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Habitat SKKC Celebrates Milestone Year and Raises $2.2 Million (and Counting!) at the 2026 Beyond the Build Luncheon 

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Yesterday, more than 1600 staff, AmeriCorps, volunteers, Board members, and supporters gathered to celebrate Habitat SKKC’s 40 years of impact at the annual Beyond the Build Luncheon. The event featured heartfelt speeches, videos of Habitat homeowners and repair clients, recognition of the volunteers who make our work possible, and an inspiring conversation with Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Mike Macdonald. 

Event emcee Steve Raible, the “Voice of the Seahawks,” kicked off the program with a call to action: “During our time together today, and through your generosity, we will draft the next big play for affordable housing as we lay the groundwork for the next 40 years.” 

The event was a perfect mix of looking back and looking forward. We wouldn’t have made it to our 40th year if it weren’t for the volunteers and supporters who believed in our mission, and we turn to them as we begin to plan for the next 40.  

When Pastor Kristin Joyner from Bothell United Methodist Church took the stage for the traditional convocation, she remarked upon the work Habitat SKKC has done building homes and shining light into communities along the way. “Shining lights are symbols of hope, and that hope is brought to families in their kitchen lights, their family room lights, dining room lights, and porch lights,” she said.  

She led the room in a symbolic moment where every guest lit a candle to represent the thousands of lives Habitat SKKC has lit up through homeownership. It was a powerful visual to see a darkened ballroom come to life with small beacons of light. Later, when Coach Macdonald took the stage for a Q&A, he referred to the Seahawks as “beacons of light” in his quest to ensure that the team becomes even more connected to its local community. His desire to lead through service made him a fitting keynote speaker for this year’s luncheon. 

Following an inspiring compilation video highlighting Habitat SKKC’s history, CEO Brett D’Antonio took the stage and looked back on the past 40 years of Habitat SKKC’s work, starting with the organization’s first house: “In 1988, our affiliate dedicated its first home, two years after our founding. At that time, they looked at the future and made the goal to finish another 40 houses in 20 years. This was a bold number. But you can’t serve more people if you don’t push and grow—these are words we continue to live by.” 

Looking to the future, D’Antonio continued, “We’ve had 40 years to mature as an organization, and that means we are more dynamic than we have ever been before. Look to our home production for the best example of this: It’s growing towards 70+ homes completed every year with hundreds more under construction. We have more than tripled our annual home builds and home repairs in the last five years.” 

“But it’s not only our production that is scaling; our operations are as well,” D’Antonio continued. “We’ve refined our model and are deploying more capital to acquire and develop projects at a greater speed than ever before. When we talk about a pipeline of more than 300 homes, we’re really talking about the more than 1,000 individuals and families across King and Kittitas Counties—people whose futures will improve because they had access to affordable homeownership and the long-term stability it provides.” 

Our efforts are part of a broad coalition of nonprofits, associations, and government agencies who are working together to tackle the biggest crisis our region is facing. When he spoke, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay recognized Habitat SKKC for “continuing to be a driving force for change” and “central to this work” of finding solutions to the housing crisis. We do this as part of a network because it’s going to take everyone to solve this problem.  

Our network also includes the volunteers who show up to our construction sites and stores and dedicate their time and energy without the expectation of receiving anything in return. We couldn’t let them go unnoticed during our biggest celebration of the year, which is why we took time in the program to honor this year’s Volunteer of the Year, Beverly S. Bev first came to a Habitat build in 2004 with her church group on Vashon Island, and 22 years later, she still shows up week after week, rain or shine. Over the years, Bev has contributed well over 3,000 volunteer hours during more than 250 volunteer shifts, becoming a beloved member of Habitat’s Construction Regulars crew.  

Jimmy Carter once said of volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, “We get a lot more out of it than we put in it.” For Bev and the other highlighted volunteers—Lorraine Y., Amber C., Tracy C., David B., Vince S., Michael L., and Jennifer T.—we hope that rings true for them too. 

From our dedicated volunteers, the program moved next to the homeowners who embody our mission. Colleen Clayton, Associate Director of Homeowner Services, shared an important Habitat SKKC tradition: every time a Habitat homeowner gets their keys, they ring a brass bell and the office erupts with applause. At today’s luncheon, we had the honor of celebrating that moment with four new Habitat homeowners: Tiffany F., Joey R., Annabella Y., and Dalona M. 

