Habitat for Humanity dedicates Bivins home

Mike Williams, Lacrecia Bivins, Michelle Morales, Mike Campbell, Aileen Laughlin, John Shelly, and Mike Owen

Mike Williams, left, with home owner Lacrecia Bivins, Michelle Morales, Mike Campbell, Aileen Laughlin, John Shelly, and Mike Owen.

By Palm Beach Business.com

BOYNTON BEACH — Some people save money for a down payment on a home. Habitat for Humanity owners make the down payment using their two hands, working to help others and working to help themselves. Habitat calls it sweat equity.

Lacrecia Bivins began “saving” for her Habitat home last October, investing her sweat equity in other Habitat for Humanity homes and eventually her own. The hard work paid off on June 27, when Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County dedicated a home in Boynton Beach for Bivens and her three children.

The ceremony kicked off with music sung by Jessica White. The Rev. Glenn Lyons dedicated the home and board member Diana Hileman, of Rutherford Mulhall, P.A. presented the history of the affiliate.

Boca Raton’s Estahakee chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution donated an outdoor American Flag kit. The flag flew for the first time at the ceremony while Lacrecia’s children, Josiah, Jacob and Jubari, led the audience in the pledge of allegiance.

The Boca Raton Resort & Club sponsored the home with a $70,000 donation made through the Community Contribution Tax Credit Program. The program provides an incentive to encourage Florida corporations to make donations toward community development and low income housing projects. Corporations located anywhere in Florida that make donations to approved community development projects may receive a tax credit equal to the value of the donation. Businesses may take the credit on Florida corporate income tax, franchise tax, or insurance premium tax.

The Bivins home is the third Habitat for Humanity project that the Boca Raton Resort & Club has financially supported in South Florida. The company has provided volunteer labor on several other homes in the past.

"As our team helps work with these incredible volunteers today, we are filled with immense feelings of happiness and hope." said Sandra Tagliavia, Director of Human Resources for the Boca Raton Resort & Club.

Others who contributed pro bono to the home: All Point Screw, Bolt & Specialty Co.; Dixie Blueprint Service, Inc.; DMS Recyling; Habitat ReStore; Hunter Douglas; Kevin Holler; Kohler; K-Rain, Inc.; McCarron Associates; Square D; Sunflower Landscaping & Maintenance; Valspar Corp.; and Whirlpool Home Appliance.

Groups that helped build this home with the Habitat Build Team include: Bank of America; Boca Raton Resort & Club; Concordia College; Habitat's FAU Campus Chapter; Fordham University; Junior League of Boca Raton; Lake Superior State University; MDVIP; Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department; SunTrust Bank; Unity of Delray Beach Church; U.S. Marine Corps for Fleet Week; and U.S. Navy for Fleet Week.

Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1991 and serves Boca Raton, Boynton Beach and Delray Beach. Each partner family is required to invest 500 hours of their time in the construction of Habitat homes, with the majority of hours being invested in their own home.

They must then pay back the actual cost of the home through a principal only mortgage, while paying taxes and insurance. The idea is to build self-esteem in the partner families, which benefits the individual family and the community as a whole.

On almost any given Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, volunteers are invited to work on a house in the community.

Sandra Tagliavia of Boca Raton Resort & Club, with Lacrecia Bevin ’s son, Jubari.

Sandra Tagliavia of Boca Raton Resort & Club, with Lacrecia Bevin ’s son, Jubari.

Habitat Volunteer Coorindator Michelle Morales, left, with board member Diana Hileman and Construction Supervisor Helen Bass.

Habitat Volunteer Coorindator Michelle Morales, left, with board member Diana Hileman and Construction Supervisor Helen Bass.

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