Edgewater – The Brannon Center was aglow in Green and Blue as a sold out guest list celebrated affordable housing at Southeast Volusia Habitat for Humanity’s 35th Anniversary Gala Celebration on Saturday, February 8th, at The Brannon Center in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

The semi-formal event featured a silent auction benefitting our affordable Housing and Repair Programs, a fantastic dinner from Laubster’s Catering, dessert from The Bake Shop, music and dancing from DJ Tom, signature drinks, caricature artists and a tribute door frame in honor of President Jimmy Carter’s service to Habitat which attendees signed. This doorframe has recently been installed in a new Habitat Home. Silent Auction donations included artist Ruth Squitieri from the Artist’s Workshop painting live and donating the artwork, two fabulous Italian Vacations donated by Jill Dempsey, a driving experience from New Smyrna Beach Speedway, and donated airplane rides from The NSB Airport and Epic Flight Academy. Special thanks to all of our Gala Sponsors, including Mr. Buddy Davenport of State Farm Insurance who served as a keynote speaker, Mr. Jeff Beck from TopBuild who served as a keynote speaker, Publix Charities and Mr. Larry Mullinax of Mullinax Ford.

In addition to donors, volunteers, and Habitat Staff, guests also included SEV Habitat affiliate founders Ms. Kaye Walker and Mr. Bill Maul and Chair Emeritus Ms. Regis Sloan. A number of elected and municipal officials from our region attended, which made the evening even more special. Our public officials included Ms. Debbie Phillips from U.S Representative Cory Mills’ Office, Volusia County School Board member Jessie Thompson, New Smyrna Beach – Mayor Fred Cleveland, Councilwoman Lisa Martin, Councilman Jason McGuirk and City Manager Mr. Kevin Cowper, Edgewater Mayor Diezel DePew, Vice Mayor Charlotte Gillis and City Manager Mr. Jeffrey Thurmond and Oak Hill Mayor Ricky Taylor. And, President and CEO of the SE Volusia Chamber of Commerce, Mrs. Stephanie Ford. By attending the gala, guests played a vital role in helping local families achieve their dream of homeownership.

Founded in 1989, Southeast Volusia Habitat for Humanity is the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. We envision a world where everyone has a decent place to live and we work towards that vision by bringing people together to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. To accomplish these goals, we invite people of all backgrounds, races, and religions to build and repair houses together in partnership with families in need of affordable housing. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, in the past 35 years, SEV Habitat has built over 160 homes, and repaired hundreds more, in the communities of New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater and Oak Hill.

For more information, please visit www.habitatsev.org Phone: 386-878-4591 | Fax: 386-310-2993
SEV Habitat for Humanity – P.O. Box 1268, Edgewater, FL 32132