Family to Celebrate Dedication of Habitat’s Newly Completed WomenBuild 2025 Home at 2 p.m. TODAY at Cornerstone Creek

The B. family has faced high medical bills and rising rent during the past several years, making it difficult to save for a down payment on a home. That changed when David and Sarah B. learned about Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity’s (COHFH) New Home Construction program. Through the program, future homeowners help build their own and others’ homes and can purchase their new house at cost without a down payment.

David, Sarah, their son, Riley M., 9, and daughter, Camille, nearly 3, will celebrate the dedication of their new home at 2 p.m. today Aug. 22, at Cornerstone Creek in Oklahoma City.

Joining the celebration will be COHFH’s WomenBuild 2025 Honorary Chair Pilar Cipollone and other female volunteers. WomenBuild is an annual effort that gathers women volunteers to construct a home. Both David and Sarah completed part of their 100 hours of sweat equity by working alongside the WomenBuild volunteers.

“We are very impressed with all the WomenBuild volunteers,” David said. “Those ladies are real go-getters. There was a lot of joy and teamwork in building our home.”

The couple said buying a home once felt out of reach because much of their savings went toward uninsured medical bills and therapies for Riley, who is neurodivergent.

“Neurodivergent means a person’s brain works differently, shaping the way they learn, think and respond — bringing both unique challenges and strengths,” Sarah said. “It took several years and the input of many professionals to figure out what Riley needed. We’ve found a school and therapies that have helped him thrive, but those costs left us unable to save for a house.”

She added that having a backyard will help support Riley’s progress. “We are grateful to be able to buy a house through Habitat and excited for the kids to have their own rooms,” Sarah said. “Having our home close to David’s work and Riley’s school will bring us stability.”

Another happy member of the household will be Leo, the family’s golden retriever.

COHFH Chair/CEO Ann Felton Gilliland said the B. family’s home is the 1,134th built locally by Habitat since 1990. However, the nonprofit still needs to raise money to ensure Cornerstone Creek fulfills the new affordable housing development’s full potential.

“We must raise the $3.7 million needed to fully fund and implement Phase II, which involves constructing the necessary infrastructure for an additional 210 homes,” Felton Gilliland said. “We are encouraging donors to help us fulfill the vision of Cornerstone Creek by giving generously. Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference!”

When complete, Cornerstone Creek will feature 450 new homes, three parks with workout stations and a gazebo, and schoolchildren can attend Piedmont schools. For more information, call 405-232-4828 or visit www.cohfh.org.