NAIOP builds a partnership with Habitat for Humanity; Sponsored by Greenman Pedersen and Uniland Dev. Co.

For a seventh straight year in a row, the NAIOP Upstate New York Chapter called upon its members to lend a helping hand on a Habitat for Humanity project. Habitat for Humanity is a not-for-profit Christian group of committed volunteers who want to see families in safe, clean, and affordable housing. Habitat works with low-income families toward the goal of home ownership by renovating existing houses or building new houses and selling them to the new owners at no profit with no interest over a 20-year mortgage. Habitat was founded in 1976 in Americus, Georgia by Millard and Linda Fuller. Today, there are more than 1,700 affiliates across the United States and projects in 100 countries around the world. Habitat is the 15th largest home builder in the US, having built over 44,000 homes in this country and more than 200,000 homes worldwide. Habitat Buffalo was founded in 1985; it has built over 150 homes in 20 years. Habitat Buffalo is one of the largest builders in the northeast region of Habitat International. Habitat houses are now home to 593 people including 631 children. No direct taxpayer support is used in constructing these homes. It is primarily volunteer, and 90 cents of every dollar spent goes into construction. On July 9, the NAIOP Upstate NY Chapter took part in working on a Habitat for Humanity site in Buffalo. Our "Habitat team" spent the day painting, sanding, drilling and hammering; turning a once old, rundown house from a bygone era into a modern new dream home. Director, Ron Talboys had this to say about NAIOP. "Habitat Buffalo values the partnership that has grown over the past seven years where NAIOP members from Upstate New York volunteer on a Habitat work site, helping low income families become a homeowner, and stabilizing the community by rehabbing a vacant, run-down house. NAIOP has contributed several thousand dollars as well to help purchase the needed materials for rehab." "NAIOP us committed to giving back to the community, and Habitat Buffalo is delighted they have selected Habitat as one way to accomplish this goal." Ron also adds that Tom Strausser, building supervisor for Habitat Buffalo makes sure he gets the NAIOP group on his site. We really enjoy NAIOP and they accomplish a lot in one day! The team consisted of volunteers from Greenman Pedersen Inc., CB Richard Ellis, Pyramid Brokerage, Uniland Development Company, WebTitle Agency, Jones Lang LaSalle, Ciminelli Development, NorthMarq Capital, among others. The team was also visited by Buffalo assemblywoman Louis Slaughter's office who stopped by to thank them for continuing to take part in this project which is so vital to the urban revitalization of downtown Buffalo. They pointed out that dreams come true when people work together. This is one dream that at the end of the day everyone was proud to have participated. NAIOP Upstate would like to thank Greenman Pedersen, Inc. and Uniland Development Co. for sponsoring this event.