Some partnerships, like a home, are built brick-by-brick and stand strong. A long-term backer of Habitat for Humanity, Independence Bank has supported the organization on multiple builds for individuals in Kentucky’s Pennyrile Region and further including Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, McCracken, McLean, Warren and Webster counties.

Heath Duncan, Habitat for Humanity Pennyrile Region Executive Director, has seen quite an impact in his 16 years on the administration team. “We’ve built four houses with Independence Bank where they provided labor and a portion of funding in four different counties.”

Independence Bank President, Belinda Wright chose to present the non-profit with a $2,000 check to continue the partnership between the two organizations.

“This is a great start and we are really hoping to serve and help families realize the American Dream of homeownership,” Duncan expresses.

While the organization is mostly known for building homes, a single property affects an entire community. Homeowner counseling is provided to families through mortgage and insurance training while building a home on an unproductive or vacant property inevitably produces tax payers and utility customers on a single piece of land.

Habitat for Humanity also acts as a bank by holding the mortgages for each home and selling said mortgage at an affordable rate to families. Mortgage payments are then used as funding on the next house and the next, creating a cycle to sustain the organization for years to come.

“Our partnership is deeper than this check presentation,” Wright states. “While this donation will support the organization’s bottom line, their team also benefits by us using tools during the construction process. We value working alongside the volunteers and believe it’s vital to the end goal.”

As two community-based organizations, the groups have supported their service areas together for the better. “Independence Bank has been a fantastic partner with us for a long time and we love them,” Duncan remarked.

Habitat for Humanity continues to develop resources year-round. If you are interested in getting involved, reach out to Independence Bank or Habitat for Humanity.