The January 2016 newsletter of Habitat for Humanity of Kent County highlights the impact of donations and community involvement, showcasing stories like that of Jonas Bangurambona, a pastor who dedicated his new home, and Donaldo Hernandez, who mentors immigrants while volunteering with Habitat. Additionally, the contribution of Consumers Energy and local businesses like Renewal Real Estate underscores the importance of community support in funding affordable housing initiatives. The newsletter emphasizes the transformative power of homeownership and community connections fostered through Habitat's programs.

1. NEWSLETTER - January 2016
BUILDING HOPEThank you to our donors: We are sharing your stories and impact
4 Habitat for Humanity of Kent County - January 2016 www.HabitatKent.org | 616-774-2431 | 425 Pleasant Street SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Jonas Bangurambona and his family sing a
hymnal of thanksgiving at their recent home
dedication. Jonas is a pastor at a Burundi
church and is looking forward to hosting
church members at their new Habitat home.
(Photo Credit: Mearl Van Diepenbos).
PHOTOS of Consumers Energy’s engagement with Habi-
tat Kent this past year. Volunteers from Consumers Energy
worked on multiple homes in Kent County plus organized a
creative internal fundraiser at one of their call centers raising a
total of $1,290 for Habitat Kent.
Snapshots
of HOPE
he Beer City Saxophone Ensemble began with a passion for
unique sound.
“This is great music, you don’t get a chance to hear five
saxophones playing well with rhythm sections that often.”
Gary McCourry is one of the bandleaders of the ensemble and
helped found the group with Jim Hayward.
“He and I both had the desire to put something like this together
for a while,” McCourry said.
The Beer City Saxophone Ensemble is a 10-member group
made up of musicians that are part of the Grand Rapids Jazz
Orchestra.
This past holiday season they performed a concert to benefit
Habitat Kent hosted at Christ Lutheran Church in Wyoming, MI.
“Habitat for Humanity is such a worthwhile organization,”
McCourry said.
McCourry had his first experience with Habitat in New York
City while playing with the West Point Band for 23 years.
“I think it makes Habitat
for Humanity more visible to
people who wouldn’t know
anything about it.”
“Some people at my church were talking about it all the time,”
McCourry said. This motivated him to organize performances to
benefit Habitat in New York City. When he moved back to
Michigan he brought his passion for Habitat here.
This is the third Habitat Kent benefit concert Gary has been
a part of but the Beer City Saxophone Ensemble performance
was the largest group yet.
“I think it makes Habitat for Humanity more visible to people
who wouldn’t know anything about it.”
From New York City to Kent County, music can be a platform
for powerful change. All it takes is a few simple notes.
GIFTED SOUNDS
T
Volunteers from Consumers
Energy on a build site.
For every popsicle stick earned,
Consumers Energy would donate
$1 to Habitat Kent.
Employees from the Consumers Energy call center who earned
a popsicle stick for every sale they completed.
Volunteers from Consumers Energy presenting the check of $1,290.

2. 2 Habitat for Humanity of Kent County - January 2016
A SIMPLE ACT
OF RENEWAL
Habitat for Humanity of Kent County - January 2016 3
very month Donaldo Hernandez leads members of his
church on a journey that could change the trajectory of their
lives. The church members are seeking immigration consulates
over 150 miles away in Chicago and Detroit. Donaldo helps
provide his congregation with the knowledge and resources to
become United States citizens.
“There’s a lot of fear in the immigration process,” said Her-
nandez, a Habitat Kent homeowner who works at Church of the
Restoration in Wyoming, MI. “There are lots of people in Michi-
gan who are good people and indigenous people that are
suffering.”
Hernandez and his family applied for the Habitat Kent
homeownership program in 2011 after having his own personal
immigration struggles.
“I was deported in 2007 and I was in Honduras for three and
a half years working through this process.”
While Hernandez was thousands of miles from his family, he
got a first-hand experience of Habitat’s impact globally.
“I was inspired by Habitat in Honduras,” Hernandez said.
“These people were really blessed to be a part of this institu-
tion, but I never thought that in Michigan I was going to find
Habitat.”
