Alumni of Weyerhaeuser, a long-time corporate supporter of Habitat of Humanity Seattle – King County (SKC), will come together on Wednesday, July 14 at Habitat’s La Fortuna site in Renton for a build event that kicks off a five-year commitment to sponsoring ten homes in over 5 years in King County and Pierce County.
Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Kick-off, Gathering and Tour
11:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Build
Address: La Fortuna, 17288 127th Ave SE, Renton, WA 98058
The Weyerhaeuser Alumni leadership group, comprised of eight retired company executives, originally came together late last year with the idea to lead an effort that to date has resulted in pledges from 94 of their former colleagues. The total commitment is $1.18 million over five years to Habitat affiliates in Seattle – King County and Tacoma – Pierce County.
The idea for the campaign rose from a half-day tour of several current and former projects in South King County that two members of the Habitat SKC Board who are former Weyerhaeuser executives – Steve Hill and Bob Moore – arranged for two of their former colleagues.
For this first build event at La Fortuna on July 14, the partner family selected for the Weyerhaeuser home is the Clay Family. Trina Clay is raising her son, Ji’Aire, and her daughter, Nyasia in the Seattle area. She is currently employed as a Housing Stability Specialist, and supports communities in Seattle by assisting homeless families obtain housing and remain stabilized. Trina also works at a homeless shelter as an advocate for adult women and men. Through Habitat, she will be a first-time homeowner in a nice neighborhood. Trina loves the idea that Habitat owners must put in sweat equity for their home, as, she says, “it instills pride and appreciation in one’s new home.”
Said Steve Hill, “Trina and her family represent exactly the type of deserving community members we are working to assist to purchase a home. We are so excited to meet her and work alongside her to make her dream a reality.”
The city of Renton is a fast-growing suburb that is an ideal location to raise a family. Renton’s high-performing schools and high-quality medical care make it attractive to families. When completed, Habitat’s La Fortuna project will consist provide housing for 12 families in three buildings at the end of a private road, each with two four-bedroom (1,300 sq. ft.) end units and two three-bedroom (1,100 sq. ft.) interior units. The sustainable units are certified to Evergreen Sustainable Development Standards, and represent some of the only new, permanent, single-family housing solutions suitable and affordable for low-income families in this part of Southeast King County.