Groundbreaking for Habitat Home in Newport News Celebrates a Legacy
Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg broke ground on a new home and celebrated the legacy of its newest building partner on a gloriously sunny September Tuesday morning in Newport News.
The Annie Belle Reavis Tuccori Foundation’s partnership with the local affiliate of the national nonprofit will make home ownership a reality for Tina and her daughter, Keyonna, who will move into the home in 2023.
Tina will purchase the house through Habitat’s first-time Homebuyer Program and will pay back the no-interest mortgage over a period of 20 to 30 years. Those payments will then be “recycled” back into the community so Habitat can continue to construct more homes for qualified families.
“Tina has steady employment, good credit and has now completed over 250 sweat equity working at our ReStores and helping work on other Habitat homes,” said Janet V. Green, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg.
Habitat’s ReStores in Newport News and Williamsburg sell new and gently used items with all proceeds benefitting construction of more local Habitat homes.
“I want to thank everyone for this house,” said Tina with Keyonna by her side. Raised in Brooklyn, Tina works as a daycare instructor and enjoys instilling a passion for art in children.
“This feels like a dream,” she said. “I never thought moving to Virginia that I would be a homeowner. I’m still speechless.”
Habitat’s newest building partner, the Annie Belle Reavis Tuccori Foundation, honors the memory of the beloved Norfolk native who lived most of her life in Newport News and Hampton. For 24 years, Tuccori worked for Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. She was an active member of Ivy Memorial Baptist Church, and upon her death in May 2018, chose to provide for the community with a donation to foster continued change.
“Her dream was for her legacy to positively impact this community, and what better way to have a positive impact than to build a house for this deserving family?” said Amanda Burley, Executive Director of the Foundation “We are so honored to partner with Habitat. We know it would be so important for Annie to see new housing built in the community she loved. She would be proud.”
Newport News Vice Mayor Saundra Cherry congratulated the family and thanked Habitat for its work in the community. Additional partners that have helped with the new construction include the City of Newport News and Newport News Redevelopment & Housing Authority. Custom Vinyl Products (CVP) Windows & Doors and Ferguson are among the in-kind sponsors.