When he was reunited with his family in Michigan, Hernan-
dez noticed Habitat Kent building homes for two African families
near his church. This motivated him to apply for the program.
“I could see that Habitat didn’t have any specific preferences
for anybody, everyone is the same.”
After facing adversity in his own journey, Habitat Kent was
able to provide Hernandez with a new inspiration.
“I feel like when I came [to Habitat Kent], this is the United
States,” Hernandez said. “The idea of democracy and a greater
family is reflected in Habitat for Humanity.”
Two years have passed since Hernandez, his wife, and two
children moved into their Habitat Kent home. Hernandez remains
involved with Habitat Kent as construction volunteer and donor. His
work at the church continues to focus on mentorship.
“[Habitat Kent] was a huge
impact in every way; economically,
spiritually, emotionally and the
health of everyone in the family.”
The Hernandez family host members of their church for small
groups every week where they share a meal, study scripture and
encourage each other through life’s challenges.
“[Habitat Kent] was a huge impact in every way; economically,
spiritually, emotionally and the health of everyone in the family, “
Hernandez said.
His daughter is currently attending Calvin College and travels
from their home to campus on her bike.
Hernandez still feels connected “emotionally and spiritually” to
Habitat Kent through his volunteering and spiritual support.
“We always pray for Habitat to be able to have donors and
people who are able to support the Habitat mission.”
Hernandez hopes to get his church more involved in serving
Habitat Kent in the future.
“One part of the Christian life is faith but the other part is action,
your works,” Hernandez said. “This is what I see in Habitat, people
who have both faith and action.”
E
(ABOVE: Donaldo Hernandez and his family at their home dedication in 2013. RIGHT: The family present day at their home.
His niece, pictured far left, lived with the family when they moved into their Habitat home.)
Read more stories of how your giving builds hope for families at
“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the
Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow
weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:30-31
Scripture of HOPE
ome connects us all. It is a place feel peace and community.
Renewal Real Estate reflects this truth to connect the homes of their
clients to the homes of Habitat families.
Located in Caledonia, MI Renewal Real Estate “invests in the
future of Michigan by contributing 10% of all gross profits to
organizations making a difference in the lives of people,
neighborhoods, and cities throughout the State.”
“Housing is fundamental,” Visser
said. “It’s the basic foundation of
our community.”
This business philosophy comes from president Teresa Visser’s
spiritual gift of giving back to the community.
“If people have a passion for something we want to give them the
opportunity to support it,” Visser (pictured above right) said.
During the closing process for buying or selling a house, Renewal
Real Estate agents offer their clients the opportunity to select which
nonprofit they’d like Renewal’s gift to go towards.
“Immediately, I suggested Women Build and Habitat because it’s
close to my heart,” said Sara Davidson-LeFevre who serves on the
Habitat Kent Women Build Steering Committee.
Jim Thrower (pictured above right) is a real estate agent and
friend of Davidson-LeFevre who helped her buy her original
home. When she was ready to sell the same house this fall,
Thrower, who currently works for Renewal, offered the
opportunity to donate to Habitat Kent.
“It spreads the word about philanthropy and it’s an added
bonus at the end of the home buying process,” Davidson-
LeFevre said.
Although Renewal supports a wide range of non-profits and
charities in the community, Visser understands the importance
of homeownership.
“Housing is fundamental,” Visser said. “It’s the basic foun-
dation of our community.”
Visser said one client who was given the options of non-
profits to donate to chose Habitat Kent because her sister is a
Habitat homeowner.
“They know that name and trust that name,” Visser said.
It may be a simple practice done by a local small business,
but the impact can be contagious. These small acts of giving
help promote an attitude of philanthropy and a way to connect
the need for affordable housing in our community.
(ABOVE LEFT photo of Davidson-LeFevre’s former home
courtesy of Davidson-LeFevre; ABOVE RIGHT photo of Visser
and Thrower via Renewal Real Estate)
H
A SMALL ACT OF RENEWAL
/habitatkent
@habitatkent
@habitatkent
/habitatkent
www.habitatkent.org
LASTING INSPIRATION