Special to Texas Metro News
FORT WORTH, TX, – Texas Capital, Trinity Habitat for Humanity and HistoryMaker Homes have joined forces to rebuild the home of Dr. Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.”
The official Wall Raising Ceremony for her new home took place on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Fort Worth, TX and is made possible through contributions from the Texas Capital Foundation; the philanthropic arm of Texas Capital, HistoryMaker Homes and Trinity Habitat for Humanity.
As a young girl in 1939, Dr. Lee watched her family home burn to the ground. Never losing hope of someday owning her family’s lot, Dr. Lee inquired about purchasing the lot from Trinity Habitat for Humanity, who generously gave it to her for $10.
Texas Capital learned of the need to build Dr. Lee a new home and reached out to HistoryMaker Homes, its longtime residential homebuilding partner, to propose involvement in this historic project.
To Dr. Lee’s excitement, HistoryMaker Homes generously offered to build the home at no cost to Dr. Lee. Recently, she visited the HistoryMaker Homes design center where she selected all of the flooring, fixtures and lighting for her planned home.
Texas Capital Foundation is providing funding for furnishings for the home, and both Texas Capital and HistoryMaker Homes employees will volunteer at the wall-raising. Jon Larson, Texas Capital’s Head of Homebuilder and Community Finance, Nelson Mitchell, CEO of HistoryMaker Homes, and Gage Yager, CEO of Trinity Habitat for Humanity gave remarks at the ceremony.
When reflecting on history, Yager, CEO of Trinity Habitat for Humanity said, “We’re here to partner with a friend to build a home and in a little way erase a big negative from all those years ago.”
This project is made possible by the giving hearts of many.
The collaboration between Trinity Habitat for Humanity, Texas Capital and History-Maker Homes is a testament to the collective commitment to giving back and supporting meaningful projects in the Fort Worth metroplex.
“Dr. Opal Lee has given so much to our community and our nation, and has been a tireless, lifelong advocate for racial equity and justice. We are proud to be able to give something back to her to honor her life’s work,” said Effie Dennison, Texas Capital’s head of Community Development and president of the Texas Capital Foundation.
No ribbon cuttings here!
Trinity Habitat for Humanity, Texas Capital and HistoryMaker Homes celebrated the wall raising of Opal Lee’s new home by cutting a 2×6 wood stud with a miter saw. “Our goal with every home we build is to create a place where owners can feel a sense of pride, and we are deeply honored to be part of such a meaningful project,” said Nelson Mitchell, CEO of HistoryMaker Homes. “Dr. Lee represents the very best of our community and our nation in her determination for racial justice, and there is no better way to express our pro-found gratitude than through her new home.
“Alongside our more than 50 partners and trades, our entire team at HistoryMaker is proud to work together on this momentous home build.”
A member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Dr. Lee dedicated decades of her life to educating people about the significance of Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and marks the day that enslaved Texans learned of their freedom.
Dr. Lee worked to ensure Juneteenth’s national recognition, culminating in its designation as a federal holiday in 2021.
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