Habitat for Humanity: Empowering Women

Empowerment is the concept behind Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas, West Pasco and Hernando Counties’ 2024 Women Build taking place this fall. This build brings together women in leadership from across the region to build a home for a local single mother. Inspired by its successful CEO Build, Habitat’s newly reimagined Women

Build offers participants in C-suite and leadership roles access to exclusive build days with like-minded professionals from all over Tampa Bay.

Habitat launched its Women Build campaign by announcing Honorary Co-Chairs Heather Ford and Marsha Droste. Ford is the CFO at Power Design and serves as Habitat Board Chair. Droste is a Partner at Pete & Shorty’s Iowa Bistro and Hooters Restaurants. Their reach in the community is helping the Habitat staff recruit participants and bring visibility to this special Habitat Home Build.

“I am thrilled to serve as honorary co-chair for the 2024 Habitat Women Build,” said Ford. “Empowered women can uplift each other and build stronger communities. We will partner with a strong woman and her family to build their forever home and help establish the foundation for a lifetime of memories and a bright future.”

“The Habitat Women Build is a special opportunity to unite influential women in our area and empower one of our own through affordable homeownership,” said Droste. “This will be life-changing not only for the partner family but for every woman who participates in this build.”

Droste has been involved with Habitat’s Women Build throughout its history. This will be the tenth such build for Habitat Pinellas and West Pasco since 2015. Host Committee member Nancy Ridenour has been involved since the beginning. This Women Build holds a special place in Ridenour’s heart.

“I am honored to be part of this Women Build,” said Ridenour. “As someone who has been a single mother, I encourage the female leaders of our community to join me as we empower a single mother and her family on their journey to affordable homeownership.”

The Habitat for Humanity affiliate has built over 900 homes in its service area, which includes Pinellas, West Pasco, and Hernando Counties. There are nearly 1,100 Habitat affiliates in the U.S., and Habitat Pinellas, West Pasco, and Hernando has ranked in the top-3 for new home builds each year for the last five years. A huge reason for the affiliate’s success is its ability to be seen as a partner to the Tampa Bay business community. Specialty builds like the Women Build offer unique opportunities for business leaders and organizations to leverage their brands with the Habitat brand.

The 2024 Women Build Home will be built with funds raised by women and businesses that support them. A sense of pride as female leaders from across the Tampa Bay region unite to uplift and empower a local single mother. This family will realize the American dream through affordable homeownership and earn a 0% fixed-interest mortgage.

To learn more about the 2024 Habitat Women Build, please visit habitatpwp.org/womenbuild.