Habitat Hillsborough and Bank of America Officially “Raise the Roof” on Second Veterans Build Home
TAMPA, Fla., November 5, 2019 – For the second consecutive year, Bank of America is affirming its support for Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County’s Veterans Initiative program with a $25,000 grant that will assist the nonprofit in serving local veterans with affordable homeownership, home repairs and volunteer opportunities. As Habitat’s Veterans Initiative program partner, Bank of America will officially open the construction site for Habitat Hillsborough’s annual Veterans Build home on November 11, 2019, Veterans Day. Bill Goede, Tampa Bay Market President for Bank of America, will present the check to Habitat Hillsborough CEO Tina Swain and the two will welcome a team of Bank of America employee volunteers who will raise the roof trusses on the future home of U.S. Air Force veteran Vincent Smith.
During all phases of the eight-week home construction for Smith, several veterans’ groups, active duty servicemen and women from MacDill Air Force Base, and Bank of America employees will volunteer more than 1,000 hours to help build the two-bedroom home located near the University of Tampa. Other participating sponsors of the Veterans Build home include: The Home Depot, Aleman Construction Services, American Roofing and Sheet Metal, Johnson & Johnson Technology, T-Mobile, Tri-County Metals, and Whiting Turner.
“A safe and affordable home is fundamental for individuals and families to achieve economic mobility,” said Bill Goede, Tampa Bay Market President for Bank of America. “We appreciate active and retired military employees’ service to our country, and we are so happy to partner with Habitat Hillsborough, and engage our employee volunteers, to help provide Vincent a comfortable place to call home.”
Smith, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, holds a security position with the Neiman Marcus Group. He will contribute 300 sweat equity hours on Habitat build sites in lieu of a down payment and attend 10 homeowner preparation classes as required by his agreement with Habitat Hillsborough before obtaining his zero-interest mortgage. Once completed, Smith will live in the home with his younger brother who has a rare form of cancer. The Habitat home will be built with handicap accessibility to accommodate a wheelchair and other special needs.
Completion of the Veterans Build home is projected for late December. The date for the home dedication and key presentation will be announced in mid-December.
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