ST. PETERSBURGH, Fla. (WFLA) – Community leaders got together Tuesday to build a home for a family in St. Petersburg. This will serve as the first official build day for Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside’s fourth annual CEO Build.
Football Hall of Famer Rondé Barber, who is also General Chair of the Valspar Championship, has helped out every single year, and says it never gets old.
“I’ve been there for a long time, 28 years I have been a part of Tampa Bay, 16 years with the Tampa Bay Bucs and many years after doing other things, but one of the pillars that was placed on me when I got here with was, ‘What more can you do for other people?'” said Barber.
In 2022, Habitat introduced the first annual CEO Build, where more than 50 CEOs united to help raise over $160,000 to sponsor the home build for a local family.
Now in its fourth year, the CEO Build has grown in participation and impact with 75 leaders raising $300,000 to help provide a safe and affordable home for the Simmons Family.
“I’ve been a single mom for many years. I raised my daughters. I’m on my own and a hard-working dedicated mom, so that I can do this for us and pass something down to my girls. It feels great,” said Lace Simmons.
Homeowner Lace Simmons said she’s more than grateful and hopes her story inspires others.
‘When you’re a mom you gotta do what you gotta do. You make it work. You make sure your kids have that stability. That love. It’s been an honor for me to raise my daughters as a single mom. For all those other moms, they can do it, too,” she said.