Dear Friends,
At this time of year when our days are short, our nights long and our Wyoming wind blows a bit more fiercely, we plan for Spring, when a new Habitat family will begin their journey toward the dream of homeownership. We know a home is more than a physical structure. To our partner families, a Habitat home provides a solid foundation on which families can plan for the future and build generational wealth.
This is a special Christmas for me, as it is my last holiday season as the Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County. I look forward to a wonderful future for our affiliate as I have the honor of passing Habitat's Executive Director reins to our Special Projects Coordinator, Dan Dorsch. Dan joined our affiliate in June of 2020 and prior to his hire he was a volunteer and an avid supporter! Dan shares my passion for Habitat, and under his leadership, I am confident we will continue to do meaningful work for the community.
I was hired in December of 2012 as our affiliate's first Executive Director. In the over thirty years since the affiliate was founded, Habitat has built over fifty houses for income-qualified families in Laramie County. While our affiliate is known for our Home Build Program, we build community by providing meaningful programming that changes lives in Laramie County daily throughout the year. When I began my incredible journey with Habitat, we built one or two houses a year and had three employees running two ReStores on the corner of Ames and 18th Avenue. Today, our programs have expanded to include The Fresh Start Fund, Habitat’s Home Repairs Program, and Blueprint For The Future Program. This coming spring we will begin construction on two family homes on Wills Road and get underway rehabbing a house on 10th Street in Cheyenne.
I have always loved big ideas and surrounding myself with people who can help strategize how to bring them to fruition. It has been thrilling watching younger staff blossom in their roles and contribute to the future growth of our affiliate. I believe in growing leaders and have worked hard to ensure that Habitat's work extends beyond house builds. Next year is going to be exciting because we're going to have a number of construction projects underway. Once again, we will need the support of our loyal donors and our outstanding business and nonprofit community partnerships that have been crucial to Habitat's successes over the years.
I look forward to retirement this coming year and spending more time with my wonderful husband, Gaylan, our children and grandchildren. I also plan to give back and volunteer with old and new friends on Habitat's Home Builds. No matter how busy we are, we can always give back, change lives and support one another. As you spend time with loved ones and enjoy the beautiful Christmas lights that brighten Cheyenne this season, please consider supporting our 2023 Home Build projects. Your support will brighten three families' futures. In these turbulent financial times, your gift is a bright beacon of hope that can warm us all this winter.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Kate Wright