With a key donation of $15,000 from SouthEast Bank, Knoxville Habitat for Humanity recently added a newly built home in the Ellen’s Glen community, extending ownership to a local family during a home dedication on December 11th. The event included remarks from former Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale, numerous Knoxville Habitat executives, SouthEast Bank CEO Bill Thompson, and concluded with a home blessing by Andrea Skinner of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. In addition to keys to their new home, the family also received housewarming supplies donated by local non-profits, including Second Harvest Food Bank.
Families like these work with Knoxville Habitat to attain homeownership after meeting three core qualifications: a demonstrated need for affordable housing, capacity to invest a minimum of 300 hours in “sweat equity” toward their or other Knoxville Habitat housing projects, and readiness for the financial responsibilities of homeownership. Prospective homeowners undergo orientation and several rounds of review before Board of Directors approval.
Ellen’s Glen is a 34-home community named in honor of Knoxville Habitat founder Ellen Roddy Mitchell and funded by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency and Knox County Community Development. This home was built to particularly honor two Knoxville leaders, Former County Executive Dwight Kessel and Former Commissioner Tank Strickland, and has been called the “Bipartisan Build.” The project received overwhelming support from current Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and Knoxville City Major Indya Kincannon, as well as other contributing partners.
“The Bipartisan Build reflects the power of community and collaboration, showcasing what we can accomplish when we come together across perspectives to support affordable homeownership,” says Anna Engelstad, CEO of Knoxville Habitat for Humanity. “Knoxville Habitat is proud to work with SouthEast Bank and others who share our vision of building strength, stability, and opportunity in our community.”
“We’ve seen firsthand how homeownership has the power to change lives for the better,” says Jimmy Dalton, SouthEast Bank’s Community Reinvestment Officer. “That’s why we’re dedicated to supporting the families that make up our communities and grateful to have partnered with Knoxville Habitat for Humanity on a project that is doing just that.”
About SouthEast Bank:
SouthEast Bank is a community bank headquartered in Farragut, Tennessee. With assets in excess of $2.6 billion, SouthEast Bank offers a full suite of loan and deposit products and services for families and businesses throughout Middle and East Tennessee, including its specialty consumer loan division, ELFI, which specializes in educational loan programs. SouthEast Bank is committed to the financial success of its customers, employees, and communities. Local decision-making and community involvement have been the driving successes of SouthEast Bank since its inception. Member FDIC.
For more information, visit www.southeastbank.com or call 1-844-732-2657.
Media Contact:
Mary Seward
SouthEast Bank Marketing Manager
mseward@southeastbank.com
865-352-1262
