Coldwell Banker has announced that it will fund Habitat for Humanity homes in Slidell, La., and work with Chicago Bulls captain Chris Duhon, a Slidell native, to help raise awareness for Habitat for Humanity’s continued need for funding in hurricane affected areas.
“Chris did a lot to help after the hurricane hit and severely impacted his hometown,” says Jim Gillespie, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corp. “We learned that he was looking for assistance in home sponsorships in Slidell, and his goals matched ours exactly. Our $5 million system-wide initiative has helped more than 100 families around the nation achieve the American dream of homeownership. More than 10 of those families were in states impacted by the hurricanes last year. As an NBA star, Chris has the platform to raise awareness for Habitat for Humanity, and we are delighted to help in any way we can.”
The Coldwell Banker relationship with Duhon began when the second-year guard donated two basketball camp scholarships to the highest bidder in the Coldwell Banker “Housewarming for Habitat for Humanity Celebrity Charity Auction” on eBay, which concluded in March.
Duhon, who has conducted clothing, food and funding drives to assist hurricane victims, is sponsoring a Habitat for Humanity home with the East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity affiliate as part of Habitat’s hurricane recovery program, Operation Home Delivery. The Coldwell Banker system plans to assist Duhon in funding that home, along with sponsoring its own home. Duhon plans to join Gillespie at a home build later this year in Slidell.
“The hurricane destroyed my high school and impacted so many of my family and friends,” Duhon says. “I want to do what I can to help. I’ve donated money; I’m running two summer basketball camps as fundraisers and have talked to so many [people] about the continued need for assistance in Slidell and all of the Gulf Coast. I am appreciative that Coldwell Banker has joined us in the ongoing process of rebuilding these devastated areas.”
Duhon has also founded the Chris Duhon Hurricane Relief Fund to aid victims of the hurricanes. For more information, visit www.ChrisDuhon21.com.