Habitat News
We’re moving to our new home on Navajo Street!
Habitat Metro Denver is thrilled to announce that we’re moving into a new home! Our headquarters is moving to Denver’s Athmar Park neighborhood at 430
12 Sep, 2024
Some UPS employees joined us this past May 16, rolling up their sleeves and adding a touch of paint to their clothes as they participated in a project with Habitat Denver to help build 20 new, affordable homes in the Mountain View Community Homes in Aurora.
The project, funded by UPS and facilitated by Habitat Metro Denver is an example of how non-profits are working with businesses to build community equity.
Habitat Metro Denver is proud to partner with businesses to provide local volunteer opportunities to employees who can’t step away from their normal work hours.
“We’re making volunteerism accessible for everyone regardless of their job situation,” says Jeanne Fischetti, Senior Director of Sponsorships at Habitat Metro Denver
And it’s working.
“I loved the flexibility,” said UPS volunteer Jessica Montoya. “People could commit the time they had, 20 minutes or 3 hours. It made it easier for more people to participate.”
Because Habitat provides all the equipment as well as expert instruction required for volunteering, volunteers don’t need to have any previous skills. “It was my first time volunteering,” said UPS volunteer Bryce Hickmon. “I was happy to hear that my efforts would help people in need here in Colorado. And these aren’t giveaway homes. The new homeowners purchase these homes and will participate in the build process.”
Habitat began painting siding in their warehouse locations to improve quality control, to avoid jobsite dust, wind and particulates, and to help speed up onsite construction.
“By doing these projects away from the build site we’re Improving quality of the end product and helping things move faster,” says Jeanne Fischetti. “The siding installation can now happen in a few days, versus weeks.”
Volunteers are told at the beginning of the project how their work helps the local community.
According to Fischetti, the Mountain View project, in Aurora, will have 20 affordable homes. While the cost of each home will be upwards of $400K the qualifying owners will only pay around $300K.
“We’re serving low to moderate-income earners, the essential workforce,” says Jeanne Fischetti. “Potential homeowners must earn between 50-80% of the area medium income which is around $90K.”
The UPS Foundation donated $10K for this project and has 10 projects scheduled for 2024 around the country and in Mexico. UPS says, giving means more than writing a check. It means combining employees’ skills, passion and time with the company’s logistics expertise, transportation assets, and charitable donations to make a measurable difference in society.
The value of projects like this is much greater than just the volunteer hours. “Volunteers are learning life skills, while participating in a natural team building event requiring teamwork and problem solving,” says Dora Zapata, UPS Foundation. “We’re thankful to our employees as well as Habitat for Humanity for developing the model.”
About UPS
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is one of the world’s largest companies, with 2023 revenue of $91.0 billion, and provides a broad range of integrated logistics solutions for customers in more than 200 countries and territories. Focused on its purpose statement, “Moving our world forward by delivering what matters,” the company’s approximately 500,000 employees embrace a strategy that is simply stated and powerfully executed: Customer First. People Led. Innovation Driven. UPS is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and supporting the communities we serve around the world. UPS also takes an unwavering stance in support of diversity, equity and inclusion. More information can be found at ups.com, about.ups.com and investors.ups.com.
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