Post Date: 11/15/2017 4:00 PM

Mayor and his staff join volunteers from Wilmington University and Ameriprise Financial in National Day of Service on Wilmington’s Eastside

Wilmington Mayor Michael S. Purzycki and several of his staff members volunteered with Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County (HFHNCC) this morning, November 15, 2017. The Mayor and his staff were among the first group of volunteers to work on HFHNCC’s new project on Wilmington’s Eastside, called Hope Run.

Hope Run is a four house, townhouse project located at 925 North Church Street in Wilmington. Once completed, four low-income first-time homebuyers and their families will be able to buy their homes for the appraised value and 0%. Three of the four new homeowners have been qualified and are working to complete their required 225 hours of sweat-equity and financial classes.

Kevin L. Smith, CEO of HFHNCC stated, “We appreciate the City of Wilmington’s financial support of the Hope run project, and we appreciate the Mayor’s demonstrable commitment to investing in the City’s neighborhoods, and in affordable housing by volunteering on-site. We know through our 30 plus years of service to the City of Wilmington that quality, affordable housing for first-time homebuyers and repair work for existing low-income homeowners is crucial to the stability of neighborhoods. Hope Run is a critical part of the transformation of the Eastside, so this community can live to its full potential.”

“We’ve got a big city to rebuild,” said Mayor Purzycki, “and Habitat for Humanity is one of our most significant partners. You can always count on them to deliver a great product.”

“I just love their model because…they’re not just giving somebody a house, they’re really making everybody feel like this is something they earned, it’s a critical part of who they are, and those folks are going to be the ones who defend that neighborhood,” the Mayor continued.

The Mayor spent the morning working alongside Bridget Erhard, Financial Advisor with Ameriprise Financial, who organized this day as part of her office’s Ameriprise National Day of Service. In all, Bridget Erhard recruited some 30 volunteers, including staff and students from Wilmington University, to join her to help build these four new Habitat homes. Ameriprise Financial organizes company-wide National Days of Service twice a year to help make an impact in the communities that they serve.

Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County has been building affordable housing for low- to moderate-income families since 1986. Since its inception, the organization has built more than 200 homes in areas throughout New Castle County, including Wilmington, Middletown, Newark, New Castle, and St. Georges. According to Habitat for Humanity International, HFHNCC’s housing productivity is among the top 30 of 1700 nationwide affiliates, and in the top 3 of 210 affiliates from Delaware to Maine. HFHNCC welcomes 3700 volunteers each year, who contribute more than 64,000 hours of work. Through its unique approach, Habitat for Humanity helps low-income families break the cycle of poverty through the stability and empowerment gained through homeownership.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County and its Hope Run project, contact Troy Nuss at 302-652-0365 (x 119), 302-584-32221 or tnuss@habitatncc.org.

________________________________________________________________

Media Contact:

John Rago

Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Communications

Office of Mayor Michael S. Purzycki

Mobile: (302) 420-7928

Email: jrago@WilmingtonDE.gov