Wednesday, December 30, 2020

 

“Jimmy Carter, Rock & Roll President” to premiere Jan. 3 on CNN

When: Jan. 3 at 9 p.m. EST and PST 

Where: CNN and CNN en Espanol  

To see a trailer for JIMMY CARTER, ROCK & ROLL PRESIDENT, visitcnncreativemarketing.com/project/jimmy-carter. 

Habitat for Humanity is pleased to share that CNN and CNN en Español will premiere the acclaimed documentary JIMMY CARTER, ROCK & ROLL PRESIDENT this Sunday, Jan. 3, at 9 p.m. EST and PST. Viewers will learn the story of how music played a surprisingly significant role throughout the 39th President’s life and political career and how President Carter forged tight bonds with well-known musicians of all genres.  

The film illuminates an era that saw youth culture and politics join forces for change, and offers a revealing look at how President Carter’s love of music is essential to who he is as a father, a citizen, a man of the South and a leader during his presidency and beyond. The program includes contemporary interviews with Bob Dylan, Madeleine Albright, Bono, Rosanne Cash, Willie Nelson, Bishop Michael Curry, Paul Simon, Nile Rodgers, Gregg Allman and others, as well as extended exclusive interviews with President Carter and his son, James ‘Chip’ Carter, III.   

 


 

Since 1984, the Carter’s have helped families around the world build simple decent houses through our ministry. They also have helped put housing and our ministry on the national and international stage in ways we could have never accomplished without them. The program provides a glimpse of an era when few people had ever heard of Georgia’s former Governor and his wife and how some of the best-known musicians in the country helped bring attention to the Carters in ways they might have never accomplished without their support.  

It was a privilege for Habitat International to be able to help the filmmakers tell this little-known story. When contacted by director Mary Wharton and others involved in creating the documentary, they were happy to provide historical photos and footage from our archives. Also approached were the Carters’ fellow Habitat Humanitarians, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, and asked them to be interviewed for the documentary. 

In addition to airing on CNN and CNN en Español on Sunday, the program will stream live for subscribers via CNNgo and on the CNN mobile apps for iOS and Android, and will be accessible on demand beginning Monday, January 4 on CNN via cable and satellite systems, CNNgo platforms and CNN mobile apps. The film will encore on CNN Saturday, Jan. 9 at 9 pm EST and PST. 


Friday, November 20, 2020

Virtual Blueprints and Bow Ties Has Begun!



I know we all miss being together in person, but we are coming to you virtually and LIVE on December 1st for our 9th Annual Blueprints and Bow Ties.  AND you don't have to wait until then to check out our online auction and start bidding.  We have LOTS of great, unique items for your shopping pleasure. All proceeds support safe and affordable housing in Watauga County.  




Monday, November 9, 2020

It's the FINAL COUNTDOWN!

 Blueprints and Bow Ties 2020

Online Auction Bidding Begins November 17th, 12pm

Giving Tuesday, December 1st Virtual Event 6-8pm

Mark your calendars and save the date!  On Giving Tuesday, December 1st Blueprints and Bow Ties is going virtual! We are pleased to welcome Keynote Speaker Tom Gerdy, fearless leader of the Habitat Road Trip Crazies.  Hear impactful stories from our Habitat homeowners and volunteers as we host a live event from our Habitat ReStore into your homes!  Although we will miss the talents of acclaimed Auctioneer Jesse Miller, we have an exciting catalog of online auction items!  Register now for updates so you can begin placing bids on November 17th and we will see you on December 1st at 6pm.


 BID & WATCH

Want to know the best way to watch the live event AND enjoy the fun of online bidding and not miss out on your favorite auction items? Try setting up two screens if possible.

1) WATCH THE PROGRAM on your TV or any larger screen internet accessible device like a laptop, desktop or tablet AND

2) VIEW THE AUCTION site and bidding from your phone so you can keep bidding on your favorite items. 

Anyone can view the auction items but if you want to bid or donate, you will need to register.

 




Thursday, October 29, 2020

A Time to Build

 App Builds a Home Breaks Ground






Future homeowner and App State employee Sheila Potter, Watauga Habitat for Humanity, and students from App State University had a Groundbreaking Ceremony for Sheila.  This is the 2nd App Builds a Home Project.  Students and staff are committed to raising $40,000 and donate hundreds of hours volunteer time to help build the Potter home.



Thursday, October 1, 2020

Watauga Habitat for Humanity and Wells Fargo team-up in Boone, NC and across the country to help build affordable housing

 


Boone, NC- October 1st, 2020 – Wells Fargo Foundation has awarded Watauga Habitat for Humanity with a $15,000 grant to build an affordable home in the Meat Camp Community. The funding is part of an $8.1 million donation to Habitat for Humanity International for capacity building and direct mission support to build, renovate and repair more than 350 affordable homes across the United States.  The grant is provided through Wells Fargo Builds and is part of the Wells Fargo Foundation’s $1 billion philanthropic commitment to create more housing affordability solutions by 2025. 

