Family members, sponsors, volunteers and guests celebrate the completion of 12 Nashville Area Habitat homes

On Sunday, October 11, 37 family members celebrated the completion of 12 Nashville Area Habitat homes, thanks to many generous sponsors and approximately 3,000 volunteers who helped build them. Nearly 40 churches and faith organizations participated in this build along with the Habitat HomeStores, local businesses, corporations, schools and universities. Nashville Area Habitat staff, board members, partner families and volunteers gathered for an opening program and then broke into groups for ribbon cutting ceremonies for each home. At that time, families received keys and framed copies of their mortgage agreements.

This build was the last one in Davidson County for calendar year 2009. Among the 12 homes was the 425th Nashville Area Habitat home built since the organization’s founding in 1985, sponsored by Westminster Presbyterian Church.

This year’s fall build included the following sponsors and partner families:

1. Sponsor: Bank of America Merrill Lynch Bank of America Merrill Lynch built their third Nashville Area Habitat Habitat home. Bank of America is committed to making homeownership affordable, so the company partnered with Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the country for the past several years. Anne Rolman, one of Bank of America’s build organizers, serves on Nashville Area Habitat’s board of directors.
   Partner Family: The LaSha Tate family LaSha graduated from Hillsboro High School, went on to attend college, and has worked the past four years as a security guard on-site at Dell. She and her 5-year-old daughter are moving to Timberwood from a townhouse with poor energy-efficiency and rising rent in a dangerous neighborhood. LaSha looks forward to the financial security that homeownership will bring and the happy memories she knows are in store for her family.
2. Sponsor: Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP and LifePoint Hospitals Waller Lansden built its second Nashville Area Habitat home. They first became involved with Habitat through the service of several of their staff as volunteers and SOS. Nina Smith, a Waller Lansden employee and build organizer, served for several years as a SOS. Since the experience of building their first house in 2004 was extremely positive, they decided to build another when the opportunity to work with LifePoint Hospitals presented itself. For LifePoint Hospitals, 2009 marks the company’s 10-year anniversary. They celebrated by partnering with Waller Lansden to build their first Nashville Area Habitat home.
   Partner Family: The Maged Mikhail and Nessereen Kallini family Maged Mikhail and Nessereen Kallini are originally from Egypt, where Maged was an engineer and Nessereen was a teacher. They came to Nashville in 2005. Maged’s degree was not valid in the United States, so he earned a graduate degree in engineering from TSU in May 2009. He started work as a professor assistant in engineering/electronics at Austin Peay this fall. Nessereen works as a preschool teacher at Glenwood School.
3. Sponsor: Westminster Presbyterian Church Westminster Presbyterian Church built its 13th Habitat house in 13 years! Westminster Presbyterian believes that the Lord’s charge requires the provision of food, drink and clothing but also safe shelter. The generous donations and hard work of congregation members make each build possible. Westminster Presbyterian members are truly excited every year about the Habitat build and look forward to knowing their Habitat partner family. Carson Salyer, associate pastor, serves on Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity’s board of directors and chairs the faith relations committee.
   Partner Family: The Taronda Sims Family Taronda is a survivor. She overcame the impact of her parents’ alcoholism, living on the streets, dropping out of high school, cervical cancer, a difficult marriage and single parenthood. She persevered, despite the odds working against her. Taronda has an 11-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son. She is the assistant director of a childcare center, where she helps children who are going through hard times like she did as a child. She says, “They can relate to my story and know there is hope for a better future.” Taronda is not just a teacher; she is also a student who will graduate from college in May 2010, and she hopes to influence generations to come.
4. Sponsor: First Presbyterian Church — Nashville First Presbyterian Church (FPC) – Nashville built its ninth Habitat home this fall! The church’s mission statement reads in part, “…to know Christ, to make Him known, and to exhibit His love through worship, education, and service.” FPC-Nashville acknowledges the very essential need for affordable housing in the Middle Tennessee area and embraces its partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Several FPC-Nashville members have served on the Board of NAHFH, including former board chair, John Gillespie.
