Houses of Hope event raises $120,000

Guests at the 2009 Houses of Hope fundraiser for Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity responded with tremendous generosity to Davidson County’s critical need for quality, affordable homes. More than 450 guests pledged a total of $120,000 toward Nashville Area Habitat’s Crossing the Threshold campaign for land purchase and development. Presenting sponsors Kroger and HCA/TriStar helped underwrite the event, held December 14 at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel. Four Habitat partner family members shared their poignant personal stories, including 10-year old Merna Barsum, daughter of homeowners Khalil Bassally and Amal Hanna, and Ophelia Foster, who paid off her 30-year Habitat home mortgage in just 11 years. Homeowners Patrick Goedicke and Taronda Sims, who purchased their Nashville Area Habitat homes in 2006 and 2009, respectively, shared their stories as well.