Champions Rotary Prepares to Build Habitat Home

Not long after chartering in 2016, members of the Justin-based Rotary Club of Champions learned about the splendid work being done helping families achieve home ownership through Habitat for Humanity. 

Right after Habitat for Humanity of Denton County Executive Director Lora Blakeslee Atkinson made a presentation, one of the club’s original members, Glenn Hulcher, challenged his peers that day saying if they were able to raise $35,000, he would match it. To build a home through Habitat back then cost $70,000.

“We were still early in our organization still trying to get structured on how we come up with the best fundraising strategies and weren’t equipped and ready to take on raising the money, so we waited for a while,” said Cheryl Hughey, Champions’ current president. 

By the time Lisa Dyer served as president five years later, the group had grown enough to return to Hulcher’s challenge and take on the project. By then, however, Hulcher passed away, plus the cost had risen to about $200,000. 

But after another presentation by Lora with Habitat, this time, the majority of the members approved of the action. 

“At that time, we thought it might take us five years to get the money,” Cheryl said. 

Thanks to funds raised through three golf tournaments, a $45,000 state grant, in-kind donations, and Glenn’s family’s pledge to still contribute the $35,000, groundbreaking for a house will take place Oct. 25 at 2 pm on the southeast corner of 2nd and Jackson streets in Old Town Justin. 

“Our members are excited to get started,” Cheryl said. “The raising of the funds has been good, but the excitement of meeting the family and seeing it come to life and know that we all as a team came together to do that, I think will be a really good spark for the club and the community.”

In-kind donations will be provided by companies providing the roof, HVAC system, windows, and other items. Cheryl said additional opportunities remain for other businesses to become partners. The goal is to finish the house and turn over the key to the owners by the end of March. 

“We knew the obstacles would be the time and being able to raise the money but also finding land,” said Lisa, who as a Realtor also serves as liaison between the club and Habitat. “We knew in Justin, land has been in families for years, and they don’t want to donate it or sell it. So, I worked with Lora and Tom Rufer, head of land acquisition team, and the city manager, and city planner looking at vacant lots in Old Town, reaching out to those property owners, and not getting anywhere. 

“It just so happened I had a past client (Tom Knox) who had bought some property. He and his wife and I had lunch, and the conversation organically came up, and he ended up selling the land for about half of what it was really worth.”

That was about a year ago, with the property exchange closing this past July. 

Cheryl pointed out that recipient families don’t receive their houses for free. They do, however, achieve ownership at a lower cost and interest rate than without Habitat. 

“That’s what I like that Habitat stands for. They still hold the family accountable to pay along the way but make it more affordable for them,” Cheryl said. “Hopefully it helps the family know that the hard work does pay off and paying your own home is something to be proud of.”

Rotary Club of Champions, which has grown to nearly 70 members primarily living in Justin, Argyle, Northlake, Ponder, Robson Ranch, Roanoke, Keller, and parts of Denton, meets each Wednesday from 8-9 am at the Mule Barn in Justin. For more information including how to join, visit clubofchampionsrotary.com.