Habitat staff, supporters, and those on behalf of the Rev. Susan Rice-Waller Project gather to celebrate Amanda’s journey to homeownership and Susan’s legacy.
On Jan. 24, we celebrated two milestones, one being Amanda’s home dedication and the other being the completion of the first home sponsored by the Rev. Susan Rice-Waller Project.
“Bringing this project to fruition has been incredibly meaningful on both a personal and professional level,” Vice President of Resource and Development Elisha Baird said. “It’s a reminder of how Habitat is more than just construction; it’s about people, relationships, and the impact we leave behind.”
Amanda and her son joyfully hold their symbolic keys in front of their Habitat home.
Before becoming a Habitat homeowner, Amanda and her young son lived in an apartment where safety and maintenance were ongoing concerns. When Hurricane Ian damaged her son’s bedroom window, management’s solution was to glue the broken glass back in place.
The front door frame had also deteriorated to the point where it couldn’t be securely locked, and each time a neighbor shut their door, the walls shook so much that Amanda’s wall decor would fall.
Then, when her air conditioner began leaking on the surrounding carpet, Amanda worried about mold, especially as her son started experiencing bouts of sickness. Despite raising these concerns, management took no further action.
Amanda knew she needed a change and that’s when she turned to Habitat for Humanity.
Just like any other Habitat Homeowner, Amanda got to work. She completed 300 hours of sweat equity, attended more than 20 hours of homeownership education classes, and paid $2,000 toward closing costs.
Amanda’s home was made possible through the Rev. Susan Rice-Waller Project, a tribute deeply meaningful to Habitat.
In 2018, Susan’s husband, Bob Waller, and her best friend, Cassandra Nocifora, created a Women Build Team named Susan’s Warriors to fundraise and build a home in her memory and to celebrate her life-long commitment to putting her faith in action. They hit their fundraising goal of $50,000 in 2024.
“Working alongside Bob, Cassandra and their team to raise the funds for this project has been an honor to see Susan’s Legacy live on,” Elisha said. “Having known Susan and Bob, and eventually Amanda, this journey has been more than just building a home—it’s been about honoring Susan’s Legacy, her resilience, and belief in Habitat and the power of community.”
Susan’s pink hard hat rests in tribute at Amanda’s wall raising, a home made possible through the generosity inspired by her legacy.
Rev. Susan Rice-Waller was the Director of Development for our affiliate for 2.5 years. After receiving a clean bill of health for several years, she began her second battle with cancer in the Fall of 2017, ultimately leading to her passing.
Despite her illness, Susan remained a source of strength and selflessness, continuing to serve Habitat families, donors, and volunteers. She led a life of service and has been remembered as the epitome of Faith in Action.
“Imagine you have an angel always with you in this home,” Bob said while presenting Amanda her symbolic home keys. “One of Susan’s things was putting faith into action. She believed that you prove your faith by doing. One of these keys has ‘faith’ on it. Congratulations.”
