Four More Families Come Home to Sunrise
On August 18th, Habitat welcomed the Ayite, Briggs, Candelario and Martin Families to their new homes in Sunrise Park. The ceremony highlighted the unique path each family took toward homeownership.
While Kokou and Eya Ayite left Togo in 2001 to escape harsh conditions and provide a better life for their family, Lisa Briggs stayed put. Born and raised in Charlottesville, Lisa’s strong sense of rootedness makes her a perfect fit for Sunrise. Lisa works as a Certified Nurses’ Assistant (CNA) in the Alzheimer’s Unit of Westminster Canterbury and just loves helping those in need -- organizing activities and volunteering to take residents on outings. In short, she is the kind of person who understands that when the people around her thrive, her life is enriched as well.
Danna Martin (pictured on the left) shares a lot of traits with Lisa. Her faith led her to believe that, despite difficult odds, achieving home ownership and much more was possible. Supported by her church home - the Faith Hope and Love International Healing and Deliverance Center – Danna not only has spent the past couple of years working, raising her four children and nephew AND building her home, but she went the extra mile and earned her GED in 2011.
And, pictured below is Louisa Candelario describing to the audience her joy at achieving this milestone.
“In the late 1960’s, my parents came on their journey to the United States, determined to fulfill their dreams,” Louisa told the crowd. “With many memories left behind, through tears and sacrifice, they came in search of a better life for themselves, in search of the American dream. Thirty-one years later, I left my hometown of New York City to come to Charlottesville with the same dream in my heart. And with much sweat, tears, sacrifice, and prayers, I have achieved it.”
Join these new homeowners and fellow Habitat friends as we mark the completion of Sunrise Phase 1 on Saturday, September 15th at the Sunrise Community Celebration.
The Ayite Family is sponsored by the UVa Department of Medicine ("DOM").
Sponsors for the Briggs Family are Wells Fargo Foundation, State Farm Foundation, GE Intelligent Platforms, the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, and the City of Charlottesville.
The Candelario Family is sponsored by Bank of America Foundation, Episcopal Churches of Region XV and Habitat's Women Build Chapter.
The Martin Family is sponsored in part by Youth United, Presbyterian Piedmont Mission Group, Blue Ridge Rotary, Keswick Community Foundation, and the Community Business Coalition.
View images from the dedication below.
