Ron Terwilliger, Trammell Crow Residential nationial managing partner and a member of Habitat's intarnational board of directors.

Individual Support Lifts Habitat Toward Goal

Although corporate partnerships played a significant role in the More Than Houses campaign's success, individual donors deserve equal recognition for their generosity. Through their financial commitments to the campaign's Developer and Legacy societies, individual donors made a large impact on Habitat's ability to meet the ambitious goals of the campaign.

Members of the More Than Houses Developer Society made commitments to Habitat for Humanity of at least $1 million, while members of the Legacy Society have planned to benefit Habitat after their lifetimes--whether in the form of a bequest, annuity or other planned-giving arrangement--and have notified Habitat of their intentions.

Ron and Fran Terwilliger are prime examples of the dedicated donors who made the campaign a success. The Terwilligers made a planned gift to Habitat's Legacy Society, as well as a direct contribution to the organization's headquarters in Americus, Ga., and another to their local affiliate in Atlanta, Ga.

As a member of Habitat for Humanity International's board of directors, and as national managing partner for Trammell Crow Residential, Ron Terwilliger has a special interest in Habitat and its impact on poverty housing.

His belief in Habitat and the need for affordable housing shows as he speaks about the ministry's role in eliminating substandard housing.

"More and more people are struggling to find a decent place to live," he said. "Habitat's advocacy and daily work on a crisis that is becoming increasingly apparent to people worldwide should continue to adapt to the needs of the families living in substandard housing."

Terwilliger's interest in Habitat started soon after he began traveling with Trammell Crow Residential in the mid-1980s. His minister, Frank Harrington at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, sparked an interest in Habitat, and Terwilliger soon found himself increasingly involved. He was elected to the Habitat board of directors and was elected in 2000. Since then, Terwilliger has become a vocal advocate for Habitat and affordable housing worldwide.

"The More Than Houses campaign has given us reason to believe we can dream bigger, focus on partnerships and emphasize families," Terwilliger said. "It broadened (Habitat's) vision as to what is possible."

(RETURN)