   Partner Family: The LaQuinta Pointer family LaQuinta is determined to provide a better life for her three children: two sons, ages 14 and12, and a daughter, age 7. All of LaQunita’s children are honor roll students. LaQuinta works full-time for SMS Holdings, which handles certain administrative tasks for large corporations. LaQuinta attributes much of her success to furthering her education at Nashville College of Medical Careers, and she plans to become a registered nurse one day.
5. Sponsor: The Unity Build The first Unity Build was organized in 1993. This fall marked the 17th house built by the Unity Build. This special build is comprised of members from many religious congregations and organizations from across Davidson County. Gladys Wolfe led this year’s build. Participating churches and organizations include Bellevue Presbyterian Church, Belle Meade UMC, Brooks Memorial UMC, Calvary UMC, Christ the King Catholic Church, East End UMC, First Baptist Church, First Unitarian Universalist, First Evangelical Lutheran and Holy Trinity Lutheran, Forest Hills UMC, Gordon Memorial UMC, Hillcrest UMC, Hillsboro Presbyterian Church, Monroe Street/Jordonia UMC and Church Women United, Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church and The Stones River District Association, South End UMC and The Sertoma Club of Nashville, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal, The Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom, and Woodbine UMC.
   Partner Family: The Monique Gardner family Monique Gardner has two daughters, ages 6 months old and 2 years old. She has been a certified nurse technician with Omni Visions Inc. Monique and her daughters are moving to Timberwood from an unhealthy apartment environment, where the water heater flooded her hallway. There was mold growing under the carpet and on windowsills, but her landlord would not replace them. All of these problems were of great concern for Monique and her family because they have severe asthma.
6. Sponsor: West End United Methodist Church/Challenge House This is the seventh Nashville Area Habitat house that West End United Methodist Church has helped build. They became involved when one member, while serving on Nashville Area Habitat’s family selection committee, became aware of an opportunity to help sponsor the Sounds Faith House. In 2005, they helped build the Sounds Faith house and the Interfaith house. Church member Sue Smith serves on the Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity’s advisory board and is on the faith relations committee. Special thanks to an anonymous donor for sponsoring half of this house!
   Partner Family: The Danielle Morrison family Danielle Morrison graduated from Whites Creek High School and began working to support herself. For the past six years she has worked in Metro Schools cafeterias, and she has worked part-time in sales at Marty’s Store for Men for two and a half years. She is pursuing barber and cosmetology licenses from the International Barber and Style College. Her 6-year-old daughter is active in Girl Scouts and children’s choir. Danielle has wanted to own a home since she was 21 years old, and her daughter is a special motivation to do so.
7. Sponsor: Belmont Church/Challenge House This fall marks the third house Belmont Church has helped sponsor and build. They built with the Wachovia Foundation in spring 2007 and fully sponsored a house in fall 2008. Belmont Church has a big congregation with a big heart. This nondenominational church maintains more than 2,000 members and is involved in a variety of domestic and international missions. Belmont Church chose Habitat as a ministry because it affords many people from the congregation the opportunity to have a meaningful, hands-on experience. Special thanks to an anonymous donor for sponsoring half of this house!
   Partner Family: The Teya Kergo and Yasmeen Teya family Teya Kergo and his wife, Yasmeen, immigrated to the U.S. from Sudan via Egypt five years ago to escape the dangers of civil war. They have two children, ages 17 months old and 3 years old. Teya works as a security guard for Guardsmark, where he has worked for two years. Yasmeen stays at home with their two beautiful girls. The Kergo family is moving to Timberwood from a crowded two-bedroom apartment in a complex in continual disrepair.
8. Sponsor: Presbyterian Community/First Baptist Church of Goodlettsville/Challenge House This will be the third Presbyterian Community house built with Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity. Eight local Presbyterian churches and the First Baptist Church of Goodlettsville built a house for Yor Yowin and family. The first Presbyterian Community build was in the fall of 2006. The First Baptist Church of Goodlettsville wanted to partner with the 2009 Presbyterian Build because Yor Yowin is a member there and is currently living in church housing. Churches that participated in this build include Southminster Presbyterian, Trinity Presbyterian, Second Presbyterian, Village Chapel, West End Community, Hillwood Presbyterian, Woodland Presbyterian, Glen Leven Presbyterian, and First Baptist Goodlettsville. We would like to thank an anonymous donor for sponsoring half of this house.