The event’s keynote speaker, Coach Mike Macdonald reflected on the meaning of home during his conversation with Steve Raible. As a football coach, Macdonald is required to move for work, whether that’s to take on a new coaching job in another city or the regular travel required during the football season. Wherever he goes, no matter how much the settings change, he finds a sense of home. He does it by putting down roots. The opportunity to put down roots has been given to over 3,000 people in our region thanks to Habitat SKKC’s donors and volunteers. 

Hearing firsthand from Habitat homeowners is one of the most memorable parts of Beyond the Build, and this year’s luncheon was no different. Legacy homeowner Joanne W. spoke about the long-term impact her Habitat home has had on her life: “Because of your generosity, I haven’t had to worry about where we’re going to live for eight years. That’s about 3,000 nights of sleep without a knot in my stomach. There are so many other families right now sitting where I was eight years ago—waiting for a flyer on a bulletin board to change their lives. Your support today ensures they get that same chance to trade their worries for dreams.” 

Thanks to everyone who gave at the event, we raised $2.2 million (and counting) for people like Joanne W., Tiffany F., Joey R., Annabella Y., and Dalona M.! 

It was another inspiring and meaningful Beyond the Build luncheon—the largest yet! Thanks to everyone who gathered and celebrated with us all we have accomplished together these past 40 years and for helping shape our impact over the next 40 years.

Beyond the Build Luncheon

Spring Women Build 2026: Building Confidence and Community

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This year, we expanded Women Build to include two opportunities for community members to get involved. The springtime event, which ran May 2-16, brought longtime supporters and new volunteers out to our Yarrow Townhomes and Cloverdale communities in King County, our Stuart Meadows neighborhood in Ellensburg, as well as to our Habitat Stores.

Over 100 volunteers participated in the annual affinity build, and in two weeks they contributed over 1,000 volunteer hours. Regular Women Build volunteer Michelle V. returned this year, noting that, “You guys put on such a great event for us. I’m volunteering, but you guys treat us like kings and queens when we’re out there.”   

At both the Cloverdale and Yarrow Townhomes sites, our newest volunteer build sites in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle, volunteers framed both exterior and interior walls. At Yarrow Townhomes, they also installed joists and beams for the second floor, installed the subfloor for the next level, and worked on cabinet blocking and second floor handrails for safety. 

Michelle continued, “Any time we lift a wall, you know how incredibly heavy it is, and you would expect you need a room full of men at the gym to lift it. Then we lift this wall, and it’s always incredible. It really speaks to the folks who work the job sites; they know how to make all the tasks as volunteer friendly as they possibly can. They do a tremendous job.” 

Katie Long, Habitat SKKC’s New Construction Site Coordinator in Kittitas, reflected on the growth she saw in one return volunteer: “One of my favorite moments from this year involved a volunteer who also joined us during last year’s Women Build. When I first met her, she shared that she didn’t do ladders or power tools except on very special occasions. By the end of the day, she had stepped completely outside of her comfort zone: She was up on a ladder using a drill to help install upper cabinets in House 16. It was incredibly rewarding to reconnect with her and see the smile on her face at the end of the day. Watching volunteers discover confidence in skills they never thought they could do is one of the most meaningful parts of Women Build.” 

At Stuart Meadows in Ellensburg, volunteers worked across several homes and participated in a variety of construction tasks. In House 16, where we built the walls during last fall’s Veterans Build, volunteers installed both upper and lower kitchen cabinets. Another group installed flooring in House 18, while volunteers in House 14 worked on finishing details like applying wood putty to the baseboard trim. 

Katie added, “I think it’s incredibly important to continue inviting more women onto our construction sites because Women Build creates a welcoming space for people to try something new, gain confidence, and realize they are fully capable of working in the trades and construction environment.” 

Thanks to the generous support of our individual volunteers and corporate sponsors, this year’s Women Build raised over $84,000! 

Missed volunteering this spring, or ready to build again? Join us September 9–19, 2026 for the fall edition of Women Build. Learn more here. 

Serving Those Who Serve Our Country: Habitat SKKC Launches Veterans Down Payment Assistance Program

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As part of our ongoing work to put homeownership within reach for more people, Habitat SKKC has launched a Veteran Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Program. Over the years spent working with veterans, we have learned that often the biggest barrier to homebuying for those applying for our program is too low of income to qualify for the loan amount. Habitat SKKC provides a way to lower their mortgage so that more veterans will be able to financially qualify.  

