"Charlotte County Habitat's biggest challenge yet"
Date: April 30, 2008 

Home Builders Blitz 2008 is a partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the building industry to build homes across the nation. In the first national Home Builders Blitz in 2006, more than 1,000 professional home builders came together to build 459 homes at 130 Habitat affiliates across the country, providing housing for nearly 2,000 people.

Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity, in partnership with four local contractors, is in the starting blocks, ready to begin the race of building five homes in six days. The gun will go off, for this build, at the Kickoff Rally, at 9 a.m. Monday, May 12. The contractors and their subcontractors, experiencing firsthand that it's "more blessed to give than to receive" will work round-the-clock, building these homes to completion, racing to the final finish line on Saturday, May 17.

Jerry Spurgeon, owner of Coastal Property Group, in Venice, was the first builder to sign on with Charlotte County Habitat for the Builders Blitz 2008. A resident of Charlotte County himself, Jerry is excited at the challenge of the Blitz, and glad for the opportunity to work with the Habitat team. Spurgeon is bringing to the job site four from his
company, along with nine different subcontractor teams. Jerry states:  "I believe in volunteerism, and it's importance in keeping our community strong."

Paul Schaefer, of Schaefer Homes LLC, has grown up in the construction business, working alongside his father since age 13, learning the trade. Paul made the commitment to donate his time, labor and industry expertise, to give to a family in need, saying:  "Normally all us contractors involved are competitors with one another, but we've all agreed to help each other out on this build, so we'll all finish together."

Kristen Marsella, of Marsella Enterprises Inc., is excited to be involved in the Builders Blitz, stating: "I'm proud to be associated with Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity, knowing all the service that they provide our community during this time of downward trends in the economy -- Habitat continues to go all out. Also, I just love the idea of the challenge of building a home in six days!" Marsella has been a contractor since 1992, and began her own contracting business after Hurricane Charley in 2005.

Magnus Karlstedt, owner of MK Construction, is a strong believer in giving back to the community. Magnus says: "I'm involved with the Builders Blitz to give back to my community, and to help people that have need of a home." MK Construction has been in business in Charlotte County for the past nine years. Magnus will be bringing at least 20 subcontractors along on this build.

The Charlotte County Habitat Construction team and volunteers will be building the fifth house. Please join us at the site of the Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity Builders Blitz 2008. The Kickoff Rally on May 12 begins at 9 a.m., and then, the Celebration of the Homes on May 18 at 2 p.m. The public is welcome! The location is Taylor
Street, between Lee Terrace and Lakeshore Circle in Port Charlotte. (Off of West Tarpon Boulevard). 

Call Habitat for directions at 941-639-3162.  Chrissie Salazar is the community relations coordinator with Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity. She can be reached at community@charlottecountyhfh.org.

Habitat of Humanity Certificate of Appreciation 2008

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