JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Habitat for Humanity has chapters all over the world. This week, the Beaches Habitat hosts the 5th annual Beaches Habitat CEO Build to bring business leaders together in service.
CEO and President Steve Gilbert said the event will look a little different than in years past, but the home rebuild they have scheduled will still accomplish the main purpose of the organization: building a better future for people through affordable housing and financial stability.
The CEO Build is something Gilbert seems excited about.
“We have about 35 CEOs that are coming in from big corporate companies, some CFOs and some C-suite individuals to come in and spend a half a day with us and build a home,” Gilbert said.
“And it’s a great networking opportunity for these individuals,’ he said.
“We have breakfast in the morning. They pound a few nails. They paint a side of house, and then we’ve got lunch for them. It’s about a half a day that they’re there. But it’s a great way to get the community and companies involved with the great work that our staff is doing and has been doing for the last 30 years,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert joins This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition to explore how this non-profit -- just named one of the “15 Great Jacksonville Nonprofits Driving Community Transformation” -- leverages community-minded organizations to effect change.
“We’ve built 357 new homes in our 30 years, but we’re also very involved with our repair program. We really identify seniors and veterans in our service area that need home repairs,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert said the nonprofit has received grants from Home Depot and VyStar Credit Union.
“We just finished a home for a 20-year Vietnam veteran up in the Atlantic Beach area that we pretty much gave him a whole brand new home and Vystar Credit Union helped to sponsor that home,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert explains a 44-home project getting underway next month, and the sweat-equity needed by new homeowners to participate.