“Today, you might just build a house.” These motivating opening words from Willamette West Habitat board president Dan Fako set the tone for the 3rd annual Build a Home Frame a Future fundraising breakfast. And in the end, the almost sell-out crowd built nearly three.

In an unbelievable show of generosity in such challenging times, 475 people RSVP’d to attend the breakfast at Embassy Suites, and they donated a record-breaking $153,000!

Thanks to the generosity of First Tech Credit Union, who was the title sponsor for the 3rd consecutive year, supporting sponsors Wells Fargo, West Coast Bank and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, as well as dozens of corporate sponsors and table hosts, the event was entirely underwritten. One hundred percent of the donations received will go toward building simple, decent, affordable homes in Washington County.

Attendees learned about the number of homeless kids in the Washington County school system and the unsafe and unhealthy conditions so many people live in because they simply cannot escape the circle of poverty. They learned how Habitat provides a hand up, not a hand out, to qualifying families. Future homeowner Vunnara Thong told of how at age 22, while studying to become a doctor, the Khmer Rogue overthrew the Cambodian government and she was forced to work in the rice fi elds. Later she spent months in a refugee camp on the boarder of Thailand and suffered a head injury when a bomb exploded near her. In 1980, she was brought to United States, and eventually became an American citizen. Said Vunnara: “As a single parent in poor health, I could not afford to buy a house and I had lost hope. Now I feel blessed. Habitat for Humanity will be our stable house which we can call ‘our sweet home’. I believe my daughter will be doing better at school and will have a bright future.”

Even in these tough economic times, the board of directors of Willamette West Habitat for Humanity had faith that their donors, volunteers, friends, neighbors and co-workers would not let down the low-income families that are struggling to stay afl oat while putting in 500 hours of sweat equity so they can earn the right to buy a Habitat for Humanity home.

Easily the most entertaining part of the morning was when emcee KC Cowan of Oregon Art Beat bought the Habitat kids who served as escorts that morning up onto the stage to talk to her. They talked about having their own bedroom, a safe neighborhood to play in and the friends they had made with the other kids in the neighborhood. 

Willamette West would like to thank the sponsors and everyone who attented. Thank you for helping to improve our community and lives of families in need.