The Marine Industries Association of South Florida is preparing to break ground on its second sponsored Habitat for Humanity home.
The home is being built on behalf of Darryl and Maria Henderson and their four children. To date, seven marine companies have joined the MIASF as sponsors of Habitat for Humanity.
Henderson, a disabled Army veteran, and his family were chosen from thousands of applicants. In July the MIASF hosted the Hendersons, Habitat Broward staff members and many marine-industry sponsors at a meet and greet at its headquarters on the New River in Fort Lauderdale.
“Darryl and Maria are perfect examples of hard-working people in need of a hand up, not a handout, to help achieve their dream of home ownership,” Phil Purcell, MIASF’s CEO and president, said in a statement. “More importantly, they’ve agreed to take on the critical role of community captains in their new neighborhood to ensure more families find safe, affordable homes.”
Kristina Hebert, owner of Ward’s Marine Electric and one of the marine-company sponsors of the Hendersons’ home, said she is thrilled to be a Habitat for Humanity sponsor for the second year in a row.
“With this home build, the employees of Ward’s who were volunteers last year are very excited to keep that feeling of gratitude and ‘paying it forward’ going and are especially proud to be helping a veteran family.”