Using the DPA, veterans can purchase a Habitat home and focus on building equity for their families. As homeowners, they’ll find the stability that they ensured for others when they served our country. 

“I am excited to show my gratitude to veterans by offering them the stability, prosperity, and freedom that they fought to protect on all our behalf,” says Ali Sheibani, Director of Homeowner Services. 

Habitat SKKC’s down payment assistance exclusively for veteran buyers includes: 

  • Up to $150,000 
  • 0% deferred loan due upon transfer/sale 

Additional benefits of the Veteran DPA program include: 

  • Preserve VA Loan Benefits: Build equity in your Habitat home first, then use your VA loan on your next home. 
  • Prioritized Selection Process: Habitat SKKC prioritizes veteran applicants by reserving homes for veteran buyers and offering additional points in our selection process for veteran status. 
  • Step-by-Step Guidance: Buyers are assigned to a Habitat SKKC staff member who provides step-by-step guidance from loan-preapproval to the transaction and closing process. 

The Veteran DPA Program is a pilot program that will support the next five veterans in our homeownership program. Our long-term goal is to establish a self-sustaining revolving fund that will continue to support veterans for years to come. 

For veterans interested in applying for a Habitat home, visit buyhabitat.org. 

A Frequent Helper Gets a Helping Hand: Lawrence M’s Repair Story

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Lawrence moved to the region in 1978 from Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked as a telephone installer. He relocated to get away from the harsh winters. Lawrence enjoys living in the Pacific Northwest and is not bothered by the cloudy weather. He adds, “I’m more optimistic. When people say, ‘The sun’s not shining,’ I tell them the sun’s shining every day if you look past the clouds. That’s what life is about.” 

After moving, he continued working in the field, designing high‑capacity circuits and completing central office inventory. During the last 12 years of his career with the phone company, he traveled across the country to take inventory of equipment in central offices and remote locations, including mountain sites and climate‑controlled vaults buried underground. 

Lawrence has two children, both living in Washington. His son has worked in the development of specialized medicines, and his daughter graduated college with honors in language studies, taught English in Japan through the JET Program, and now raises her two young sons. 

In retirement, Lawrence spends much of his time helping other people. He assists friends and family with car repairs and household projects such as small electrical work, plumbing, and drywall. When he is unable to help, he tries to refer people to someone who can. He sees this as a way to continue using the skills he developed throughout his career. 

In addition to volunteering, Lawrence bakes cakes in his spare time. He runs a small home‑based baking operation from his basement, where he built a workspace with a sink, refrigerator, and oven. Some of his specialties are rum cake, orange liqueur cake, piña colada cake, and a banana split cake made with multiple layers and icings.  

While Lawrence has an active lifestyle and many hobbies, ongoing issues with his right knee made it difficult for him to walk up and down stairs and maintain his balance. This made accessing his front door more difficult and led him to Habitat SKKC. He has visited Habitat stores for many years to buy materials for his many projects, but though he had long been familiar with Habitat SKKC’s work, he had never used our services until recently. 

Through Habitat’s repair program, the team built him a ramp, and additional repairs were completed, including replacing leaking plumbing between his toilet and the main vertical stack and replacing the deck boards and the front steps of the “fixer‑upper” Lawrence purchased nearly 30 years ago. The ramp construction took approximately two weeks. Never one to sit by while others work, Lawrence assisted with parts of the project. While the repair team worked at his house, he prepared meals for them, including barbecue ribs, chicken, salads, and baked items, as a way of thanking them. 

Over the years, he completed extensive repairs himself, including removing debris, replacing flooring affected by dry rot, refinishing floors, repairing rim joists, installing drainage, and rebuilding structural elements. He described the Habitat repairs as “A difficult job. I was trying to figure out ways to do it, but it was not something I wanted to tackle, and I thought Habitat will assist me with that.” 

The repairs to Lawrence’s home reduced his stress and improved accessibility. He has since built a handrail for a neighbor facing similar challenges. He sees the repairs as beneficial for his future as his knee issues continue. He doesn’t only think about his own life, but those of his friends and neighbors who have difficulty using the stairs. He adds, “The ramp has made me feel a lot more comfortable when people come to visit.” 

Forever, Home: Tahania P.

