Since Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County’s inception in 1984, the affiliate has served 250 plus families and affected countless lives.  Who builds these homes you may ask?  Over 6,000 individuals have built homes for the Greenville County affiliate.  To support their builds Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County partners with numerous organizations and businesses in the community to make Habitat for Humanity’s mission a reality.

The act of building a Habitat Home is often the “keystone or mortar” for rebuilding lives.  Many Habitat homeowners have had adversity in life and have no way to afford a home.  The steps individuals take to become a Habitat homeowner provide them with new opportunity, nurturing and the tutelage necessary to become a successful homeowner.  Owning a home can provide stability for the family and children, a renewed sense of dignity and pride, better health and safety and statistically, the potential for better education and job opportunities.

The J.L. Mann Student Body has incurred a great loss with your classmates’ tragic deaths in Ocean Isle Beach House Fire.  With the emotions following the death of Justin, Emily, Travis, and Taylor there is loss, anger, healing and re-birth.  The process of grieving for the departed, however, has its own nature, rhythm and time.  It is important for your student body to find, in time, ways to remember and heal.  

J.L. Mann has chosen Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County as the recipient of this years’ Spirit Week.  Habitat is an organization that offers healing, hope and a home to families in need. These homes, in greater sense, offer individuals “new life.”  Celebrate the lives and memories of your classmates, with “new life” for others.

Thank you for choosing Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County as the recipient of 2008 Spirit Week and I wish you great success!