S.,Kenedi and Yuriana both found employment as packers for Freshpoint Tomato Company where they currently work. They were also assisted with housing, but their large family could not fit into one home and they were forced to split between two apartments in one complex. Kenedi and Yuriana know that having more space for the younger children at home will help them succeed in their education and they are excited about the future! Several of their current neighbors have been accepted into Habitat’s program as well, and they are happy to continue those relationships in their new homes as neighbors.

First Presbyterian Church – Nashville (FPC)

First Presbyterian Church is building its 10th Habitat home this summer. The church’s mission statement reads in part, “to know Christ, to make Him known, and to exhibit His love through worship, education, and serice.” FirstPresbyterian views the building of a home for their partner family as an ideal way to live out their faith in Jesus Christ and exhibit His love in service to others. This summer’s build is especially meaningful to the First Presbyterian congregation since the partner family is member of the church. Congregation members have walked alongside Kenedi and Yuriana by serving as English tutors, assisting their children in Sunday school classes, and welcoming them each week in church as they acclimate to their new life in America. Habitat is a shining example of what is possible when organizations engage communities of faith in addressing needs of families. First Presbyterian embraces its partnership with Habitat as together they seek to meet the need for affordable housing in Middle Tennessee. Several First Presbyterian members have served on the Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors as well as its Advisory Board.

The Jennifer Cummins family

Sponsor: Pilot Travel Centers/Habitat Challenge House

Jennifer Cummins and her grandson Jamarius have worked hard for opportunity. In 2006, Jennifer joined Goodwill Industries as a receptionist and began her move forward. She was able to secure a public housing unit in the John Henry Hale complex close to work, but though the units look nice on the outside, Jennifer says the area was not safe and Jamarius could not play outside. Jennifer learned that she had to gain control of her finances in order to buy a house as she watched her sister go through the Habitat program. She began attending financial classes at CCSI and also attended homebuyer workshops taught by Habitat at the Goodwill offices. Goodwill has been so supportive of Jennifer and even donated a car to her so that she could have dependable transportation to work. Jamarius is excited to be neighbors with his cousin because they can play outside together at the park in Timberwood. Jennifer looks forward to spending time in her home with family – including eight other grandchildren – so relationships can grow and remain strong for years to come.

Pilot Travel Centers/Habitat Challenge House

Pilot’s motto is “Pilot gets you there!” Where is “there” one might ask? For Jennifer Cummins, “there” is home ownership. Headquartered in Knoxville, TN, Pilot Travel Centers has over 300 locations in 41 states and is the largest operator of travel centers and the largest seller of over-the-road diesel fuel in the nation. Pilot takes seriously its commitment to its customers, employees, and community. Their corporate culture is founded upon principles like honesty, a bias for action, a focus on important issues, people, and a drive for results. Pilot has a history of good corporate citizenship and feels strongly that it is important to serve the community philanthropically in time and resources. With Pilot’s multiple stores across the Mid-state and their dedication to the communities they serve, Nashville Area Habitat was a natural partner for the company. This house for Jennifer Cummins marks the first for Pilot in Nashville and we hope it won’t be the last! Funding for this house was also made possible through a challenge grant from an anonymous donor. The donor matched the other funds raised for this house.

The Errika Brown family

Sponsor: GNAR/Habitat Challenge House

Errika Brown is the mother of two sons, Ryan and Reggie. After years of bouncing from job to job, Errika realized that she wanted more for her family. She completed her medical assistant degree and after settling into her career, Errika knew it was time to find better housing. Her neighborhood was filled with gang activity, and she was robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot coming home from church one evening. Buying a house was Errika’s dream and to save money and get out of her neighborhood quickly, she moved in with her mother who had already taken in other family members, creating quite a crowded situation. Errika’s family is so grateful for their new home! Ryan is currently evaluating his future and is very interested in joining the Navy with the support of his mother. Errika absolutely loves working as a phlebotomist for Plasma Biological Services and now that she has settled in her Timberwood home, she plans to save money and continue her education to become a registered nurse.

