NAHFH makes largest land purchase in agency history

Park Preserve to be largest Habitat community in the U.S.

On Tuesday, August 5, Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity announced the purchase of 200+ acres of land for the agency’s next Habitat community, to be called Park Preserve.

Representatives from HCA and its foundation joined in the announcement, adding an element of surprise with the announcement of an unexpected $200,000 challenge grant to build community parks for Nashville Area Habitat neighborhoods. HCA chairman and CEO Jack Bovender challenged other organizations to join the HCA Foundation in funding public spaces where neighbors can connect and children can play, and the community and spirit of Habitat lives on.

Mayor Karl Dean spoke at the news conference about the great need for affordable housing, calling the Park Preserve land purchase one of the most important developments since he has been in office. The agency also recognized Pinnacle Financial Partners as the financial services partner that made the land purchase possible.

Park Preserve represents the largest land purchase in agency history and will more than double the number of Nashville Area Habitat homes (from 357 this fall approximately 800 by 2020). In keeping with the agency’s growth strategy, the property was purchased this year so that it will be ready for development in 2009. Construction will take place in phases beginning in 2010. Initial funding for the purchase is provided by Nashville Area Habitat’s Crossing the Threshold capital campaign, which launched its community phase in June.

Longtime agency partner HCA has had a vital role in the agency’s growth over the past six years. The HCA Foundation recently demonstrated its continued commitment to Nashville Area Habitat with the announcement of a second 2008 home sponsorship, to involve seven Nashville area TriStar Health System hospitals in September.

About HCA’s longtime partnership with Habitat for Humanity

• HCA was instrumental in Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity securing the land for the agency’s first model affordable housing community, Providence Park. (HCA leadership was instrumental in introducing land donor Centex Corporation to Nashville Area Habitat.)
• CEO Jack Bovender challenged community leaders to sponsor 10 homes in Providence Park in its first full year (2004) build season.
• The HCA Foundation funded the construction of a $300,000 public park in Providence Park, built by Nashville Area Habitat and then donated to Metro Parks in 2006 to serve the Paragon Mills community.
• HCA has been an outstanding partner with the Nashville Area Habitat and has continued to help fund the agency’s work – 11 houses in 7 years while also building 40 homes nationally with Habitat for Humanity International.
• The HCA Foundation contributed $500,000 toward the land purchase and development as part of the Crossing the Threshold capital campaign for Habitat. Mr. Bovender serves on the Crossing the Threshold capital campaign steering committee.
• HCA has a long history of building homes for low-income people in markets where HCA has capital investments over $3 million.
• These actions are in keeping with the first line of the company’s mission: “Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life.” HCA just celebrated its “40 Years of Caring” anniversary in honor of caring for their patients, their colleagues, and their communities.
• More than 10,000 HCA staff members have contributed more than 80,000 volunteer hours since 2000 to help families build better lives through homeownership.
• HCA challenged Nashville Area Habitat to mobilize community volunteers, and in the past six years the agency has worked with more than 50,000 volunteers to build better lives through homeownership.
• HCA has been a very important partner in the growth of Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity and the agency’s ability to serve more than 1,270 families—including more than 800 children—with the life-changing opportunity to own homes.