Tracy Sawyer was all smiles this past Saturday morning despite the cloudy, dreary weather as she helped raise the northern wall of her new home with the help of friends, Habitat for Humanity volunteers, and McKinney City Council members during a Wall Raising Ceremony in her honor. It could not be more fitting that Tracy’s home will be the beneficiary of the 2010 Smiles for Habitat Concert and Family Festival. Smiles for Habitat was founded in 2008 and has been able to raise enough funds to build two complete homes for two deserving families. Celeste Faro of the North Collin County Habitat for Humanity says it costs nearly $65,000 to build one of their homes.
Tracy was born and raised in McKinney so it was only natural for her to dream that her Habitat home would be built in McKinney. Tracy was approved for a Habitat home in the fall of 2008 and immediately started working on the 300 Sweat Equity hours required in order to receive keys to her home. Tracy’s two sons, Eric and Josiah, fill Tracy’s life with fun boy activities. Both boys attend Burks Elementary in McKinney. Eric, age 10, is into electric games, computers, and loves to read. Josiah, age 9, would rather be outside and isn’t too fond of reading. Tracy is a Lead Nurse Aid caring for Alzheimer’s patients at Provident Living Center in McKinney. Despite the busy life she leads, Tracy’s constant smile and friendly laugh are contagious spreading to everyone she meets.
Please mark your calendar for the 2010 Smiles for Habitat Concert and Family Festival which will be held Sunday May 30th from 5:00-10:00 pm. Founded by local orthodontist Dr. Jennifer Buchanan, Smiles for Habitat succeeds in realizing its goal of providing the basic necessity of shelter to deserving families who strive hard to achieve their dream of home ownership. Smiles for Habitat is unique in that it unites an exciting, free, family-oriented event with local business partners and corporate sponsors and ultimately donates all proceeds back to the community through Habitat for Humanity. The results are tangible: you can drive by and see the homes that have been built through the generosity of local businesses who share Dr. Buchanan’s vision. If you would like to be a sponsor, please call Dr. Buchanan at 972-542-4412. For more information please email us at smilesforhabitat@gmail.com.
