Tuscaloosa Area CEOs Gather to Work on Habitat Home for Cancer Survivor

Dozens of local business leaders gathered in West Tuscaloosa on a gloomy Wednesday morning to power through the first steps of building a new home for a mother in need.

C-level executives from Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Bryant Bank, the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce, the Westervelt Company and about 25 total companies were volunteering as part of Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa's 9th annual CEO Build.

The day of networking and fellowship through hard work saw the CEOs and other senior managers raise the frames of walls on a pre-laid foundation and quickly give shape to the home, which is expected to be completed next Spring.

Companies with CEOs or other leaders working on the site include MBUSI, Alabama One Credit Union, Phifer, Bryant Bank, Wells Fargo, Alabama Power, Stillman College, DCH System, Premier Electric, Alabama Credit Union, Brose, SMP/Motherson, CB&S Bank, Warrior Met Coal, Jamison Money Farmer, PC, Westervelt Company, MacLellan, Harrison Construction, Renasant Bank, the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce, TBG Homes, West Alabama Works and GAF Roofing.

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The home is number 16 of 32 which are planned for Milestone Circle, a completely new subdivision filled exclusively with Habitat homes. Despite the misconception that these homes are free, Habitat actually sells them to owners at fair-market value through zero-interest, 30-year loans. The owners also must volunteer a large number of hours to help build the property.

The CEOs on Wednesday were working on the home of Star Rose, a local mother of three with two grandchildren, who is recovering well from a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

"It really is a blessing to be able to assist so many wonderful, hard-working families through building these homes," said Habitat Tuscaloosa CEO Ellen Potts. "Ms. Rose works for a Mercedes supplier, she has three daughters, she's a cancer survivor. To provide her and her family with a home is an incredible blessing, and it will continue to be an incredible blessing for her and her girls for years and years to come."

Potts said she got the idea for the CEO Build during a Habitat International convention about 10 years ago and launched it here in Tuscaloosa in 2016.

Even with so many demands for their time and attention, Potts said local CEOs took to the event enthusiastically and look forward to its return every year.

"I'm sure we have Republicans and Democrats out here. I'm sure we have conservatives and liberals. We have people of different denominations, religions, no religion, whatever," Pott said. "But we can all agree that it's a good thing for hard-working families to have a decent place to live. And that's our vision, a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Our part of it is here in Tuscaloosa County, and we're chipping away at that."

The ongoing work to build out the Milestone Circle neighborhood is part of Project Transformation, which will add 32 homes to that street and 25 more near Palmore Park through a partnership with the Builders Group, a locally owned and operated residential construction firm and a longtime Habitat partner.

Thanks to all who worked in the chilly rain on Wednesday morning, and for more coverage of news and events in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.