President Carter

The Habitat for Humanity family mourns the passing of former President Jimmy Carter. To the world at large, he was the 39th President of the United States, the longest living in our nation’s history. A holder of the Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to him for his work through The Carter Center in 2002. A Navy Veteran, a farmer, a prolific author, and a Sunday school teacher. Husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

To this family, President Carter was our most famous volunteer and vocal advocate, committed to our mission for more than 40 years. He was eager to get things done, and equally at home behind a podium getting his fellow volunteers pumped up for the day, as he was behind a table saw, hard at work; equally at home installing a door just right, as he was embracing a Habitat homeowner on the threshold of that door. He was at home as long as he was helping to build the way home for others.

Whether it was lending a helping hammer on a single home, or offering through his service a galvanizing example that inspired millions to pitch in as well – President Carter’s impact on Habitat for Humanity’s work cannot be overstated. It can be said that he and First Lady Rosalynn Carter volunteered alongside over 104,000 Habitat volunteers across the country and in 14 countries abroad, and that they lent a hand in the building, renovation, and repair of 4,390 Habitat homes. However, these numbers, we find, are woefully insufficient when it comes to the measure of his contribution.

“President Carter’s humility, industriousness, and heartfelt dedication to our work were incredible to experience, and an inspiration to everyone who took part in that seminal event,” said Janice Jensen, President and CEO of Habitat East Bay/Silicon Valley. “I am forever grateful to have met and worked alongside one of my great personal heroes, and forever changed by that moment.”

President Carter famously said, “I have one life and one chance to make it count for something... My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.” We are deeply grateful for his 100 years of “making it count” toward the building of a better tomorrow.

Habitat for Humanity envisions a world where everyone has a decent place to live, and President Carter was truly one of the great lights illuminating our path to that goal. While we grieve, we also pledge to remain committed in service of our vision – each bearing our own light forward in President Carter’s name. We hold the Carter family in our hearts as we wish them peace and comfort.