We are so thrilled to announce that we surpassed our fundraising goals at this week’s Beyond the Build virtual event and raised $1.42 million – even more than the record-breaking $1.3 million raised last year. An additional $185,000 was raised for our Resiliency Fund supporting families affected by COVID-19, for a total of $1.6 million.
The event, originally scheduled for April 3 at the Washington State Convention Center, went virtual in response to the state’s Stay Home guidance. It featured a “Community Involvement” conversation with former Seattle Seahawk Doug Baldwin, an economic outlook presentation including stark affordable housing data by Windermere Chief Economist Matthew Gardner, and was virtually emceed by KIRO 7’s Steve Raible. Funds will support Habitat’s ambitious long-term agenda to provide solutions to the Puget Sound region’s affordable housing crisis and support its partner families and applicants who have been negatively affected by COVID-19. Watch the presentations on Youtube.
“We were not sure what to expect, given the current pandemic, and the effect it has had on businesses, employees, and the overall economy. We lowered our expectations given these circumstances, as well as uncertainty over how a virtual format would translate to our supporters. Because of the flexibility of our presenters, and the hard work of so many, it is clear we were able to communicate the urgency of our mission. We couldn’t be more thrilled with and grateful for this result.”
Brett D’Antonio, Habitat for Humanity Seattle – King County CEO
Even before the advent of COVID-19, Habitat had launched an aggressive strategic plan to build or preserve 400 homes on its way to serving 1,000 total families in King County over the next five years. With 170+ homes currently in various stages of development, including the recent ground breaking of its Lake City Townhome project, its first community within Seattle’s city limits in six years, Habitat will break ground this year on three other projects – in Loyal Heights, South Park and Renton.
The organization will also continue to develop the biggest home construction project in the history of the affiliate — 52 Habitat homes as part of the Fort Lawton redevelopment project in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle.
Brett added, “We couldn’t have achieved this amazing result without the support of our sponsors – Delta Air Lines who served in the Platinum role, and Blue Print Capital and KLB Construction, both of whom provided matching fund support for donors giving $250 or more. The community truly came together to ensure we can increase the number of affordable homes available for deserving families in King County.”