The Rotary Club of Bonita Springs Helps Secure $50,000 from Rotary District 6960 for Habitat’s Disaster Recovery Program!

FORT MYERS, FL (June 13, 2018) – Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties has been awarded $50,000 from the Rotary Club of Bonita Springs and Rotary District 6960 to support the Disaster Recovery Program.
After Hurricane Irma devastated Lee and Hendry Counties, it became evident to Habitat for Humanity that there was no local organization better suited than Habitat for Humanity to help low-income families repair their homes.
“We chose to work with Habitat, not only because there was no other nonprofit working to solve our housing crisis, but because of their excellent track record at selecting the neediest families and completing the building in a safe and cost-effective manner,” explained Sandra Hemstead, Rotary District 6960 Governor-Elect.
Habitat for Humanity of Lee & Hendry Counties created the Disaster Recovery Program (DRP) to aid in the recovery efforts of residents in Lee and Hendry Counties who need home repairs because of a major natural disaster. The program is operational with construction and intake staff, forty-three active client repair projects, and over $800,000 committed to support the program.
“Immediately after Irma, our seven Rotary Clubs in southwest Florida worked in chain saw teams to cut trees that fell due to wind damage and gutted homes flooded with water,” explained Vince Modarelli, Rotarian and Major Gifts Officer for Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties. “All in all, local Rotarians assisted 200 families with immediate needs after the storm.”
Funding from Rotary District 6960 will be used for critical repairs of fifteen owner-occupied homes in southwest Florida. This funding will offset the cost to repair or replace roofs, repair water or flood damage, replace windows and doors, and more.
“Most of the disaster victims we see are very low income, and many are elderly,” explained Modarelli. “If the homeowner has insurance or FEMA funds, those must be applied to the work first. Then we fill in what is lacking to cover the cost required for repairs. We require Disaster Recovery Program applicants to participate in some way, whether financially or through ‘sweat equity’.”
Additionally, DRP program applicants in Lee and Hendry Counties must meet eligibility requirements including earning less than 80% of the area median income, unless they are veterans, in which case they can make up to 100% of AMI.
“This $50,000 funding marks Rotary’s cornerstone investment in our partnership efforts to build a long-term recovery tool utilizing Habitat’s local experience rehabilitating homes in need,” shared Modarelli. “We are excited about our growing partnership in southwest Florida because it is laying a local framework that can be replicated and utilized throughout the United States as part of Habitat for Humanity International’s recent partnership with Rotary International.”
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About Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties
Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties is one of the largest Habitat affiliates in the country. Since 1982, 1,500 families in need of a hand up have partnered with Habitat Lee and Hendry to build or improve their home. Habitat homeowners, alongside volunteers, help build their own home and pay an affordable mortgage. Through volunteering, financial or material donations, everyone can help Lee and Hendry county families achieve strength, stability and independence. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit www.habitat4humanity.org
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About Rotary District 6960
Rotary districts are groups of clubs. We’re a grassroots organization that carries out our most meaningful service work through our Rotary clubs. Each club elects its own officers and enjoys considerable autonomy within the framework of Rotary’s constitution and bylaws. Rotary districts support these efforts and are led by district governors. What we know today as District 6960 is the result of 13 areas regrouping over many years, each one resulting in smaller geographical areas. The most recent regrouping in 1991 established District 6960 in Southwest Florida with 44 clubs. Since that time, we have grown to over 50 clubs.
Photo captions
Photo 1 – On May 18, a group of Rotary Leaders from several clubs in District 6960 (from Bradenton to Marco Island) volunteered to paint a Habitat home in San Carlos Park for Ivonne, a single mother of 5 who lost her rental home of 8 years to Hurricane Irma.
Photo 2 – (May 18) Rotary District Governor-Elect Sandra Hemstead painting the home of Ivonne.
Photo 3 – On June 6, Habitat for Humanity Lee and Hendry Counties’ CEO Kitty Green accepted a $50,000 donation from District 6960 Governor Bobbi Bird, which was presented on behalf of the Hurricane Irma Donor Advised Fund of Rotary International while Rotarians from six area clubs look on. (L-R; Rotary Club Treasurer Jack Alexander of Sanibel-Captiva, Rotarian Roger Dick of Naples Bay, Rotary Club President Cindy Cedeno of Bonita Springs Noon, Rotary District Governor Nominee Rich Kirschner of Naples, Habitat for Humanity Lee and Hendry Counties CEO Kitty Green, Rotary District Governor-Elect Sandra Hemstead of Bonita Springs, Rotary Club President Tom Patricca of Estero, Rotary District Governor Bobbi Bird of Bonita Springs, Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties Major Gifts Officer Vince Modarelli)
Photo 4 – (June 6) Habitat for Humanity Lee and Hendry Counties’ CEO Kitty Green accepts a $50,000 donation from District 6960 Governor Bobbi Bird. (L-R; Rotary District Governor Nominee Rich Kirschner of Naples, Rotary Club President Tom Patricca of Estero, Habitat for Humanity Lee and Hendry Counties CEO Kitty Green, Rotary District Governor-Elect Sandra Hemstead of Bonita Springs, Habitat for Humanity Lee and Hendry Counties Major Gifts Officer Vince Modarelli, Rotary District Governor Bobbi Bird of Bonita Springs)