Realtor board partners on Habitat for Humanity build
The North Pulaski Board of Realtors recently partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas to help the organization with a build. Board members and affiliates worked for three days on a home in North Little Rock.
“Our 2024 NPBOR president, Denise Cunningham, decided during her year of presidency that she wanted NPBOR to be of service in each of the communities that we represent as a Board of Realtors,” said Brianna Keysacker, association executive for NPBOR. “Melinda Purvis of Coldwell Banker RPM Group in North Little Rock was elected as our public-relations and community-services chair and wanted to pair up with Habitat for Humanity as a way for Realtors to give back to the North Little Rock community.”
Purvis said the idea to work with Habitat for Humanity was well-received by the board members.
“I contacted Habitat, and they were very open and gracious to the idea of allowing us to help with a build,” Purvis said. “Then through the efforts of the Arkansas Realtors Association and its Hearts & Homes Committee, we were able to actually sponsor and give $40,000 toward the build.”
BJ Matthews, executive director of Hearts & Homes of Arkansas Inc., said the organization is a charity run by the Arkansas Realtors Association and established in 2009.
“We love Habitat for Humanity, and we are able to fund these builds through the Realtor license-plate program with the Department of Finance and Administration,” Matthews said. “Hearts & Homes receives $25 per plate that is issued, and the funds are designated specifically for Habitat for Humanity builds. We’re able to fund two to three [builds] per year.”
Morgan Benton, executive assistant for Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas, said NPBOR volunteers made great progress on the home during their three days of service.
“They primed and painted the entire interior of the home and installed baseboards and window trim, as well as door frames and doors,” Benton said. “They helped us make tons of progress in just three days.”
Benton said around 30 Realtors contributed almost 100 volunteer hours to the project.
“Donations of this size, both time and monetary, are extremely impactful to our affiliate,” Benton said. “Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas serves Pulaski County, building single-family homes in developing areas that are then sold to qualified homebuyers at zero percent interest. The Hearts & Homes donation covered about one-third of the cost to build this home, meaning we can extend our mission further and deeper — building more strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter for Arkansans right here.”