On September 29, Essex County Habitat for Humanity hosted its biggest fundraiser of the year, the annual Building Dreams Gala, presented by Watts. The event, held at the lovely Glen Magna Farms in Danvers, raised over $150,000 which the organization will use to build affordable homes throughout Essex County. Guests enjoyed cocktail hour mingling about the property and indulging on several amazing small plate options, before heading into the main tent for the program.
Diane McClintock, board member and VP of FP&A and Investor Relations at lead sponsor Watts, kicked off the program. After President of the Board Richard Sumberg thanked guests, volunteers, board and staff for the important work they do to support Essex County Habitat’s mission, Meegan O’Neil, Executive Director of Essex County Habitat, took the podium. She stressed the importance of affordable housing, especially now that the lack thereof has reached crisis levels across the country.
“In the past 30 years, Massachusetts built half the number of homes as in the previous 30. With supply dramatically constrained, the cost of the housing that is available now has skyrocketed. Simply put, a working family can no longer afford to live here,” stated O’Neil
Yenny Moya brought some in the audience to tears when telling her emotional story of becoming a Future Habitat Homeowner and thanked volunteers, staff and guests for all they had done to enable her to become a first time homeowner.
Additional sponsors of the event were Schernecker Property Services, Institution For Savings, Bixby International, Ebb & Flow, Eastern Bank, North Shore Bank, Coastal Windows and Exteriors, Dick and Lolli Sumberg, Brookline Bank, CM&B, Jackson Lumber, The Krall Family Foundation and Salem Five.