Donor Spotlight: Carolyn and Steve Brown

Steve and Carolyn Brown have lived a life in service that has led them to their current role as steadfast Habitat donors and supporters; most recently, with a generous gift of appreciated stock.

For 50 years, Steve served as a pastor and Carolyn as a director of children’s ministries before retirement. Active members of Westminster Presbyterian Church, their roots with Habitat date back to the 1970s, when they first visited Habitat for Humanity’s original headquarters in Americus, Georgia. It was on that same trip, on Koinonia Farm, where the Browns first met Habitat Founder Millard Fuller, and their involvement with Habitat was born.

The Browns have been active with Habitat ever since, including acting as founding board members for Habitat Nashville in the 1980s. “Habitat’s just been part of our lives for so long. It’s that; it’s just part of our lives,” shared Carolyn. “We’ve done all sorts of different things at Habitat, everything from me sitting at the front desk on Mondays to leading children’s groups when we were doing community building back before the pandemic, to early on building houses…we continue to find ways to be involved that are good.”

During this season of giving, the Browns have found yet another new way to support Habitat families, by donating stock when the market seemed to be peaking.

“It was easy!” Carolyn enthusiastically shared. After securing Habitat’s account information and alerting the team to be on the lookout, the Browns were able to transfer the stock the same day.

When they aren’t pitching in at Habitat, you might find Steve flying a kite, or playing the autoharp; and Carolyn performing puppet shows in the dementia unit at Westminster Canterbury.

Feeling inspired? Want to discuss making a gift of appreciated stock of your own to Habitat? Reach out to Kelly Eplee at keplee@cvillehabitat.org or 434-953-5249.