Greater Nashville Association of Realtors/Habitat Challenge House

This year, GNAR is building their 14th Habitat house in Nashville. Their support for Habitat and their local community is greatly evidenced in this long term partnership. Each year, GNAR hosts a Benefit Golf Tournament to raise funds for a Habitat home. GNAR presently has over 3,500 members, making it the largest trade association in Nashville. GNAR is comprised of area Realtors® and has been providing services to real estate professionals for over 100 years. Membership benefits and services range from excellent professional development and education to exceptional networking opportunities; from legislative and community involvment to commitment to the REALTOR® Code of Ethics and its proper enforcement… and a whole lot more! In addition to the great relationship between GNAR and Habitat, several GNAR members have served as Habitat for Humanity board members. Currently, Don Klein, Sue Chilton, and Shirley Zeitlin serve on the NAHFH Advisory Board while Lucy Smith, Mandy Wachtler, and Christie Wilson serve on the NAHFH Board of Directors. Funding for this house was also made possible through a challenge grant from an anonymous donor. The donor matched the other funds raised for this house.

The Cassandra Newborn-McGruder family

Sponsor: Lowe’s/Mitsui USA/Habitat Challenge House

Cassandra, her daughters Chancey and Mari Liz, and sons Thomas and McKinley had lived with Cassandra’s father and stepbrother in the house she grew up in. The home was very crowded, and Thomas had to sleep in the den. Cassandra’s father has been a major supporter in her life and is so excited to see Cassandra become a homeowner. McKinley will continue to live with his grandfather to keep him company and help with his home. Since 2007, Cassandra has worked as the office manager for an attorney. Chancey and Mari Liz are good students and are involved in extra-curricular activities such as cheerleading at Inglewood Elementary School. Thomas and McKinley both attend the International Academy of Design and Technology as full-time students. Cassandra has faced many obstacles in her life and is now working to start a non-profit to help women facing similar situations. She has worked hard over the last few years to establish a career and create a better financial situation for her and her family. She has a niece who lives in Timberwood and is excited to live in the same neighborhood.

Lowe’s/Mitsui USA/Habitat Challenge House

Lowe’s motto, “Let’s Build Something Together,” says it all. Lowe’s employees have come together from across Nashville to build a house for a hard-working family in partnership with NAHFH. They have been a long-time supporter of Habitat for Humanity International and the Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity. Just last year, Lowe’s opened a new store just down the street from Timberwood and they are already making a positive impact in their new community!

For Mitsui USA, this is their fourth build to participate in and the funding for this build came from contributions from the corporate office in New York and the local office here in Nashville. “Participating in the Habitat for Humanity program in Nashville is a great way for our Nashville office to realize Mitsui USA’s commitment to good corporate citizenship,” says Mike Fedele, General Manager of the Nashville Trade Service Center. Funding for this house was also made possible through a challenge grant from an anonymous donor. The donor matched the other funds raised for this house.

The Suleiman Islow and Faduma Mugne family

Sponsor: Summer Community Build (Regions Bank, Ingram Entertainment, Nashville Rollergirls, Panera Bread and Sara DeVene)

Suleiman and Faduma are the proud parents of three young daughters, Khadija , Leila, and Rayaan. Suleiman and Faduma were born in Somalia, and Suleiman is now a U.S. Citizen. Faduma spent fifteen years in the United Kingdom before she was able to come to the United States in late 2009. Suleiman has worked for Tyson Foods since 2003 and Faduma stays at home with the children. In the U.K., Faduma taught ESL classes in hopes of teaching in the United States. Suleiman and Faduma lived in a very small apartment, and the apartment complex did not have a safe place for the children to play. Suleiman and Faduma are happy to have more living space in their new home and enjoy walks around the neighborhood together. Suleiman and Faduma came to Habitat for their “family to be united.” When asked what they think the future may hold for their family, Suleiman and Faduma said, “In our new home, our future is going to be very bright, and our children’s future is going to be even brighter as they will get to grow up in the new house.”

