Spirits were high as supporters came out to help Habitat for Humanity Choptank ‘raise the roof’ at its annual fundraiser. With 200 guests in attendance and 100 businesses and individuals providing sponsorships and auction items, the event generated more than $87,000 for Habitat’s affordable housing program.
“An event like this is not possible without the generous support of the local community,” said Habitat Choptank board president David DeLuca in his opening remarks. Koons Easton Toyota and the R.S. Evans Foundation were the lead sponsors of this year’s event. Gold level sponsors were Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, Dock Street Foundation, the Granville Fund at Mid Shore Community Foundation and Henry Hale and Chuck Mangold, Jr. of Benson and Mangold Real Estate. MTS Broadcasting served as media sponsor.
Auctioneer Herbert Andrew, a weekly construction volunteer on Habitat’s Tuesday Crew, kept the audience entertained through the live auction. Bidding included a special appeal to fund the foundations for three homes. Habitat Choptank currently has four homes in progress and is scheduled to start these three additional homes before the end of the year.
A highlight at Raise the Roof is always the presentation by a Habitat home owner. This year’s spokesperson was Ashlie Elliott, who purchased her home in 2010. Describing the difference Habitat’s home ownership program has made for her family Elliott explained that “my rent for a 2-bedroom apartment was double what my Habitat mortgage payment is. I worked full-time but I could barely make ends meet back then.”
The crowd let out cheers when Elliott announced that she has gone back to school and will complete her degree in elementary education at Chesapeake College this year. “I figure that if I can finish my Habitat home, I can certainly finish college.”
Today, Elliott is employed as the Assistant Director at Critchlow Adkins Childcare Center in St. Michaels. She continues to volunteer with Habitat Choptank speaking to many audiences throughout the year. She and her son also volunteer for the Humane Society fostering kittens. “I tell other families that it is important for them to give back to the community that is giving so much to them!”
Since its founding in 1992, Habitat Choptank has made home ownership possible for 58 families. These partners are offered a “hand up” out of poverty housing. After completing “sweat equity” hours and pre-homeownership classes, the families will purchase homes that they helped construct and assume responsibility for repaying an interest-free Habitat mortgage. To learn more about Habitat, to volunteer or to make a donation, visit www.habitatchoptank.org or call 410-476-3204.
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