“We’ve had a rich history of working with Wells Fargo to strengthen our Watauga Habitat eco-friendly neighborhood,” said Allison Jennings, Watauga Habitat’s director of development.  “Wells Fargo understands safe and affordable housing transforms families and communities for generations to come. Now, more than ever, people need a safe place to call home,” said Jennings. 

Wells Fargo Builds provides philanthropic financial assistance from the Wells Fargo Foundation to support the construction, renovation, painting or repairing of homes with low-to-moderate income households. In 2019 alone, Wells Fargo employees volunteered more than 1.9 million hours of service to strengthen their communities, including building, repairing, and improving 674 homes across the U.S. with several organizations through Wells Fargo Builds. 

The grant will support the construction of a home for App State employee, Sheila Potter.  This newly constructed home is the second App Builds a Home project.  Students and staff from Appalachian State have committed to fundraising and building this home.  “App State students are thrilled to have a jump-start on fundraising thanks to Wells Fargo Builds support,” said Jennings.  To learn more about App Builds a Home visit appbuildsahome.appstate.edu.

Join Watauga Habitat for Humanity in celebrating World Habitat Day

 


Thirty-five years ago, the United Nations General Assembly took an important step in promoting the idea that everyone deserves a decent place to live by declaring that the first Monday in October would be World Habitat Day.  On October 5th, 2020, Watauga Habitat for Humanity joins with our partners locally and around the world to rededicate ourselves to recognizing the basic right to adequate shelter.  Watauga Habitat for Humanity asks that we all come together as one communicating that: 

• Every one of us deserves the opportunity for a better future.

• A decent place to live can remove barriers to opportunity, health and success that might have been part of a family’s life for years and in many cases for generations.

• It is unacceptable that even before the COVID-19 crisis, more than 18 million U.S. households were paying half or more of their income on housing. Now, as the significant economic impacts of COVID-19 continue to unfold, the number of families struggling to make ends meet is only growing. 

Habitat for Humanity International is working to improve home affordability for 10 million people through a five-year U.S. advocacy campaign called Cost of Home. The campaign, which launched in June 2019, provides the opportunity to mobilize corporate and faith partners, volunteers and community members to meet the nation’s home affordability challenge. Donate your voice and invite your network to advocate for policies that increase the supply and preservation of affordable homes, equitably increase access to credit, optimize land use for affordable homes, and develop homes and ensure access to and the development of communities of opportunity. 

Given that World Habitat Day falls one month before the 2020 elections, we encourage everyone to use this time to call on candidates and voters to prioritize home affordability this Nov. 3. To learn more visit, habitat.org/costofhome/act-now .

 


Friday, September 25, 2020

Watauga Habitat "ReStore Rick" Retiring


 

After more than 14 years of service, former ReStore manager, Rick Melo is hanging up his hat and hammer and retiring.  Rick is looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren and will be moving to the Asheville area.


“To say he will be missed is an understatement,” said Allison Jennings, Director of Development for Watauga Habitat for Humanity. “Rick’s hard work and devotion to the ReStore has helped our affiliate fund and build 14 affordable houses in our community.  Rick has transformed families for generations to come,” said Jennings.


In 2006, Rick began volunteering at the original ReStore on George Wilson Road. Two years later he accepted the role of store manager.  Rick helped moved the store to different locations and the ReStore is now a thriving non-profit home improvement and donation center located at 1200 Archie Carrol Road in Boone.


For customers who would like to wish Rick a safe and happy retirement, stop by the ReStore through Friday October 2nd.  Hours of operation are Tuesday-Friday, 12pm-5pm.  Friday October 2nd the ReStore will be offering “Retirement Rick” discounts.


“On behalf of the staff and Board of Directors of Watauga Habitat for Humanity, we are thankful for Rick Melo’s dedication and time-served,” said Gardner Hoover, ReStore Manager. “From the bottom of our hearts, we’re going to miss you. It was great working with you-your hard work and dedication truly made a lasting impact, and one that has changed Watauga County Habitat and the ReStore for the better in so many ways. Congratulations on your retirement! Here’s to watching your grandkids and not the bottom line!” said Hoover.


Monday, August 31, 2020

Visit Mast General Store and "Round-Up For a Cause"

 


During the month of September, Mast General Stores in Boone and Valle Crucis are asking guests to "round up for a cause" to support Watauga Habitat for Humanity and their efforts to help hard-working neighbors build and buy homes. Habitat has been working in our community for more than 30 years helping people purchase affordable homes. When shopping at Mast General Store in Boone and Valle Crucis, we hope you'll round up your purchases to the next dollar - spare nickels, dimes, and quarters add up to a big impact. Through shelter, we empower.



Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Community Partners Help Us Build Safe and Affordable Housing

 



Watauga Habitat for Humanity is super-thankful for partnering with Bank of America during these struggling times.  #BofAGrants has awarded our organization $5K to help build a home for a hard-working mom and grandmother.  Bank of America understands that now, more than ever, families need a safe place to call home.  Through shelter, we empower. 


Friday, July 31, 2020

Announcing Our Two Newest Projects

Follow along as we partner with two new families and help them BUILD and BUY their own homes.  Read all about our 2020-2021 partnerships in the news!  Now, more than ever, families need a safe place to call home!

Watauga Democrat 

High Country Press



Friday, June 26, 2020

Cars for Homes

Did you know you can support safe and affordable housing AND make every day Earth Day?



If you have an older car, truck, van, trailer, RV or boat that you no longer need, consider donating it to support affordable housing in the Watauga County area. Car donations to Watauga County Habitat for Humanity support the local and global mission of providing safe and affordable housing and save you the time and energy of finding a buyer. By donating a car to our vehicle donation program, you can help volunteers in our area build houses in partnership with families in need of a hand up, not a hand out.
It is quick and easy to donate a vehicle whether it runs or not! Plus, you may be eligible for a tax deduction (consult your tax advisor or the IRS for details).
To donate a car, truck, boat or RV to Habitat’s official car donation program, call 877-277-4344 toll free or start the process here. It’s a convenient way to support us locally and create more space in your driveway!

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Thanks, Kristina, for welcoming us into your home!

Check out this great video!


Thanks Flightless Bird Photography for creating this awesome video of Kristina's home!  We are sorry that COVID-19 has kept us from gathering and celebrating together but we all know that COVID-19 can't stop great things from still happening.  Your Habitat home is beautiful, Kristina.  Congratulations on becoming a homeowner.  Thank you for sharing this "sneak peak" with us!  We offer you many virtual blessings.


Friday, June 12, 2020

Our Final 2020 Kahuna Totals

Congratulations to Three Kahunas and a Guy!!- Jenny Miller, Jane Meyers, Susan Devine and John Dean


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To be perfectly honest, on March 15, 2020 we were not so sure we could do this,..but our community has come through in a big way!  This was our 6th Annual Big Kahuna Campaign and this was a year like no other.  Thank you to all of those Kahuna participants who worked SO HARD fundraising on our behalf.  You never gave up because you understand that safe and affordable housing is a solution.
Read the details in this week's Watauga Democrat!  Donations have continued coming in since The Crowning of the Big Kahuna on Wednesday evening.  Our GRAND TOTAL is $28645!  We think that is a pretty lucky number because it happens to remind us of Caldwell County Habitat for Humanity (Lenoir, NC 28645)-ROCK STARS in the Habitat Community! There are some pretty awesome people from Lenoir, NC! (isn't that right Jenny Miller and Ella Jennings?)

If you missed the Crowning of the Big Kahuna at Appalachian Mountain Brewery you can catch the action by following this link.  Sit back and enjoy the show!

Here is a photo of the winning team taken before social distancing:
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Jenny Miller, Susan Devine, Jane Meyers and John Dean (front)



And here is a photo of Three Kahunas and a Guy Team Captain, Jenny Miller with Wonder Women in Leadership Team Captain, Ella Jennings 
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THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Friday, June 5, 2020

DEADLINE COMING SOON!

TIME IS RUNNING OUT for your chance to support a Big Kahuna!

Four teams are competing to see who can raise the most money for Watauga County Habitat in our Big Kahuna Campaign. Competition ends at 7:45pm on June 10th!
Here are your team members:

Three Kahunas and a Guy (Jenny Miller, Jane Meyers, Susan Devine and John Dean) still holding on to first place at $8201

Wonder Women in Leadership (Yolanda Robertson, Jennifer Greene, Haley Perry Realtor, and Ella Jennings) in 2nd raising $4516

Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity at App State (Tristin Newsome, Anderson Noonan, Calvin Pissocra and Mason Zlotnick) in 3rd place raising $3694

The Kindness Crew (Kimmy Tiedemann, Katy Marsh, Carey Driskell, and Kristina Fickling) not far behind with $3682

Visit our website to donate to your favorite Kahunas!
https://wataugahabitat.org/big-kahuna



Tuesday, June 2, 2020

2020 Big Kahuna Update

Since March 1st, four teams have been competing to see who can raise the most money for Watauga Habitat's affordable homeowner program.  Now, more than ever, families need a safe place to call home.
The winning team will be crowned Watauga Habitat for Humanity's 2020 Big Kahuna on June 10th at Boone's Appalachian Mountain Brewery at 8pm in a Live Facebook Virtual Event.  Known as the Don Ho-Down, the Crowning of the Big Kahuna will be on Facebook Live for viewers to watch at home.


