by Natasha Khairullah
Staff Writer
The entire HabiJax community gathered on the Northside Thursday to celebrate a “milestone.”
Affiliates of the 19 year-old organization, along with a team of representatives of Habitat for Humanity International and Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford all celebrated the construction of the 1,500th HabiJax home with a ceremonial wall raising for its newest homeowner Ashley Banks.
The walls of the home were raised by AmeriCorps members and the long-time HabiJax volunteer group known as the “Wednesday Gang.”
The ceremony also recognized HabiJax’s first, 100th, 500th and 1,000th homeowners.
“We are so proud to recognize our HabiJax families who have been an important part of our rich history,” said HabiJax CEO and President Mary Kay O’Rourke. “This truly is a spectacular day of celebration.”
HabiJax, which recently began a partnership with the Jacksonville Housing Authority, built its first three homes for low-income families in 1989 with a goal of eliminating substandard housing in Jacksonville by building and promoting high-quality, affordable housing.
“I am so grateful for this and for all the people involved in creating this,” said Banks, who will move into the home later this summer. “This really is a blessing.”
Habitat for Humanity International representatives traveled from Jordan, Malawi, Romania, Northern Ireland, Egypt, Uganda and Ghana to show their support. HabiJax benefactors David and Ann Hicks were also in attendance along with Jacksonville Jaguars owners Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver and representatives from the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville, which sponsored the construction of the home with proceeds from the 2006 Gingerbread Extravaganza.
Following the wall raising ceremony, a HabiJax gala and 1st Annual Homewarming for Humanity was held at the Expo Center at the Fairgrounds.