Cox Industries is celebrating the groundbreaking of a second Cox-sponsored Habitat House on October 25, 2008. For the second year, Cox Industries is sponsoring the construction of a Habitat home in conjunction with the Edisto Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Cox Industries’ sponsorship of the complete house includes construction costs, totaling $42,000, donation of building materials, and employee support during construction. To date, Cox has raised more than $26,000 for the project thanks to the generous collaboration of employees and business partners. 

This year’s Cox house is being built for a local grandmother and her two grandchildren. Jamie Bozardt, Project Coordinator for the Edisto Chapter of Habitat for Humanity states, “I have seen a change in this family since they entered our program. They now have hope...where there was none before!”

Families are selected for the Habitat program based on their need for housing, their ability to make monthly payments on a 25 year no interest mortgage, and their willingness to give 350 hours of sweat equity time working on their own home and the homes of other families. They also receive hours by working in the Habitat Homestore and by attending homeowner and budgeting classes. With the help of donations (both material and monetary) and a team of local volunteers, construction of the home is expected to be complete in approximately two months. This family should be in their new home by mid-December, just in time to celebrate the holidays.

Mikee Johnson, President of Cox Industries states, “Despite these egregious times in the housing market and our economy in general, our Cox Family of employees wanted to experience a Habitat project again in 2008. In fact, it is this current economic crisis that makes Habitat such a worthy endeavor. In today’s world, where we often find both the wealthy and the poor taking advantage of our system, Habitat scrutinizes its candidates, selects the deserved and, as a group, allows us to celebrate ‘true American dreams’. When so many terrible stories abound in the media, it is cathartic to be a part of something good and something real. We are honored to have the opportunity to again build a Habitat Home that will be a part of this community. Through good and bad times, we stand by our Core Value of ‘supporting our nation and local communities’. Finally, we thank our many supporters who assisted us in again making this project a reality.”