Habitat homeowner surprised at walk-through
PHOTO BY SHAQUILLE SNELL
New homeowner Rosie Rodriguez is overcome by emotion as she walks through the front door of her new Habitat for Humanity home, which she had just learned was fully furnished as a gift to her family through Warrick Dunn's foundation, Homes for the Holidays. Comforting his mom is son Angel and behind Angel are grandmother Blanca Mercado, brother Humberto, and pro-football player and part owner of Atlanta Falcons, Warrick Dunn.
PHOTO BY MARY CANNADAY
Lots of happy smiles as new Habitat for Humanity homeowner Rosita Rodriguez receives a mortgage downpayment of $5,000 from former Bucs football player Warrick Dunn's foundation. Dunn, shown here with Rodriguez and her two sons Humberto (l) and Angel, started the foundation in honor of his mother Betty, who as a police officer, was killed in the line of duty.
PHOTO BY SHACQUILLE SNELL
A stream of guests, excited about the surprise that had just been revealed to the family of Rosita Rodriguez, new Habitat for Humanity homeowner, congratulate and share hugs and handshakes with the family. The entire home was furnished by Warrick Dunn's foundation Homes for the Holidays. Receiving guests are grandmother Blanca Mercado and youngest Rodriguez son, Humberto.
PHOTO BY MARY CANNADAY
Lake Wales City Manager Terry Leary chats with volunteer Habitat for Humanity Site Manager Donna Baldwin as they, along with a growing crowd, await the arrival of the Rodriguez family, new owners of the latest Lake Wales habitat-built home. The Rodriguezes were in for a big surprise, courtesy of athlete Warrick Dunn's foundation, Homes for the Holidays.
As if moving into their shiny new home was not exciting enough for the Rodriguez family, they arrived to find it fully furnished, courtesy of athlete Warrick Dunn’s “Homes for the Holidays” program.
The keys to the home, built by Habitat for Humanity volunteers, were given to Rosita Rodriguez Thursday. Built on land owned by her family for years, the home is a labor of love. Rodriguez, who also put in hundreds of volunteer hours, will live there with her mother, Blanca Mercado, and teenage sons Angel and Humberto. The home is accessible throughout for her mother, who uses a wheelchair.
