WELCOME TO
Jan and Mike CARTER's
50th ANNIVERSARY
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP WEB PAGE

A Message from Jan & Mike .....

Dear Friends and Family,

 How is it possible that we will celebrate our 50^th anniversary in November? 
Our 2 kids were just born, started kindergarten, first dates, college and their marriages. 
And grandchildren? 
We love and cherish all of them. 

 We’ve had a wonderful life, been blessed with family and friends, and have had successful careers. 
 We thought about a party or taking a trip to celebrate,
but decided that nothing would commemorate our 50 years
as well as doing something for someone else to “pay it forward” .

 To that end, we are sponsoring a house
 to be built by Habitat for Humanity of Citrus County (HFHCC)
 for a family in need.  The family has been  screened and selected by HFHCC. 
 They will  provide “sweat equity” on the house, and pay back an interest-free mortgage. 
 The mortgage moneys paid by Habitat homeowners are used to build more houses, again “paying it forward”.

 The foundation will be poured and the walls will be raised later this month. 
We are asking you not to send card or presents, but to consider  a generous donation to commemorate our anniversary
and to help our other family. 
Our hearts are here.

 May God Bless You & Those You Love,

Jan & Mike

Jan & Mike with their new "other family".

Habitat for Humanity of Citrus County was incorporated in April of 1993. Since that time we are proud to have built 28 homes putting 39 adults and 66 children into simple decent affordable homes. The Carter House Wall Raising was performed on Saturday, June 24, 2006.

Paying It Forward                                                                                                                                                      November 4, 2006

For the majority of us, life is a day to day routine of family responsibilities, work, and chores with maybe some relaxation and fun mixed in here and there. The majority of us are so caught up in our everyday grind that we don’t take some time to step back and appreciate the many blessings that God has given us and put it into perspective. If we do, we can thank the Lord for so many things, our health, our children and grandchildren, the freedoms afforded us, living in the U.S.A. - I can go on and on. Instead I’d like to share a story about a very special couple, who I recently had the tremendous pleasure of meeting through my volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity of Citrus County. 

Commemorating the milestone of their 50^th Wedding Anniversary, Mike and Jan Carter were two people who did take the time to count their blessings - two beautiful children, five grandchildren, successful careers, wonderful friends and family, material possessions and so much more. For them it seemed superficial to have a big party, or take a luxury cruise to celebrate. No, rather, why not pay it forward? Why not do a significant deed that would assist another family in their vital pursuit for a simple, safe and secure lifestyle.  

Consequently, the Carters decided to sponsor a Habitat house. They notified all of their friends and family of their decision, and asked that all gifts be made to this Habitat affiliate, in lieu of Anniversary gifts. They invited all of these folks to come to Inverness and help to construct this house, and so the project unfolded.

On June 24^th, 2006 the walls were raised on the “Carter Sponsored Build”. The partner family for this house had been chosen through the standard Habitat procedures, which ensures that families have a true need for housing. The need is determined by a committee of volunteers who gather financial and legal information and finally conduct a physical home visit to rate the family domicile with a standard score sheet. This technique eliminates any prejudicial treatment or personal judgments on the part of the visitor. The next qualification is a pledge from the family to become partners in the program through their willingness to work 500 sweat equity hours.  And lastly, they have prove their ability to pay off the no interest, no profit mortgage, which is held by Habitat for Humanity of Citrus County.

Community donations are the backbone of our building process. Each house includes an assortment of funding from all types of donations. The house is built and the family moves in – never getting to know the myriad of benefactors comprising that funding.  In this case however, Mike and Jan Carter have made this house possible through their selfless action to “give back” to this community. Throughout the building process a bond was formed between the Carters and the partner family that will go beyond the completion of this home. Their families have worked together side by side, month after month, sweating, laughing, crying, and learning what it takes to change the direction of a family’s future for generations to come.

 What awesome role models the Carters have been for this family and to all of us at this Habitat affiliate! How inspiring for those of us in Citrus County who have been blessed in our own lives, to think about paying it forward in such a positive way! Life is good – It just doesn’t get any better than this!

Mike, Karen Brown (HFHCC President), Jan, and Terri Ruttman (Homeowner)

Terri Rutman's youngest daughter opens the door to their new Habitat home.

The Rutman family with Jan & Mike