FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia
Tom Mahon
Director of Marketing and Communications
tomm@habitatphiladelphia.org
Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia Concludes We Build Together Campaign at $5.7 million, Surpassing Original Goal by $700,000
The organization will scale its programs to work alongside twice as many Philadelphia families.
PHILADELPHIA, PA (July 11, 2022) — Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia announced the conclusion of its first-ever sustained fundraising campaign, “We Build Together”, at more than $5.7 million. The campaign, launched in 2018, surpassed its $5 million goal in February and maintained momentum through its close on June 30.
Fueled by donations from more than 450 supporters, the campaign’s success positions Habitat Philadelphia to scale its programs to work alongside twice as many Philadelphians. Gifts of all sizes—from $1 to $1 million—came from each of the counties in the region and 17 states.
“We have an audacious vision of a city where everyone has a decent place to live,” said Chief Executive Officer Corinne O’Connell. “This campaign provides the foundation to meet the affordable housing crisis head on and grow our programs to work alongside more local families. It is thanks to the tremendous support of our larger Habitat Family, that we are poised and ready to make bold investments in our new home construction and critical home repair initiatives, so that Philadelphians can have a safe, warm, and dry place to call home.”
The We Build Together campaign set out to raise funds to address three initiatives: ‘equity’ through new home construction, ‘longevity’ through home repair, and ‘community’ through neighborhood revitalization efforts. In the next 12 months, Habitat Philadelphia will break ground on 27 new homes in North Philadelphia and Strawberry Mansion and make repairs to 100 owner-occupied homes in the city.
“We called on our Habitat Family and they stepped up, just as they always do,” said Chief Development Officer Kathryn Fernandez. “Volunteers, board members, staff, donors, ReStore shoppers and Habitat Homeowners helped establish a new era of philanthropy at Habitat Philadelphia and the phenomenal momentum that we created together will carry the organization forward.”
In March 2022, Habitat Philadelphia received a $5 million gift from American author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This gift was not included in the We Build Together campaign.
The We Build Together campaign was bolstered by an $800,000 anonymous gift as well as a $1 million planned gift from Peter and Kathy Davis to establish the Wilt Street Legacy Society which grew to include 20 members that named Habitat Philadelphia in their estate plans.
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About Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia
Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia builds strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia transforms lives and our city by building and repairing quality homes in partnership with families in need and by uniting all Philadelphians around the cause of affordable housing. Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia has built and sold 246 energy-efficient homes to first-time homeowners, and strategically partnered with more than 700 homeowners and their families to provide critical home repairs. For more information, visit www.habitatphiladelphia.org.