GLVAR helps Habitat for Humanity build a home in Henderson

Thanks to Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas and support by the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, a hard-working Henderson woman will soon realize her dream of owning her own new home.

In late February, GLVAR donated $100,000 to Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas to sponsor the construction of a home in Henderson.

Six months later, GLVAR volunteers are putting the finishing touches on a new three-bedroom house on Ward Drive in Henderson that soon will be home to Marian Galinato, who has been working side by side with construction crews to finish her home by next month.

“It’s so rewarding to see this home taking shape. I’m thrilled that GLVAR is able to help this deserving local homeowner and to build upon our longstanding partnership with this great organization,” said 2016 GLVAR President Scott Beaudry, a longtime local Realtor. “Our members and their family members have enjoyed working with Habitat for Humanity and volunteering their time and talents to help build this new home for Marian.”

The single-story Habitat for Humanity home will be the 13th that GLVAR has supported over the years. In addition to funding construction of the house, dozens of GLVAR members have volunteered a combined total of more than 241 hours to help build the home, from hammering nails and framing walls to painting, landscaping and more.

“Community service projects like this help our neighborhoods stay strong and vibrant,” Beaudry said. “They also show that Realtors care about our community.”

To qualify for Habitat’s homeownership program, working homeowners like Galinato must meet income requirements and perform 300 hours of volunteer “sweat equity” building other Habitat homes, including the one they eventually will own.

Galinato’s home is the latest addition to a neighborhood that already includes six other single-family homes Habitat Las Vegas has developed on Merze Avenue and Ward Drive, as part of its community revitalization efforts in Henderson’s Pittman area near Boulder Highway and Sunset Road.

It is the 107th home the organization has built in Southern Nevada, said Meg Delor, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas. She said it wouldn’t be possible without support by volunteers, companies and organizations like GLVAR.

“Our corporate partners are integral to the success of fulfilling Habitat Las Vegas’ mission, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to join forces with GLVAR,” Delor said. “By working together with our community supporters, neighborhoods become safer and resilient. This, in turn, secures a healthier future for our families.”

Since it was established in Clark County in 1991, Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas has provided simple, decent and affordable homes for low-income families, in addition to helping transform and strengthen communities throughout Southern Nevada. The not-for-profit organization utilizes volunteer labor and donated time, materials and funds. Each home is sold at no profit to the organization and with a zero-interest mortgage to local working families who otherwise might be forced to live in substandard housing. For more information, visit lasvegashabitat.org.

GLVAR was founded in 1947 and provides more than 12,500 local members with education, training and political representation. The local representative of the National Association of Realtors, GLVAR is the largest professional organization in Southern Nevada. For more information, visit LasVegasRealtor.com. E-mail your real estate questions to communications@glvar.org.