Building a Dream Home

For more than a decade, Marksmen have helped local families move into their dream home. On Saturday, March 24, 2018, students, parents, faculty, and staff from St. Mark’s and Hockaday helped dedicate their 13th Habitat for Humanity house. 

 

“This project represents a unified community effort to help a family in need, and contributing to this worthy cause was a fulfilling, profound, and truly unforgettable experience,” said Sahit Dendekuri ’18, who has led St. Mark’s Habitat for Humanity build for the last two years.

 

The dedication ceremony was the culmination of nearly 1,000 hours of work by more than 150 Upper School boys, faculty, and parent volunteers. Over ten weekends, Marksmen worked on every step of construction, hammering nails, raising walls, priming and painting wood, and helping plant trees and lay down grass. 

 

“For us to give back to a community that has given so much to us should not be looked at as just completing our required hours,” said Jack Katz ’19. “Rather, we Marksmen should enjoy serving and have the desire to continue to serve the community beyond what is required.”

 

Habitat builds are especially poignant as the volunteers meet and work with the family who will be moving in. This year’s home was built for Abdel and Heba Ahmed and their three children. At the dedication ceremony, Sahit presented the family with the ceremonial keys. “Up until that point, it was just a house. When the keys were handed over, it became a home for the Ahmed-Badwi family – a home where they can build new and exciting memories for years to come.”

 

“The recent dedication of our 13th Habitat for Humanity House was an important reminder about the role our boys play in serving the larger community,” said David W. Dini, Eugene McDermott Headmaster. “Nancy and I were both honored to be there with the many Marksmen and Hockaday students who invested themselves fully in this meaningful project. I am deeply grateful to the many donors, volunteers, and staff who worked together to support the Ahmed-Badwi family.”