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Peace Be With You Millard Fuller, Founder of Habitat for Humanity Intl

By
Real Estate Agent with Inactive

Millard Fuller died Tuesday February 3rd 2009 near Americus, GA. He was 74 years old. At age 29 he left a successful career in business and started Habitat for Humanity International which built more than 300,000 homes worldwide.

Using his Christian principles and propelled by evangelical like energy he used Habitat for Humanity to develop a system of using donated money and material along with voluntary labor to build homes for low-income families. Habitat for Humanity homes were sold without profit to buyers who were required to help build their houses and were not required to pay any interest.

Today more than a million people live in Habitat for Humanity Homes which are in more than 100 countries. He was an inspirational leader who worked side by side with volunteers from all walks of life including President's Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.

His life will serve as an example to all of us who labor to place families in homes.

Posted by

George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465

Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

Comments (6)

Lynda Eisenmann
Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA
Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

Hi George,

What a very nice tribute to Mr. Bennett. Habitat is such a wonderful organization helping so many. It's our favorite charity for our So Cal CRS group. We've been supporting them for years. We also had a Habitat project not far from our old office, we participated in the building project on that one.

Thanks for the great reminder of one individuals contributions.

Feb 04, 2009 10:34 AM
Libby Cousins
Extraordinary Processing - Spokane, WA
Contract Mortgage Processor, licensed in WA

George, I was saddened to read of Millard Fuller's death yesterday. The article that I read was rather lengthy and went into great detail about the squabbling that occurred over the years between him and the Habitat BOD. He seemed like a man with his heart in the right place and will be fondly remembered by many. I was happy to read that his wife has insisted that they moveforward with the "Blitz Build" of 100 homes that they scheduled to help celebrate their marriage of 50 years. I hope that the organizations that he started continue to help others in the manner in which he started.

Feb 04, 2009 11:22 AM
Kathy Judy
Tri-Cities Real Estate retired - Ontario, OR

Thanks you are so right!  One has to wonder why didn't NAR do this?  Signed proud mom of two Southern graduates.  You are in a beautiful area of Oregon.

Feb 04, 2009 11:28 AM
George Bennett
Inactive - Port Orford, OR
Inactive Principal Broker, GRI

Thanks Lynda - So many of us supported Habitat and so did many organizations including our local Board of Realtors. He identified a goal we could all get behind and we all experienced personal growth from our participation.

Libby - I share your hope. His teachings showed us the way. It would be shameful if his vision and his purpose were lost with his passing. Some news reporters continue to focus on conflicts and controversy at the expense of acknowledging his work and giving him credit for changing the lives of both the families who now live in Habitat homes and those who donated their time, money, and support to this program.

 

Kathy - He did so much with so little. I hope that NAR can find a way to support the continuation of his work.

Can you imagine what he would have done with just 1% of the money our Govt is spending to stabilize and resolve the Housing and Financial Crisis. Our Govt.'s actions pale in comparison.

Feb 04, 2009 12:24 PM
Wanda Thomas
Montana Homestead Brokers, Broker, CRS, GRI, SFR, RN - Billings, MT
Billings Montana Real Estate

What a legacy!  This program and concept will continue in the hearts, minds and hands of many.

Feb 04, 2009 01:51 PM
George Bennett
Inactive - Port Orford, OR
Inactive Principal Broker, GRI

Wanda - I agree. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings.

Feb 04, 2009 02:05 PM