Over the last 10 years, Richmond Habitat’s Women Build program has engaged more than 2,000 local women on 10 home builds and raised more than $300,000 for affordable housing. This year marked the largest Women Build program with more than 400 volunteers nearly completing an entire Habitat home.
“It’s been amazing seeing this program grow since its relaunch a decade ago,” Whitney Guthrie, Vice President of Community Engagement, said. “We started out with one week dedicated to building with local women to now completing an entire home.”
According to Habitat for Humanity International, women and children are the most likely to be affected by poor living conditions. The Women Build program provides awareness of the affordable housing need for this segment of the population and the opportunity for women to take a proactive step in serving the local community.
The 2024 Women Build program had 17 sponsors who volunteered and raised funds including many long-standing supporters like Virginia Physicians for Women, KPMG, and Marsh & McLennan Agency.
With help from the Women Build Council, the program also put together two fundraisers, the Comedy Show and the She Builds Bash. The Council includes ten members, many of whom have spent the past 10 years helping to build the program. Christina Irby enjoys volunteering and feels grateful to be part of the program while helping local families.
See photos below of Women Build volunteers throughout the years.
