CEO Build initiative gets underway in Greenville

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Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County has launched its CEO Build program with 30 local executives participating in a recent wall raising ceremony to mark the start of construction on two homes.

With eight homes built in seven years, the CEO Build initiative is one of Habitat for Humanity’s most anticipated builds, according to a news release. The number of participating CEOs continues to grow as more area leaders gain interest in joining their peers on the build site.

“We couldn’t be happier to celebrate with these two families as they begin the final stages of the homeownership process,” Habitat CEO Build Chairman Dick Wilkerson, said in the release. “It takes hard work and dedication to build a great business and we look forward to using these qualities to strengthen Greenville’s great community.”

The CEO Build provides local executives an opportunity to forge relationships with community members by building alongside Habitat homeowners and fellow area leaders.

“When a homeowner and CEO get to know each other and have conversation, it changes perceptions on both sides,” Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County CEO Monroe Free, said in the release. “Habitat homeowners work on the build site right alongside our volunteers as part of the ‘sweat equity’ portion of the homeownership program. Our homeowners work through every step of the process so, for them, the wall raising ceremony isn’t the beginning of their journey; it’s a celebration of the final stages in the process.”

Participating companies include: AFL, Auro Hotels, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Bright Co., city of Greenville, Commerce Club, Community Foundation of Greenville, Corley Plumbing, Design Strategies, Encore Containers, Ethox Chemicals, Fluor, Greater Greenville Association of Realtors, Greenville County Redevelopment Authority, Prisma Health, Greenville Maintenance Services, Greenville Technical College, House of Raeford, The Marchant Co., Meritage Homes, Publix Supermarket Charities, SC Telco Federal Credit Union, South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development, Southern Fried Green Tomatoes, Spinx, TD Bank, Terminix, The Blood Connection, United Way of Greenville County, Walmart Distribution and Warehouse Services.