Pensacola Habitat for Humanity’s 2024 Women Build Smashes Records

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Pensacola Habitat for Humanity’s 2024 Women Build was a historic one for the affiliate, as 150 powerful women joined together to raise nearly $155,000 for affordable housing, helping pass the $1 million mark of funds raised across the event’s 11-year history. 

Women Build is a special peer-to-peer fundraising campaign hosted by Pensacola Habitat for Humanity that empowers women to unite in fundraising efforts, advocate for affordable housing and physically build a home for women in their community. Each year, Women Build demonstrates how powerful it can be when local women come together to tackle the challenge of affordable housing. This year is the strongest example yet, with a record-setting fundraising total nearly tripling Pensacola Habitat for Humanity’s first Women Build in 2014.

“It’s incredible to see how much Women Build has grown. To hit our fundraising goal and to reach the $1 million mark before even picking up a hammer this year is a testament to what women in our community are capable of,” said Michele DuMond, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity’s Volunteer Services and Special Events Manager. “These empowered women are changing our community in front of our eyes, and it’s really special to witness.”

With so many women signed up to make a difference this year, Women Build volunteers were able to build two homes during the build week for the first time. Women of varying backgrounds and skill sets lifted walls, trusses and more, following up the incredible year of fundraising with determined and steady progress on the build site as they turned two slabs into fully-framed homes.

 “We have so many teams and individual builders who work tirelessly all year, hosting yard and bake sales, working concessions for Pensacola Blue Wahoos games, selling raffle baskets and coming up with so many other creative fundraisers to hit their goals,” DuMond said. “To be able to cap off all of those efforts with not just one, but two home builds was a wonderful conclusion to this year’s Women Build.”

Pensacola Habitat for Humanity is thrilled to announce that the two homebuyers involved in the Women Build campaign are expected to receive the keys to their new homes and move in early next year.

Many local businesses contributed volunteers and donations to help push Women Build over the top. The partnership with RS3 Strategic Hospitality and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos led to over $60,000 raised by Women Build volunteers working concessions opportunities. Businesses like Gulf Winds Credit Union, Florida Power & Light, The Marketing Bar, PNC Bank and Regions Bank made significant contributions as well, with many more local businesses lending their support with donations and volunteers. In all, 21 companies lent their support to Women Build, making it a truly community-wide initiative that reaches across industries.

Fundraising for Women Build 2024 remains open until October 31, when the focus will shift to the next year’s campaign. To donate, visit womenbuild.pensacolahabitat.org.

###