​Bank of America and Habitat for Humanity are kicking off the sixth Global Build in 108 communities, including here in Rochester!

Yesterday, our local branches brought 24 volunteers and a generous $20,000 donation to support the construction of 105 Holworthy Street, one of four new homes being built at the intersection of Holworthy & Dakota Streets.

Habitat and Bank of America have partnered for more than 30 years, with nearly $80 million in funding invested from the bank's charitable foundation and 40,000 volunteer hours from employees annually, ranging from board service to home build initiatives and financial literacy training.

Locally, Kristina Dengler, VP, Rochester Market Manager serves on our Board of Directors, and more local volunteers will be out on Holworthy Street again this afternoon!

This year is the largest Bank of America #GlobalBuild to date with nearly 2,800 #BofAVolunteers across 10 countries!

​We lost a dear friend but we are also truly celebrating the life of Ann Woolston. Ann had an impressive career of service in Washington DC, then selflessly returned home to Honeoye Falls to care for her mother, and continued her giving by spending her last five years volunteering in our office three days a week.

Below is the just part of Ann's eulogy that was written by her dear friend Tom Rosshirt. They are profound, thought provoking words which were so beautifully put together out of love for Ann.

"That, in the end, was Ann’s highest purpose and passion – creating a beloved community where everyone knows everyone, everyone loves everyone, and we all come together in communion. That’s when Ann was most fulfilled. That’s when we could see her shining with happiness – when she was able to create a joyous gathering of happy souls.

So Ann should feel at home in her new home – because the purpose of heaven is joyous reunion, and the purpose of Ann’s life was creating heaven on earth.

She has found her full measure of happiness now. But what about us? It’s hard not to feel diminished with her absence. If the sum of our power is the number of people in our lives who love us, who encourage us, who believe in us and will fight for us, then all of us here are less powerful today – because we all lost someone who would do anything for us.

Unless – somehow – the change that’s taken place upon Ann’s leaving the earth doesn’t diminish us, but enhances us.

Ann has always helped us by asking for favors from friends in high places. But she’s never before risen this high!

So we might see more blessings coming to us, moments of grace we can’t explain -- the chance meetings, the precious surprises, the unexpected gifts that come into our lives. They may be more numerous than before. She has always used her connections to help us -- and now she is connected to the source of all kindness.

Her giving won’t end with her dying. It will go on. It will rise up. She will do more than before. Ann is relentless. She is irrepressible. Her affection, her loyalty, her dedication, her devotion are undying. She is not done loving us."

We love you Ann! ❤️❤️❤️

We're excited to be partnering with Foodlink Cooking Matters, a national program that works to make sure all kids have the healthy food they need every day.

Thanks to a sponsorship from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, 20 Flower City Habitat families are participating alongside volunteer culinary and nutrition experts, to learn to select nutritious and low-cost ingredients, and prepare them in ways that provide the best nourishment possible to their families.

Learn more at: https://foodlinkny.org/fight_hunger/cooking-matters

Raise the roof!

Trusses were installed at 105 Holworthy Street today, one of four new homes we are building the corner of Holworthy & Dakota Streets.

105 Holworthy Street is generously sponsored by Fastrac, Bank of America, and Habitat Women Build.

Women Build teams joined Illeana and her family to raise the fourth wall of their home on Holworthy Street!

​Today we dedicated two previously-vacant, now completely-rehabilitated houses on Fernwood Avenue and Del Monte Street.

We celebrated the transformation of two empty houses (and neighborhood eyesores), into two wonderful homes filled with families, new memories to be made, and a strengthening neighborhood.

After just a few more finishing touches, and closing on their affordable mortgage, we'll have two of Rochester's newest homeowners!

The rehabilitation of both of these homes was made possible through several partnerships including ESL Federal Credit Union, City of Rochester, NY - Mayor's Office, Rochester Land Bank, and Enterprise Community Partners.

And in just a few short weeks we will be finishing up the next one on Barberry Terrace!

​Before photos credits: Richard Margolis Art + Architectural Photography

It's going to be a great summer on the corner of Holworthy and Dakota, as we build FOUR new Habitat homes all within a few hundred feet of each other!

Three of these homes now have the foundations in place, the first floor on, and we're excited for volunteers from the Harvest Home Coalition with Thrivent, Habitat Interfaith Partnership, and Greece Church Coalition to start joining us on July 16th to build these homes! Thrivent, Caldwell Manufacturing, and an anonymous donor have also stepped up in a big way to help fund and build these homes.

Wall Raising Ceremonies are set for Habitat Interfaith Partnership on Saturday, July 27th, 10am; and the Greece Churches Coalition on Saturday, August 3rd, 10am.

Volunteers that build with us before these dates will see some of the exterior and interior walls go up beforehand - but we will be saving at least one exterior wall for some great group photos!

Join your faith coalition partners (or meet Habitat friends from other coalitions) as we share some fellowship, snacks, and our blessings for the construction of the homes and the partner families!

The fourth house on this intersection just broke ground and will be funded and built by Fastrac, Bank of America, and our Women Build program. More updates on that very soon!

Additionally, the Brighton Churches Coalition is currently remodeling a home on Love Street (just about a mile away); and the Penfield and Perinton Coalitions both finished building new homes in the past couple years and are gearing up for their next ones.

Rochesterians know how to put their faith into action!

Kitchen cabinets are built by our highly skilled and dedicated cabinet shop (part of our Hammer & Saw crew), and then our construction supervisors teach volunteers - including those from the Brighton Churches Coalition - how to installed in the house. On this house, the floors are also being refinished!