Four families celebrated the completion of construction on their affordable homes in Haywood Estates II, a 12-home community near Mayport Road on March 26.
Along with the families and Beaches Habitat for Humanity, representatives from the home sponsors, The Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation, the PGA TOUR and THE PLAYERS Championship, and Sleiman Enterprises, spoke during a short program.
Each of the four families has qualified for a mortgage and completed at least 300 hours of “sweat equity,” building their home and the homes of other families. They have also completed a series of workshops to prepare them for homeownership. The dedication ceremony is the last milestone before the families close on their mortgages.
Construction of the homes at an affordable price is only possible through the support of local volunteers and donors. Each of the home sponsors has made a significant financial contribution to help offset the cost of construction.
“We are so grateful for the commitment of the PGA TOUR, the Furyk Foundation, and Sleiman Enterprises. They are making a huge difference in our communities by improving access to affordable housing,” said Curtis Ford, president and CEO of Beaches Habitat for Humanity. “Thanks to their support, these families have the opportunity to purchase a home that meets their needs at a price they can afford.”
These particular homes are unique due to the customizations included to help each of the families. Two of the homes are a one-story design to accommodate homeowners with physical limitations that make it difficult to navigate stairs. The other two homes are accessible to accommodate children with cerebral palsy who use wheelchairs. In addition to a ramp and other accessible features, each house has a Sure Hands lift system thanks to financial contributions from several donors, including the Scheidel Foundation and Wells Fargo. The lift system will provide more flexibility for the children to move throughout their homes.
For more information about Beaches Habitat for Humanity and how to get involved, go to beacheshabitat.org or contact Mary Anne Christensen, development director, at 904-595-5794.
Beaches Habitat for Humanity
Beaches Habitat for Humanity serves eastern Duval County, including the three Jacksonville Beaches communities.
It works in partnership with Habitat for Humanity International towards a shared vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Beaches Habitat to build or improve a place they can call home.
Beaches Habitat also offers educational programs to promote academic achievement and excellence among the homeowners and their families.
To learn more, go to beacheshabitat.org.
The Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation
The Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation was created in 2010 to help children and families in need in the greater Jacksonville area. The foundation partners with local charities to provide project-specific funding to help communities become healthier, stronger and educationally enriched.
This is the first home the foundation is sponsoring with Beaches Habitat for Humanity. Constellation Furyk & Friends presented by Circle K Golf Tournament brings the community together to raise necessary funds and awareness for programs like Beaches Habitat for Humanity.
THE PLAYERS Championship
THE PLAYERS Championship annually combines the strongest field in golf with the world-class venue that is THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Optum, Morgan Stanley and Grant Thornton LLP are the exclusive Proud Partners of THE PLAYERS.
Proceeds from THE PLAYERS benefit Northeast Florida charities and have totaled more than $100 million since it began in 1974 and moved to Ponte Vedra Beach in 1977.
For more on THE PLAYERS, go to THEPLAYERS.com.
Sleiman Enterprises
Sleiman Enterprises is one of Florida’s largest privately held real estate companies, owning and managing more than 5 million square feet of retail space in Florida and the southeastern United States.
The 65-year-old company has grown into one of the country’s leading owners and developers of outdoor, open-air retail centers with properties throughout Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia.
The company was founded by Eli and Josephine Sleiman in Jacksonville in 1955.