   Partner Family: The Yor Yowin and Martha Ading family As Sudanese refugees, Yor Yowin and Martha Ading had to start from scratch to build a new life in the United States. Yor remembers that he had a wonderful childhood because his parents could provide for all his needs and always inspired him to succeed. As he reached his teenage years, everything changed. Sudan plunged into civil war, and Yor and Martha took refuge in Ethiopia, and then the U.S., to escape the life-threatening conditions in their own country. Yor now works at Wal-mart, and Martha is unable to work because of chronic health conditions. Yor knows he wants a better future, so he is currently attending Volunteer State Community College.
9. Sponsor: Fall Community Build Nashville Area Habitat’s community builds always pull together a wonderful group of volunteers, and this build was no exception. These sponsor groups were all drawn to support Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity because of the “hand up” approach of empowering families to improve their lives. Sponsors and volunteer groups include Panera Bread, Cross Point Church, Tennessee SFI Implementation Committee/Tennessee Forestry Association, St. Henry Catholic Church, US Bank, and UPS.
   Partner Family: The Timothy Gistover family Timothy Gistover and his 13-year-old nephew are moving into their new house in Timberwood this fall—thanks to a Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati’s American Dream Homeownership Challenge grant for people who are disabled and have limited income. Timothy is an active community member who serves on a volunteer council for Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. Timothy has custody of his nephew and is currently in the adoption process. The child’s mother is Timothy’s sister, who passed away when her son was only 5 years old. He had lived with other female relatives and in foster homes when Timothy decided that it was best for him to raise his nephew and provide a strong male role model at such a pivotal point in his life.
10. Sponsor: Youth United/Challenge House This was Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity’s third Youth United Build. Young people of all ages came together to sponsor and advocate for a Habitat home; those ages 16 and older built the house in Timberwood. A steering committee of young people met often over the past year to organize and plan this build. They raised money to sponsor the house, recruited their friends to build, and helped raise awareness of Habitat’s mission. Building groups include Cross Point Church, Trevecca Nazarene University, Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University Habitat Chapter, Father Ryan High School, Hume-Fogg Magnet High School, Hillsboro High School, Glencliff High School, and Pope John Paul II High School. Additional sponsors include State Farm, Ford Motor Credit, and Cans for Habitat. Special thanks to an anonymous donor for challenging the youth! If Youth United raised half of the funds for the house, the anonymous donor would sponsor the other half!
    Partner Family: The NeShelle Thaxton family Neshelle Thaxton is the mother of three girls, ages 17, 9 and newborn. Neshelle’s father passed away in 2006, and her mother, Mary, now lives with her. Neshelle has been a hard worker since she was 16. She recently worked at Ford Motor Credit for more than three years before joining CIGNA Government Services as a full-time customer services representative in May 2008.
11. Sponsor: Nashville Area Habitat HomeStores The Habitat HomeStores sponsored two homes during the 2009 fall build, which brings their total to 12 Nashville Area Habitat homes funded in fewer than five years of operation! The Habitat HomeStores provide a new source of funding to build more Habitat homes in the Nashville area. The Habitat HomeStores sell new and used home-related items and building materials at generous discounts to the public. All proceeds are used to construct more homes to sell at zero percent interest to people who are not able to afford a conventional home mortgage. Many local corporations and faith groups came together to build the Nashville Area Habitat HomeStores house for Nakia Robinson and her family.
    Partner family: The Nakia Robinson family Nakia Robinson has two sons, ages 13 and 9, and a daughter, age 10. She also has custody of her 11-year-old cousin. Nakia has worked for St. Thomas Hospital since 2000 as an equipment technician. Nakia attends Nashville State Technical College, where she is currently working to earn a degree in hopes of advancing in her medical career. The Robinson family is moving to Timberwood from an older rental home that is in need of repair.
    And…
    Partner Family: The Nekia Green family Nekia Green and her 5-year-old daughter are moving to Timberwood from a three-bedroom apartment in Madison. Nekia works for the Department of Human Services as a case manager and holds a bachelor’s degree from TSU in psychology and sociology. She has applied for graduate school for January 2010 to become an elementary school guidance counselor. She says, “Homeownership means a brighter future for me and my daughter.”