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Women Build – Women Building a Better Community

Women Build is a unique Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity project that is focused on empowering women to take an active role to change their community

This effort officially began in September 2008, with crews of women working each Saturday at the 717 White St., Springfield, site.

The four-bedroom Women Build home is being constructed for Catherine Campbell, a mother of five who works at Baystate Medical Center.

“I am so very happy and pleased to be a Habitat homeowner family,” she said. “Just when you think that you’re dreams are just dreams, an organization like Habitat reaches out to lend a hand. I do everything I can do to better my children’s lives, and now this makes them look to the future and believe anything is possible. We just have to reach out and work for it.”

Funding from partners throughout the community, including Baystate Radiology & Imaging, Hasbro, Hampden Bank and Coldwell Banker, provide the necessary financial support to give women the opportunity to put their hands into action for their community.

But Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity needs more than money to make this project a success. Volunteer opportunities are available for women willing to swing hammers, pound nails and perform other construction-related activities on site. There are also ways to help off-site, from attending fundraisers to serving on committees.

The home should be completed in the early 2010.

For more information on getting involved in Women Build contact Sarah Tsitso, director of development and communication, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, at (413) 739-5503 or e-mail tsitso@habitatspringfield.org.

MassMutual women’s group helps build

On three days this summer and fall, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) employees who are part of the company’s Women’s Leadership Initiative rolled up their sleeves and pick up their hammers in support of Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build project.

To support the many MassMutual women who have signed on to help build the Habitat home, MassMutual President and Chief Operating Officer Roger Crandall served lunch to the volunteers on two of the scheduled work days.

“I am delighted to be able to join and support our Women's Leadership Initiative in taking part in this important project. MassMutual's Women's Leadership Initiative provides an opportunity for the leaders in our organization to network and enhance their professional development. In addition, the group actively supports the company's philanthropic priorities like this project with Habitat,” Mr. Crandall said.

In addition to the volunteer labor provided for Women Build, MassMutual also recently awarded a $50,000 grant to Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity that will be used to help construct a new Habitat home on Albermarle Street in Springfield.