Funds will help people living and working in Orange County achieve affordable homeownership 

Chapel Hill, N.C. — Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, NC, raised more than $330,000 at its 6th Annual Farm to Table Dinner Party, held on Saturday, April 18, at Teer Farm in Chapel Hill. The total marks a new record for the event and will fund affordable homeownership opportunities for families in Orange County. 

The evening brought together 250 guests for an outdoor dinner featuring live and silent auctions, remarks from community leaders, and a firsthand account of what homeownership means to one new Habitat homeowner. 

A Movement Rooted in Partnership 
In her remarks, CEO Jennifer Player traced Habitat’s roots to Koinonia Farm, an interracial farming community founded in rural Georgia in the 1940s that modeled radical fellowship and faced violent opposition for it. Drawing a connection to our present moment, she affirmed that “Koinonia didn’t quit, so neither will we.” 

“Habitat for Humanity was built for this moment. Not just as an organization, not just as a mission, but as a movement: a movement that’s grounded in history and propelled by hope. A movement rooted in radical fellowship and justice and neighbors building alongside neighbors. A movement that has grown across more than a thousand places in the U.S. and over 70 countries, alongside millions of volunteers and donors and partners, and of course, our incredible homeowners. A movement that knows how to listen, to learn from our mistakes, to roll up our sleeves, and to innovate, depending on what the moment requires. A movement that is fueled by the determination of homeowners, who refuse to give up on a better future for themselves and their families.” 

— Jennifer Player, CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, NC 

The Farm to Table Dinner was infused with that founding spirit of neighbors showing up for neighbors. 

A Homeowner’s Story 
Montessori teacher and new homeowner Shelly offered one of the evening’s most moving moments, sharing her experience purchasing a home at Weaver’s Grove through Habitat’s homeownership program. In her original poem, For Keeps, she described the physical work of building her own home: frigid days, sweat-soaked afternoons, and muddy boots — all of it, she wrote, “the best experience of my life.” 

Shelly’s story reflects Habitat’s core model: homeownership not as charity, but as partnership — not a handout, but a hand up. 

Sponsors and Community Partners 
The event was made possible through the generous support of presenting sponsors Pinnacle Financial Partners, Blackfin Real Estate Investors, National Coatings, Inc., Bagwell Holt Smith, P.A., and Gonzalez Painters and Contractors, along with host Chef Paris Mishoe. Additional thanks to Under the Gable for event design and décor and University Florist for donating the evening’s floral arrangements.  

About Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, NC 
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, NC partners with households to create healthier, more secure lives. Together with homeowners, Habitat makes homeownership a reality and builds brighter futures for families in the community. Habitat builds new homes for local families who already live or work in Orange County, with homes sold through low-interest mortgages and monthly payments set at 30% or less of a family’s income. In addition to new construction, Habitat also assists existing homeowners, including those in non-Habitat homes, with critical repairs. 

Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, NC is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a global nonprofit housing organization. 

To learn more and to support Orange Habitat’s work, visit orangehabitat.org. 

High-resolution photos from the event are available upon request. 

Contact:
Emily Oglesby, Communications Manager 
eoglesby@orangehabitat.org 
919-278-7201