Jannese Hadley is a front desk receptionist and single mother to her two sons, Jah'Veon (10) and Jah'Len (7). Before getting the keys to their new home, the family of three lived at Jannese's grandmother's home, which was extremely challenging. The house was overcrowded, with one bathroom to share, and had a lot of maintenance issues, including a floor that was about to cave in and a leaky roof. Getting accepted into the Habitat program was truly life-changing for the family. "I cried tears of joy," Jannese said. "I immediately called up my boys to tell them the news." Her sons were incredibly proud of their mother for this accomplishment. They told her, "Mommy, whenever you tell us you're going to do something, you do it. You never let us down."

Jannese and her sons are very excited to have a place they can call their own now. For Jannese, it has always been a goal to set a foundation and create stability for her family. She is most looking forward to decorating, planting flowers, and sitting out on her front porch, watching her children play in the yard. 

It takes approximately 13 weeks to complete one Habitat for Humanity house. There's a lot that happens between breaking ground and the final dedication ceremony. From the beginning stages with a safety scaffold installation to the installation of trusses, framing, insulation, and interior trim to sealing the grout, caulking, painting, and landscaping, MarineMax got to be part of all of it—together. 

Brett McGill, MarineMax CEO and President, comments, "We feel privileged to be part of the Habitat for Humanity program annually and to have an opportunity to extend a hand to families in need of homes. It's incredibly rewarding to witness the life-changing impact it brings. At MarineMax, we cherish the opportunity to unite as a team and contribute our efforts to making a meaningful difference in these families lives." 

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco helps low-income families purchase a house with a zero-interest mortgage to help build generational wealth and equity for families, breaking the cycle of poverty. Recipients participate in educational seminars to set them up for success and work alongside sponsors to accrue 350 to 450 "sweat equity hours." A decent home offers families the strength, stability, and independence to thrive. Habitat for Humanity houses are accessible in all 50 states and more than 70 other countries through donations and volunteer efforts. MarineMax looks forward to continuing its long-standing relationship with Habitat for Humanity for many years to come.