Summer Community Build

The community builds always pull together a wonderful group of companies and volunteers, and this build is no exception. They appreciate the opportunity for their employees to give back to the local community in such a tangible way. For the third year in a row, Regions Bank has helped sponsor a Habitat home. Lee Blank, SVP of Regions Private Banking, is on the NAHFH Board of Directors. “There’s nothing that gives us more pride than our communities. Our neighbors inspire us and define who we are as a bank. So, we’re always excited to help invigorate the cities and towns we call home. We are proud to offer our assistance and our commitment to making great neighborhoods even better,” said Blank. Other contributing sponsors include Ingram Entertainment, Nashville Rollergirls, Panera Bread, and NAHFH’s very own Sara DeVene, who used the Music City Half-Marathon as a platform to raise funds for each mile walked.

June 18 Dedications

The Stephanie Summers family

Sponsor: Deloitte

Stephanie Summers is the mother of three children, daughter Tamya, and sons Raymond and Jacolby. Stephanie has worked at Buena Vista Elementary School in the lunchroom for six years and her children have been enrolled in the same school. The family lived in the Cheatham Place public housing complex where there was no safe place for the children to play outside with a busy street right outside the front door and an alley outside the back. Stephanie’s neighbors played loud music into the night. Stephanie had a taste of being a homeowner as she has made improvements and repairs at her own expense instead of relying on a slow maintenance process by her landlord. Stephanie says that a home will allow her to provide a better future for her children, by giving them a safer place to play and a place to teach them about responsibility. Stephanie would like to tell her sponsor that she is “eternally grateful to God for sending them my way to help me and my family realize the American Dream of homeownership.”

Deloitte

This year Deloitte is building their eighth Habitat house in Nashville. Deloitte is an organization of member firms around the world devoted to excellence in providing professional services and advice, focused on client service through a global strategy executed locally in nearly 150 countries. With access to the deep intellectual capital of 120,000 people worldwide, Deloitte delivers services in four professional areas – audit, tax, consulting and financial advisory services – and serves more than one-half of the world’s largest companies, as well as large national enterprises, public institutions, locally important clients, and successful, fast-growing global growth companies. Besides working with Habitat, Deloitte is also involved with the following non-profits throughout the country: Junior Achievement, United Way, the Pencil Foundation and Hands on Nashville. Ken Gerdesmeier, Deloitte Deputy CFO, serves on the NAHFH Board of Directors and John Doerge serves on the Volunteer Relations Committee.

The Niyonzima Eliezer and Mpabonyumukiza Fiderite family

Sponsor: Dollar General Corporation

Eliezer and Fiderite are both originally from Rwanda and grew up in Tanzania. When they left Rwanda, they were resettled in a refugee camp in Tanzania. Eliezer and Fiderite are the proud parents of five children: daughters Germaine, Sendrine, Albertine, son, Christien and their newborn baby, Gratien. Eliezer’s mother, Roda, will live with them in their new home as well. Eliezer works as a housekeeper at Green Hills Mall, and Fiderite works as a packer at Freshpoint Tomato. Eliezer and his family had lived in a two-bedroom apartment. Germaine, Sendrine, Christien, and Roda had to share one room while Eliezer and Fiderite slept with their youngest daughter, Albertinem, in the other room. With their newest edition, Gratien, Eliezer and Fiderite are definitely excited to move into a four bedroom home with much more living space. When asked what homeownership means to them, Eliezer and Fiderite said “Homeownership means everything to us! We are ready for peace and looking forward to settling into our new home. It’s a new beginning for our family’s future.”

Dollar General Corporation

This was the third house sponsored and built by the Dollar General Corporation. Headquartered in Goodlettsville, TN, Dollar General is a leading discount retailer with more than 8,000 neighborhood stores employing over 71,500 people. The decision to partner with Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity was a team decision and they thought it would be a wonderful way to engage a large number of volunteers in a meaningful effort. The employees feel honored to help a local family realize the dream of home ownership. Dollar General’s mission is ‘Serving Others’ and their employees truly are committed to this mission. They are eager to build a home and are inspired by the fact that their hard work will change the life of a family in their community. The 2010 Dollar General house was a “blitz build.” The house was built by Dollar General associates in eight consecutive days instead of being built over the typical four weekends.