These are the current team standings.  Three Kahunas and a Guy  are in a strong first place having raised $7601 so far!  Not much separates the remaining three teams as they all compete for 2nd place.  Wonder Women in Leadership have raised $3756, Lambda Chi Alpha at $3369 and The Kindness Crew has fallen to fourth place at $3362.


It is still anyone's Kahuna Crown to win!  Will Three Kahunas and a Guy finish at the Top?  Will some brotherly love come through for Lambda Chi?  What does Wonder Women in Leadership have planned for their comeback?  Does The Kindness Crew have some last minute plans to take the 2020 Kahuna Crown?

All of these questions will be answered in the coming weeks!

Stay tuned and read all about the participants on our website!

Monday, June 1, 2020

Welcome Home Barker Family

App Builds a Home Dedicates the Barker Home on May 30th




In case you missed it, please check out our Facebook page and watch our most recent Home Dedication.  Get you tissues ready!  We could all use some happy tears of joy!

  COVID-19 has stopped everyone in their tracks but the students of App State continue to find creative ways to support affordable housing opportunities in our community. Now more than ever, everyone has been forced to consider the importance of having an affordable and safe place to call home.

To read more about App Builds a Home, check out this series of articles from Appalachian Today.

Welcome to the neighborhood David, Amy, Kali and Nathan!

Thursday, May 28, 2020

2020 Big Kahuna Update-Don Ho-Down-Crowning of the Big Kahuna COMING SOON!

Since March 1st, four teams have been competing to see who can raise the most money for Watauga Habitat's affordable homeowner program.  Now, more than ever, families need a safe place to call home.
The winning team will be crowned Watauga Habitat for Humanity's 2020 Big Kahuna on June 10th at Boone's Appalachian Mountain Brewery at 8pm.  Known as the Don Ho-Down, the Crowning of the Big Kahuna will also be on Facebook Live for viewers to watch at home.


On this #ThankfulThursday we are giving an update on current team standings.  Three Kahunas and a Guy are holding strong in first place having raised $6226 so far!  But not much separates the remaining three teams as they all compete for 2nd place.  Wonder Women in Leadership have raised $3506, Lambda Chi Alpha at $3344 and The Kindness Crew has fallen to fourth place at $3337.


With those current totals, it is still anyone's Kahuna Crown to win!  Will Three Kahunas and a Guy keep climbing higher?  Or will some brotherly love come through for Lambda Chi?  What does Wonder Women in Leadership have "up their sleeves"?  Does The Kindness Crew have some last minute plans to take the 2020 Kahuna Crown?

All of these questions will be answered in the coming weeks!

Stay tuned and read all about the participants on our website!


Monday, May 18, 2020

Weekly Kahuna Update

Since March 1st, four teams have been competing to see who can raise the most money for Watauga Habitat for Humanity's Big Kahuna Campaign.  This friendly competition ends on June 10th!

To read all about the community members involved in this spring fundraiser, visit our website at
https://wataugahabitat.org/big-kahuna


Please support the Kahuna of your choice!  All donations to this campaign support safe and affordable housing in Watauga County.  Now, more than ever, families need a safe place to call home!


Monday, May 11, 2020

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Homes-Community-Hope + You

Habitat for Humanity is Working Hard to Make Our Community Better


Thanks Ellie Barker and High Country Press for sharing our mission.  Read the full story here!




Your support makes Habitat’s mission to build homes, communities and hope successful – it always has. Habitat is needed now more than ever. And now more than ever, we need you.

Our neighbors and our communities have been hit hard by the economic shocks of COVID-19. The world was already experiencing a housing crisis, but now COVID-19 has revealed the extent of that crisis and added to its urgency.

The millions of families who were already struggling with unhealthy living conditions and unaffordable rent are now joined by millions more who have lost income as businesses have closed and workers have lost jobs.

The need of our neighbors has never been more pronounced, and you can help ensure that we are able to not just continue but accelerate our work in Watauga County to ensure that everyone has a decent place to call home. When Watauga Habitat most recently opened up our Homeowner Application Process, more than two dozen families applied for our affordable housing program and demonstrated the desperate need for affordable housing solutions.

A donation from you today would go directly towards helping:
·       The families currently in our pipeline who are working toward their homeownership opportunity.

·       Our plans to repair homes, therefore preserving affordable houses, in the coming year.  We need a total of $10,000 to make those home repair plans a reality.

Make a one-time gift of cash or check by visiting wataugahabitat.org  or sign up to send a monthly gift.

Watauga Habitat for Humanity
PO Box 33DTS
Boone NC 28607

Through shelter, we empower.

#habitatforhumanity

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