Millard Fuller

A man that I went to see speak at a church with Newt Gingrich years ago, died yesterday in an ambulance, en route to Americus, his home town.
A man of vision, at age 29 he gave up a successful career in business, to serve the poor and his family.
In 1976 Millard Fuller started Habitat for Humanity, an organization that has built and refurbished over 300,00 homes for the needy.
The basic concepts of Habitat for Humanity include:

• Volunteer labor, provided by groups such as churches , schools. business and social associations.
• Donated funds by the same groups as above.
• Donated materials, not wholly but as much as possible, often from local businesses such as Lowes and Home Depot.
• Sweat equity, whereby the recipients of the homes are expected to work on the building of their own home and on other.
• Home economics training, new homeowners are required to complete training in home care and hierarchy of needs applicable to financial obligation.
• Pay it forward, homes are owned in full by HoH and mortgaged to the recipients for the an affordable price. Payments by the recipients are applied to expenses and more importantly future building and land.

Conceptually this organization has achieved a state of grace, helping thousands in need by creating affordable home ownership for people looking to build home and family.

My mother and bride, besides myself have been well involved in these matters over the last 15 years. Nearly always, the satisfaction derived far outweighs the effort applied.

Mr. Fuller was a great man for putting mankind before himself.

“What will little Genesis become?” he asked at the time. “What will little Serenity become? We don’t know, but we know one thing: if we give them a good place to live, they’ve got a better chance.”