The Cheryl Webster family

Sponsor: HCA/Sarah Cannon Research Institute/Ingram Industries Inc.

Cheryl is the proud mother of two daughters, Cherrell and MacKenzi. Cheryl and her daughters have lived with Cheryl’s parents in the home they have owned for more than twenty years. She has worked for O’Charley’s Inc. for three years as the human resources administration specialist and has plans to go back to school and earn her bachelor’s degree in business administration. Cheryl is ready for the responsibility of homeownership, grateful to have her own space since she and her two daughters had to share one room in her parents’ house. She says “My children have their own rooms!” Family is a huge part of Cheryl’s life; she and her daughters enjoy “Family Fun Night” every Friday night where they play board games, play dress up, and sing songs. We asked Cheryl what the first thing she would do once she moves into her new home and she said “Put a welcome mat outside the front door and hang up my pictures. That means ‘This is my home’ and I am here to stay!”

HCA/Sarah Cannon Research Institute/Ingram Industries Inc.

HCA sponsored and built its 13th house with NAHFH in 2010. The HCA Foundation also donated $700,000 to Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity’s Crossing the Threshold capital campaign and Timberwood park. For HCA employees, Habitat provides an opportunity to address a critical community need and fulfill the HCA mission to improve the quality of human life. Ken Kulaga and Jennifer Neely serve on the NAHFH Board of Directors.

The Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) is thrilled to be a part of it’s second Habitat for Humanity home build. “We are grateful for the opportunity to be involved with such a meaningful project” SCRI is dedicated to advancing therapies for patients through clinical research, and is one of the largest community-based research programs in the nation.

Ingram Industries Inc. consists of diversified businesses in marine transportation, aggregate supply, book distribution, print-on-demand book manufacturing, and digital storage, management and distribution services. The house for Cheryl represents their second build with Nashville Area Habitat. “Habitat is a wonderful program, not only producing new homes for deserving families, but doing so with a great spirit of community-wide participation. Habitat is such a fine resource in our city and we are proud to be on the team.”

The Stacey Jones family

Sponsor: Nissan

Stacey Jones is the proud mother of two boys, Ticaric and Leslie. Ticaric is in the eighth grade at Kipp Academy. Stacey has worked for AutoZone for over 10 years. Stacey says her housing need was based on wanting her sons to have a safe place to grow and play. Her children are so excited to have a yard and especially a park in their new neighborhood. Stacey says Ticaric plays every sport at school and will soon be playing at the high school level. Stacey is very good at managing her finances, which is one of the reasons that she is ready to become a homeowner. She said “I have always wanted my own home all of my life.” To Stacey, homeownership means “I will have something of my own; something I can pass down to my kids.” Stacey’s mother took care of Leslie, while Stacey and Ticaric attended HomeWORKS classes. Ticaric volunteered with the “HomeWORKS for Kids” program, which gave him the opportunity to earn sweat equity hours for his mother. Stacey thinks the Habitat for Humanity program is a “great cause to help someone’s dream of homeownership come true.” Stacey and her family are very excited to be their new home in Timberwood.

Nissan North America

This is Nissan’s fourth time to build a Habitat home in Davidson County, but it cer-tainly won’t be their last. Stephanie Valdez-Streaty, Nissan North America’s senior manager of philanthorpy and diversity communications says, “As part of the Nashville community, Nissan is proud to work with Habitat for Humanity to enrich the lives of our neighbors by providing them a place to call home. This is just the beginning of a long-term partnership with Habitat for Humanity that will allow us to make a difference in the communities where we operate.” Nissan’s global vision is entitled “Enriching People’s Lives” and sponsoring a home is one way that Nissan can support that vision in Middle Tennessee. Dominique Thorman, senior vice president, finance and administration, was instrumental in bringing this idea into fruition. The Nissan North America headquarters are in Nashville and sponsoring a Habitat home provides a great opportunity for employees to give back to the community and take pride in their company.

Special thanks to all who made the build a success