Building a Better Tomorrow

MarineMax is making a difference for many within the community.

By Charlene Marie Dodge

When was the last time you were thankful for having a roof over your head? For the many families enrolled in the Habitat for Humanity program, being grateful for a solid place to call home is an understatement. To these families, it means so much more. It’s a renewed chance at life and an opportunity to provide for themselves and their children in a safe and stable environment. And for Karin Jimenez and her 11-year-old son, Josiah, the dream of home ownership has come true through Habitat for Humanity and with the help of MarineMax.

Before entering the program, this working single mother of one encountered many obstacles when it came to housing. From living in a townhome that caused the pair to become ill to sleeping in the living rooms of apartments of different family members during the pandemic and then getting forced to move from a condo since the property went up for sale, Karin faced many challenges. However, due to the program, Karin and Josiah finally have one less major stressor in their lives and can now spend many days together enjoying each other’s company in the comfort of their very own home.

This year Brett McGill, MarineMax CEO, and President, headed over to the Pinellas County neighborhood development with a team of managers from around the country to assist with the build. The experience was positive, uplifting, and a positive way for the team to be involved within the local community to offer their help and support. As Joshua Lavine, General Manager of MarineMax in the St. Petersburg, Florida, location states, “There’s nothing more impactful to a family or delivers a better experience and memories than a house.” Brett was excited to take part, as well as the rest of the management team who spoke in this impactful video.