Honoring Jimmy Carter: A Legacy of Building Hope

ZANESVILLE, OH – The Habitat for Humanity of Southeastern Ohio joined the world in saying goodbye to former President Jimmy Carter, whose passion for helping others leaves a lasting legacy.

After leaving the White House, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter wanted to continue dedicating their lives to service. In 1984, they began volunteering with the Habitat for Humanity, starting with the renovation of an abandoned building.

“This story started almost 40 years ago. In 1984, President and Mrs. Carter volunteered on a build site in America’s Georgia. They quickly realized that the Habitats mission closely aligned with their values, and a beautiful partnership began. Later that year, they led a work project in New York City, and they were able to build 19 homes in partnership with low to moderate income families. That started what we now know as the Carter Work Project.” Habitat for Humanity of Southeastern Ohio’s Community Engagement Director, Melissa Best said.

Over the past three decades, Carter inspired more than 108,000 volunteers and helped build, renovate, or repair 4,447 Habitat homes across the world.

“The Carter’s touched the world by inspiring over 108,000 volunteers. That’s an incredible number. They were able to repair over 4,000 homes in 14 countries. They’ve done amazing work, and they have inspired others to do amazing work so we can continue the Habitats mission of providing safe, decent, and affordable homes.” Best said.

From Southeast Ohio to communities across the globe, Carter’s work with the Habitat for Humanity will continue to inspire generations to come.