HabiStore

Long Realty Cares Foundation Provides Start-up Funding

New Habitat for Humanity Venture: HabiStore

Long Realty Cares Foundation donated an unprecedented $200,000 to Habitat for Humanity Tucson to launch their new HabiStore: Home Improvement Center. “The HabiStore has been a dream of ours for a decade,” said Michael McDonald, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Tucson. “Long Realty Cares Foundation shared our vision and stepped up to make it reality years ahead of schedule with their substantial donation. Revenues generated from HabiStore, which opened in February 2006, will be used to fund eight to ten additional Habitat homes in greater Pima County within the store’s first three years. Habitat currently builds 30 homes each year for deserving low-income families.

Although the concept is new to Tucson, it is modeled after 300 Habitat Home Improvement Centers already established nationwide. Through strategic partnerships with property managers, developers, contractors, and residents, items such as new and used building materials, large appliances, furniture, and plumbing fixtures are collected and sold at HabiStore at an average 30 to 50% discount.

“We felt that HabiStore was an opportunity to make a big impact on the communities in which we live and work,” said Pat Jessup, president of Long Realty Cares Foundation. “Habitat for Humanity’s mission, to provide affordable housing to hard working individuals, closely ties in with our Foundation mission.” To help the HabiStore staff collect donations, Long Mortgage Company contributed half of the cost to purchase a moving truck from two Long Mortgage consultants.

3840 S. Palo Verde

Tucson, AZ 85714

(520) 889-7200