Habitat Tennis Classic- Serving others with racquets of hope!
On September 22-23, 2018, Dorchester Habitat for Humanity hosted their 4th annual Tennis Classic at Doty Park. This was a very special event for Dorchester Habitat as they are celebrating 25 years of building homes and hope in Dorchester County.
“It was a perfect weekend for Tennis”, says Habitat Development Director Caroline Miler. “Each year this tournament continues to grow, and we are so grateful for all the players who support this event. The weather was beautiful and the matches were great throughout the whole tournament. Congratulations to all the division winners!”
With the gracious help of the Town of Summerville’s Tennis Pro Nancy Sumersett and Volvo Car Stadium Official April Gift, The Habitat Tennis Tournament has grown to be a USTA Sanctioned Tournament, and both attendance and awareness increases each year.
This year, Dorchester Habitat was blessed to partner with an organization called SERVE, which offers players a platform to give back to their communities through service projects and donations. SERVE was started by 13-year-old Ducky Steward, who received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2017, the highest Humanitarian Award given each year to honor one for personal perseverance, strength in adversity, and willingness to stand up for one’s beliefs. Ducky was also entered and selected as the winner in the National Junior Tennis and Learning network’s (NJTL) Essay Contest for her impact in the community. “I simply want to share my story so others will see that no matter what your age or economic background, you can make a difference”, says Ducky.
“It was an honor to meet Ducky and partner together for our tournament, she has a big future ahead of her, and I can’t wait to see where this philanthropic journey takes her”, says Miler.
For this tournament, the list of donations for players to bring included: Nails, hammers, small hand-held tools for the Build site, and home goods for the Habitat ReStore. “It was really cool seeing all the players not only participate by competing, but also by bringing something to donate” says Miler. “Some of them even went home between their matches to grab more items and tools to donate. This is what a caring community is all about, and I am so thankful to be a part of it”.
Many thanks to all of the players, volunteers and donors who made this event such a success. Habitat for Humanity Tennis Classic…. “Serving others with racquets of hope”!
Pictured from left to right: April Gift- Volvo Car Stadium Official, Caroline Miler- Habitat Development Director, and Ducky Steward- founder of SERVE.
Suntrust Foundation supports Dorchester Habitat’s Homeownership Program.
On July 12, 2018, SunTrust Branch Managers Jenson Swofford, Shannon Hatcher and Omar Ramberan presented Dorchester Habitat for Humanity with a check in the amount of $5,000 on behalf of the SunTrust Foundation to support their Homeownership Program.
The SunTrust Foundation aligns its purpose with SunTrust Bank’s purpose of Lighting the Way to Financial Well-Being. In furtherance of this purpose, they make grants primarily to support financial education, financial counseling, career readiness and entrepreneurship, in addition to local community grants. “We are big believers in Habitat’s mission,” says Branch Manager Omar Ramberan. “It is a constant reminder that we all need to be faithful stewards in our community.”
To date, the SunTrust Foundation has donated over $40,000 to Dorchester Habitat to support their Homeownership Program. Dorchester Habitat partners with Origin to provide budget, credit, financial and first-time homebuyer assistance, coaching and education to families interested in the Homeownership Program. Origin is a non-profit, HUD-approved counseling agency, and has partnered with Dorchester Habitat for over 10 years.
The SunTrust Foundation’s funds are used to pay Origin for all of the assistance and services offered, and for the amount of time necessary for each family. Before funding was available for this assistance, families were challenged to pay the fees for the assistance and services they needed to achieve success in the Homeownership Program and as homeowners. The SunTrust Foundation’s generous support has removed these barriers and challenges, and has allowed Dorchester Habitat to continue their mission of Building Homes and Hope in Dorchester County since 1993.
Dorchester Habitat for Humanity welcomes newest Homeowner to the neighborhood.
On Saturday, June 23, Dorchester Habitat presented the keys to the Green Family to celebrate their newest Habitat Home built in Dorchester County. At the Home Dedication, Jackalyn Green and her family were welcomed into their home on Rambo Drive in Summerville. Volunteers, Home Sponsors and dignitaries gathered to celebrate the 61st Family that Dorchester Habitat has helped into homeownership.
Major partners who contributed significant funds and/or material donations toward the completion of this home include: Ann Graves, Blanchard Equipment Rental, Bob Young, the Carpenters’ Club, Dorchester Habitat ReStore, DOW, Gary Bailey, Kelsey Powell Engineering, RLA Associates, PA, Schneider Electric, Summerville Elk’s Lodge 2719, Summerville Presbyterian Church, SunTrust Foundation, Valspar, Wells Fargo Foundation, Whirlpool, Wyckoff Law Firm, and Yale Locks.
