On Friday, April 23rd, the community came together to support the Habitat mission at the sold out Havana Nights presented by Crown Automotive! Paul’s Landing at the Vinoy Renaissance Resort transformed into a tropical evening under Havana lights. With safety protocols in mind, guests enjoyed live music, Cuban inspired cuisine, a mojito bar and hand rolled cigars.
It was a fabulous night for Habitat, one that saw testimonials by homeowners Michelle Baur and Allison Feeley-Roache. Those in attendance rallied behind Steve & Nancy Westphal (owners of 400 Beach, Parkshore Grille, The Hangar) who kicked off the night with a $50,000 challenge donation.
Thanks to the support of our Havana Nights sponsors and supporters, over $430,000 was raised to support affordable homeownership opportunities for deserving families.
Homeowner Stories
Allison has been a homeowner for six months. She explained the impact having an affordable home makes to attendees.
“I proudly stand before you today and tell you that my family is no longer struggling. We no longer rely on government assistance. Since becoming a homeowner I also have become a nurse. I am working full time as a hospice nurse and providing for my family. I have no debt in collections, no maxed out credit cards and I stick to my budget I learned in my Habitat classes. We are now out of poverty. We are now part of a new group of people known as homeowners. We made it.”
Michelle closed on her Habitat home in February 2021. Click here to watch and share her inspiring journey to homeownership.
Golden Hammer & Silver Nail Awards
Each year, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties recognizes a business or organization and an individual that has made a significant impact in the work of Habitat in our community through the Golden Hammer and Silver Nail Legacy Awards.
Over the last few years we’ve recognized the Valspar Championship & Copperhead Charities, Raymond James, HSN, Bank of America, Raymond James Bank and Publix for their amazing support of the Habitat mission with the Golden Hammer Award. This year, we are proud to recognize Wells Fargo with the Golden Hammer Award.
Wells Fargo, a loyal supporter of Habitat affiliates across the country, has moved the Habitat mission forward since their very first donation to our local affiliate in 2005. Since then, their team has participated in multiple team build days, volunteering on homes for local families.
Since the beginning of our partnership, Wells Fargo has donated over $625,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco, while also donating a dozen property lots, allowing 12 more families to have safe and affordable homes in our community. Despite challenges from the Pandemic, the company was able to award our affiliate $30,000 in support of two home builds in Saint Petersburg this year. This grant was provided through Wells Fargo Builds and is a part of the Wells Fargo Foundation’s $1 billion philanthropic commitment to create more housing affordability solutions by 2025. The partnership between Habitat and Wells Fargo provides opportunities for hardworking members of our community to secure stability for generations to come.
Click here to view their award acceptance video.
The Silver Nail Legacy Award was created to recognize an individual or couple who have supported Habitat over the years…and through their support, supported the advancement of the Habitat mission in our community. In previous years we have recognized Jeff & Judy Mitchell, Mr. George Glaros and Tony & Carol Griffith.
We are proud to announce this year’s recipient of the Silver Nail Legacy Award: Dan and Carolyn Stowers. Dan and Carolyn Stowers’ involvement with Habitat for Humanity spans over 30 years, with 20 of those years specifically at our affiliate in Pinellas and West Pasco counties. As a retired engineer, Dan has become an invaluable volunteer to our affiliate by solely providing engineering services to the construction team and working on permit plans for all of our affiliate’s home builds. Carolyn has assisted Dan in the design aspect of many home plans. A floor plan named “Carolyn” was named in her honor many years ago.
Both Dan and Carolyn’s serving hearts continue to help not just our local community, but Habitat affiliates around the world. They have traveled to Nicaragua, Thailand and Guatemala as part of Habitat’s Global Village Builds and they actively volunteer with their church on nationwide mission trips. Dan and Carolyn have helped to serve over 600 families in our community. We estimate that Dan is the largest individual donor because of his time volunteering his professional engineering services.
Click here to view their award acceptance video.
You Can Still Make an Impact
Did you miss out on an opportunity to make a donation? There’s still time! Your gift will help support the Havana Nights partner families as they build a safe and affordable home with Habitat. Click here to make a donation.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
