by Miranda G. McLeod
Staff Writer
Cornerstone Homes and 20 of its subcontractors donated their time and material to build the “Give Hope a Home” house to benefit The Donna Hicken Foundation for lower-income, underinsured and uninsured women with breast cancer.
At the ribbon cutting ceremony last month, $186,000 was donated to the foundation, putting it over the $1 million mark.
TV—12/25 news anchor Donna Hicken started the foundation in 2003 and was visibly moved when speaking to the more than 40 well-wishers, supporters and Cornerstone employees.
“I am absolutely blown away by everyone’s generosity and the efforts to support us in finding a solution for a terrible problem,” said Hicken, a two-time survivor of breast cancer. She wiped away tears as she thanked the organization who made the home possible.
“In this business you learn quickly that everyone is in it for something. Cornerstone made it clear they were not like that,” she said.
Cornerstone broke ground on the 3,230-square foot home last July in the Murabella subdivision near the World Golf Village. The house was clad in pink for the ceremony and the presentation of the money.
Cornerstone and the Donna Hicken Foundation were brought together by the Montello Agency’s president, Cynthia Montello, also a cancer survivor. She approached Cornerstone and Hicken with the idea of building a house on behalf of the foundation. Both were eager to participate. The actual building costs were kept as low as possible because so many organizations donated time, effort and material.
Rick and Susan Wood, co-founders of the The Wood Development Company, donated Lot 422 in MuraBella, property valued at $75,000.
Homeowners Tammy and Patrick Hardin bought the house.
“This was a wonderful opportunity for our family to live in a beautiful, new home while lending our support to a very worthy, charitable cause,” said Tammy Hardin.
Both Montello and Hicken said they had prayed to find the right owners for the home, and feel their prayers have been answered.
“We knew God had his hand on this house from the beginning,” said Montello, who has helped with five other charitable housing projects.