From the 'Bay to the Bayou,' there’s no place like home

TAMPA, Fla. -- Oct. 9, 2006 -- Realtors® from around the state gathered at Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County's site last Thursday to build a "home in a box" as part of the National Association of Realtors' (NAR) Realtor-Habitat Partnership for Gulf Coast Recovery program, also known as Operation Home Delivery.

Through this effort, each of the nation's 54 state and territorial Realtor associations has been challenged to sponsor and build a new home in the Gulf Coast region to help a family devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

"It’s the individual member that’s come forward and contributed with the heart and the spirit of a Realtor that’s made the difference," said 2006 Florida Association of Realtors' (FAR) President Mike Dooley. "We’ve made a commitment that Florida is going to deliver the straightest and truest house of the 54. I can’t tell you how proud I am of the people that are here today, representing the finest of Realtors and the Realtor pride.”

The results of last week’s build will be placed in a shipping container and sent from the Tampa Bay area to a location in one of the Gulf Coast states for final assembly.

FAR contributed $70,000 to the Realtor-Habitat Partnership for Gulf Coast Recovery project to sponsor and build a new home. In addition, FAR's 13 District Vice Presidents took it upon themselves to raise money for the one home to be sponsored by the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Realtor organizations. The DVPs raised more than $90,000 for that effort -- for a total of more than $160,000 contributed through FAR to help with the recovery and rebuilding of homes in the Gulf Coast.

Approximately 30 Realtors grabbed a hammer and nails and built the walls for a new home. Participating in the effort were NAR President Tom Stevens, NAR Region Five V.P. Neal Jackson, FAR President Mike Dooley, President-Elect Nancy Riley, Treasurer Maggie Morris, Greater Tampa Association President Brad Monroe and Tampa AE Carol Austin. Orlando Realtor Bob Caldwell organized the Bay to the Bayou project.

Said NAR President Tom Stevens, "What makes it a dream come true for me is when the Habitat build is over, or during the build, a Realtor will come up to me and say, 'You know, I’ve never done anything like this and it’s really changed my life and my thinking and I’m going to do more of it.' And that’s what Realtors do, they build communities."

Hillsborough Habitat for Humanity Resource Development Director and fellow Realtor Clinton Mueller applauded Florida Realtors for their involvement, saying it was a pleasure for Habitat to partner with Realtors and that the project was another example of what great citizens Realtors truly are.

Sponsors for the event included the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors, Habitat for Humanity-Hillsborough County, the Florida Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors and Habitat for Humanity International.

© 2006 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

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