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Every home has a story, and as Habitat SKKC celebrates our 40th anniversary in 2026,  we’re excited to share the stories that have shaped the past four decades. Throughout the year, we’ll be highlighting legacy family stories from across our history — stories of partnership, resilience, and hope that remind us why this work matters.  

Transitioning from a Habitat homeowner to a Habitat employee is a journey that only one person has embarked on in our 40 years as an affiliate. Tahania overcame an unforeseen tragedy that shook her marriage but never broke her resilient spirit. After becoming enmeshed in Habitat’s homeownership program and building lasting relationships there, it wasn’t long before she felt called to help others experience the lifechanging power of owning a home. 

Tahania first became a homeowner when she was 19 years old. She and her husband were high school sweethearts in Ellensburg and had been married for 13 years with three daughters, before addiction drastically changed the course of their lives. Her husband’s drug problem resulted in their divorce and sale of their family home. Tahania adds, “My whole life crashed. My husband’s life crashed.”  

Picking up the pieces of her life, Tahania moved her kids into a rental in Ellensburg. The house was a garage converted into a small two-bedroom home, and she had three growing kids. Having been a stay-at-home mom while raising her daughters, she also had to quickly find a job. She became the office manager at a local coffee roaster, where she stayed for the next 15 years, and once she established job security, she turned her sights next to finding a home that could better accommodate her family. 

“Something clicked in my brain: Look into Habitat to get a house. I did, and God willing, they had open applications about a half a year after I was looking into it. I turned in my application and went through the whole process. Lots and lots of people applied. I was chosen for another interview. They came and looked at my house. I prayed, crossed my fingers, and they chose me,” Tahania remembers. 

The homebuying process proved to be manageable and accessible, thanks in no small part to the people who helped Tahania along the way: “The folks that were here at that time were all volunteers. After I was chosen, I really clung to them and became good friends with them. The whole process was like an extended family. To this day, I still go to dinner with the old president of the Board and construction manager.” 

Tahania’s eldest daughter Danyell remembers the building process of their home fondly, recounting, “We were there watching our mom installing the floors, I leaned against the wall with a blanket and a book light and read Harry Potter to my sisters.” 

Once they moved into their new three-bedroom home in 2010, Tahania and her daughters immediately felt the improvement a larger house provided them. They rescued a half German Shepherd, half Border Collie shortly after moving in and were able to host people in their home again. “It was like the old days again, when my family and friends had a place to come over to,” Tahania remembers. 

— 

During the summer of 2021, Tahania had been home from her work at the coffee roaster due to Covid, but she knew it was time to get back to work. To help out, her daughter searched job postings and sent Tahania the link to the open Kittitas Repair Project Superintendent. Prior to her time at the coffee roaster, Tahania had worked in construction for about five years and before that, she worked for a company that refurbished and built brand new swimming pools and hot tubs. She loved the hands-on aspect of those jobs. 

When she received the listing, she thought, “Are you kidding? That is my dream job.” 

She immediately visited the office and introduced herself. The area director at that time came right up to her and said she remembered Tahania from her time as a homebuyer. Tahania felt automatically welcomed, both in that moment and when she was hired shortly after and began working for Habitat SKKC. 

Tahania has the special ability to draw on her lived experience whenever she introduces people to Habitat’s work: “When there are people on the fence about applying for the repair program or for homeownership, and they meet me and hear my story, I think they feel like they trust me. It’s so exciting to tell them I’ve lived in my house for 15 years. You know, it’s awesome and it’s worth it.” 

— 

Her daughters Danyell, Taylor, and Sarah were 13, 11, and nine respectively when they moved into their new home. They share fond memories of time spent together in the living room, where they had enough space to host birthday parties and family game nights. When anyone had a friend over for a sleepover, they all sat together as a family to watch movies.  

Danyell said, “My favorite memories have been endless birthday parties and my mom cooking holiday dishes. She does such a great job of hosting and making everyone feel welcomed when they step through the door.”   

They’re now all college graduates and remain in Ellensburg, close to Tahania. Sarah attended Central Washington University and is taking a gap year before applying to law school. Celebrating her college graduation from CWU in the front yard of their house was a fun way to commemorate her big achievement. Tahania’s other two daughters are both elementary school teachers. Danyell is also a mother to Mia, and both of them currently live with Tahania. 

Tahania enjoys having three generations under one roof, adding with a smile, “My other daughters are jealous and want to move back in.”