GAF Employees Partner With Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity for the 2023 Women Build

Local GAF employees joined forces with Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity to participate in Women Build on Thursday, July 13. Along with other volunteers, they worked to construct two homes in Habitat’s new Legacy Landing Development in Castle Hayne, North Carolina, that will be purchased by female homeowners, helping them realize their dreams of homeownership.

Team members at GAF, North America’s largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer, arrived on site early Thursday morning with enthusiasm and determination to help Habitat staff construct the first two of ten homes in the Legacy Landing neighborhood located off Rockhill Road in Castle Hayne. By 2 p.m., a new roof was secured and flashed, multiple windows and doors were installed, and site prep began on the next home. In addition to volunteering, GAF donated the roofing materials for the two homes in this year’s Women Build as part of its social impact program, GAF Community Matters. Since its inception in 2020, GAF Community Matters has helped to repair the roofs of more than 3,000 homes nationwide.

Rossy Gibson, an employee at GAF, assisted in the build. “We love coming out here and helping our community,” she said. “This is our third year participating in Women Build, and our employees are dedicated to this event.”

Funded and constructed primarily by women, Women Build fosters an empowering work site inspiring participants to take leadership roles and learn new skills while building homes, communities, and hope.

Women Build is a signature event presented annually by Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity. This year’s two-week initiative raised significant funds through individuals, teams, and corporate sponsorships. Over 300 volunteers participated in the construction of these homes, built primarily by women.

Founded in 1987 as an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, Cape Fear Habitat has served 380 hard-working families in Pender, Duplin and New Hanover Counties. Habitat families invest 250 to 400 hours in the homeownership program, participating in financial counseling, volunteering at ReStores and taking hands-on home maintenance classes. They also work on site to build their own homes and the homes of other Habitat families. After completing the 12- to 18-month program, participants pay a low-interest mortgage which goes to fund the homes of other deserving families. 

With staff and the involvement of hundreds of individual, corporate and faith volunteers, Cape Fear Habitat builds 16-18 homes each year. Begun in response to Hurricane Florence, Cape Fear Habitat now provides critical home repair through its Home Repair Program. Through this program, Cape Fear Habitat helps preserve the value of owner-occupied homes promoting wealth creation for lower-income families in New Hanover, Pender, and Duplin counties. The affiliate also manages three ReStore locations in Wilmington that sell new and gently used household goods, furniture and remodeling supplies generating enough income to offset all administrative costs for the organization.

GAF, a Standard Industries company, is North America’s largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer. For more than 130 years, GAF has been trusted to protect what matters most for families, communities and business owners with its innovative solutions and focus on customer service. GAF’s leadership extends to its commitment to making a positive social impact in the communities it serves.

Through the GAF Community Matters initiative, GAF leverages its expertise, resources, and products to help build resilient, thriving, and sustainable communities of the future. For more information about GAF, please visit www.gaf.com/communitymatters.