Hobby Lobby Employee to Celebrate Cornerstone Creek Home Dedication Thursday

Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is celebrating its second Cornerstone Creek home dedication with Jeffer Pinzon at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, 14645 Bedrock Lane, located at NW 150^th Street and Morgan Road in Oklahoma City.

Originally from Colombia in South America, Pinzon lived and worked in Venezuela for nearly 15 years before moving to the U.S. about eight years ago. He wanted new opportunities for himself and his family, including his daughter Juliette, who is now 12.

“My daughter is the most important person in my life,” Pinzon wrote in his New Home Construction program application for Habitat. “I had to restart my life and career path, so I enrolled in college at Oklahoma City Community College, and last year, I obtained an associate’s degree in cyber security.”

Today, he works for Hobby Lobby as an IT project coordinator, and Pinzon hopes to become an IT project manager someday. Although he’s accomplished much since coming to America, Pinzon wants a good home for his daughter because his apartment is too small and less than ideal.

“I need a better place to live with my daughter with more stable and secure conditions for her,” Pinzon stated.

In January, he applied to become a homeowner with Central Oklahoma Habitat. Pinzon has since completed all the New Home Construction program requirements, including attending homebuyer classes and volunteering 100 hours of sweat equity to help build his and others’ homes. With Habitat’s help, Pinzon was able to purchase his new safe, secure and energy-efficient home for cost and without a down payment.

Central Oklahoma Habitat’s home dedication will include housewarming gifts and blessings from local clergy. The hard-working father stated that he now divides his free time between studying for his IT classes and enjoys bike riding and outdoor activities with his daughter.

“Coming to the U.S. has been challenging but also a blessing for us,” he stated. “I’m very thankful for the opportunities provided by Habitat, and I want to thank Ann Felton, Rebecca Kendall and Lily Dwyer, plus Habitat’s construction crew guys in the field. It is also amazing how new homeowners volunteer to help build their and others’ homes.”

Pinzon is grateful to the many people who helped build his new home and the other homes at Cornerstone Creek. He said volunteers do an immense amount of good in the world.

“Just how incredible it would be if everyone in the country volunteered for an hour for Habitat or other nonprofits,” he said. “The benefits would be huge!”

Habitat’s Cornerstone Creek development will eventually feature 450 affordable homes, three parks with walking trails, workout stations, and a gazebo. Piedmont, Oklahoma’s excellent schools are also available for area schoolchildren.

For more information, call 405-232-4828 or go to cohfh.org.

About Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity

COHFH’s New Home Construction program helps new homeowners buy safe, secure and energy-efficient homes for cost and without a downpayment. COHFH’s Critical Home Repair program repairs and weatherizes the houses of homeowners in need. Habitat’s two ReStores sell “gently used” donated items at bargain prices and the proceeds help fund the Critical Home Repair program. To date, Habitat has built over 1,104 homes in the greater Oklahoma City area and is one of Habitat for Humanity International’s top 10 affiliates. Applicants who wish to apply with the New Home Construction program must meet specific qualifications to be considered for the partnership program, including having a credit score of more than 600, and they must be able to get and make regular payments on an affordable mortgage. Applicants must also match the 2024 HUD annual income by family size guidelines for consideration. Let’s see if you’re ready for homeownership at Cornerstone Creek: Take this one-minute survey to see if you qualify: www.cornerstonecreek.org/cc-one-minute-survey.