Habitat for Humanity of Durham Celebrates 20th Annual Building Foundations Breakfast and 40 Years of Impact

June 20, 2026

Habitat for Humanity of Durham Celebrates 20th Annual Building Foundations Breakfast and 40 Years of Impact

Annual gathering celebrates a year of progress, honors longtime service, unveils new initiatives and calls on Durham to help build the next generation of affordable homeownership

DURHAM, N.C. — Habitat for Humanity of Durham celebrated community, progress and the power of partnership at its 20th Annual Building Foundations Breakfast, held June 17, 2026, at the Hilton Durham.

The milestone event brought together homeowners, volunteers, donors, sponsors, board members, staff, faith partners, civic leaders, community advocates and longtime supporters to celebrate another year of impact while looking toward the work still ahead.

This year’s breakfast carried added significance as Habitat Durham celebrated both 20 years of the Building Foundations Breakfast and 40 years of serving Durham families and neighborhoods.

Among the elected and civic leaders in attendance were Durham Mayor Leonardo “Leo” Williams, Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry, Durham City Council Member Nate Baker and Durham Public Schools Board Member Wendell Tabb.

Habitat Durham was also grateful to welcome representatives from the City of Durham Community Development Office, City of Durham Housing Office, Duke Energy and North Carolina Central University, reflecting the broad network of public, private, educational and community partners that make the organization’s work possible.

“What a beautiful morning it was for Habitat for Humanity of Durham,” said Nimasheena Burns, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Durham. “Twenty years of this breakfast and 40 years of Habitat Durham represent generations of people who decided that affordable homeownership matters. Our homeowners, volunteers, donors, board members, staff, faith partners, elected officials and community partners continue to show what is possible when Durham comes together around a shared mission.”

Celebrating a Year of Progress

During the breakfast, Habitat Durham shared highlights from the past year and provided supporters with a closer look at the organization’s financial, programmatic and community impact.

Among the accomplishments highlighted was Habitat Durham’s less-than-1-percent homeowner delinquency rate, reflecting the organization’s continued emphasis on sustainable homeownership, homeowner preparation and long-term family stability.

“For us, success is not simply handing someone the keys to a house,” Burns said. “Success means helping families become strong, sustainable homeowners. A delinquency rate of less than one percent speaks to the commitment of our homeowners and to the preparation, education and support that surround Habitat homeownership.”

Guests also heard about Habitat Durham’s expanding construction and repair work, new and strengthened partnerships, and continued commitment to finding innovative ways to create and preserve affordable homeownership opportunities throughout Durham.

The organization celebrated several major milestones from the year, including the completion of its first-ever townhomes, continued progress in its home repair program and preparations for additional development opportunities across Durham.

Ernest Smith, Chair of the Habitat for Humanity of Durham Board of Directors, said the accomplishments shared at the breakfast demonstrate what can happen when strong leadership, committed staff, an engaged board and a supportive community work together.

“Habitat Durham’s 40-year history has been built on partnership, trust and a willingness to keep moving forward as the needs of our community change,” Smith said. “As Board Chair, I am incredibly proud of what our staff and volunteers have accomplished and grateful for the partners who continue to invest in this mission. This organization has tremendous momentum, and our board is committed to ensuring Habitat Durham remains strong, responsible and positioned to serve families for generations to come.”

Honoring the People Behind the Mission

The breakfast also provided an opportunity for Habitat Durham to recognize two individuals whose contributions embody the spirit of service behind the organization’s work.

Habitat Durham bid a heartfelt farewell to longtime employee Jorge Cabus, honoring him with the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award following 19 years of service to Habitat for Humanity of Durham.

For nearly two decades, Cabus contributed his time, talent and commitment to helping Habitat serve Durham families and build stronger communities. His service spans almost half of Habitat Durham’s 40-year history.

“Jorge has given 19 years of his life and career to this mission, and that is an extraordinary legacy of service,” Burns said. “There are families living in homes today, volunteers who learned alongside him and colleagues whose lives were touched by his commitment to Habitat. As we celebrate 40 years, it is fitting that we recognize someone who has personally been part of nearly half of that journey. We are enormously grateful to Jorge and wish him the very best in his next chapter.”

The organization also presented its Unsung Hero Award to Finance Tech Nancy Costa, recognizing her dedication and the important work she performs behind the scenes to support Habitat Durham’s operations and mission.

“The work of building homes and serving families requires people both on the construction site and behind the scenes,” Burns said. “Nancy represents the kind of quiet, consistent dedication that keeps an organization moving. Her work matters, and we were proud to recognize her as this year’s Unsung Hero.”

Introducing a New Generation to Building

During the breakfast, Habitat Durham also unveiled its new Playhouse Builds, an initiative designed to engage volunteers, businesses, young people and community partners through the construction of custom children’s playhouses.

The Playhouse Builds provide another way for the community to experience Habitat’s mission firsthand while introducing the principles of construction, teamwork, creativity and service to a new generation.

The initiative complements Habitat Durham’s broader youth engagement efforts and reflects the organization’s belief that building stronger communities also means creating opportunities for young people to learn, serve and lead.

“Part of our responsibility after 40 years is making sure there is another generation ready to carry this work forward,” Burns said. “Whether someone is helping build a home, constructing a playhouse, volunteering at an event or learning about affordable housing for the first time, every point of engagement matters.”

Impact Giving: Helping Fund a Build

Habitat Durham also unveiled its Impact Giving initiative, providing supporters with a direct opportunity to help fund the construction of affordable homes for Durham families.

Through Impact Giving, donors can contribute toward the tangible components that turn a construction site into a home—from the foundation and framing to kitchens, bedrooms and other essential portions of a Habitat build.

The initiative allows supporters to see more clearly how their contributions become part of the homes and futures being built throughout Durham.

“We want people to understand that every gift becomes something,” Burns said. “A donation becomes a wall. It becomes a roof. It becomes a kitchen table surrounded by a family. Ultimately, it becomes stability, opportunity, equity and legacy.”

Habitat Durham is encouraging supporters to continue the momentum generated at the breakfast by participating in Impact Giving and helping fund future affordable home builds.

Nearly 500 Homes—and Thousands of Stories

As part of the organization’s 40th anniversary celebration, Habitat Durham also highlighted a special anniversary T-shirt featuring the street names of communities where the organization has helped build nearly 500 homes across Durham.

Each street represents more than a location. Each represents a family, a neighborhood and another chapter in Habitat Durham’s four decades of service.

“Every street tells a story,” Burns said. “Every home represents a family, a foundation and a future that this community helped make possible. When you look at nearly 500 homes, you are really looking at nearly 500 stories of what can happen when Durham decides to build together.”

Partnership Makes the Work Possible

Habitat for Humanity of Durham extended special gratitude to the sponsors whose investment helped make the 20th Annual Building Foundations Breakfast possible, including Fidelity Investments.

The organization recognized Fidelity Investments for its partnership and commitment to strengthening communities and supporting opportunities for families to achieve greater financial stability.

“Organizations like Fidelity Investments understand that building a stronger community requires more than one organization working alone,” Burns said. “Their support allows us to bring people together, expand our reach and continue opening doors to homeownership for Durham families. We are deeply grateful for their partnership and their belief in our work.”

Habitat Durham also thanked the many partners represented in the room, including the City of Durham Community Development Office, City of Durham Housing Office, Duke Energy and North Carolina Central University, as well as businesses, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, faith communities and individual supporters whose financial contributions, expertise, advocacy and volunteerism strengthen Habitat Durham’s work throughout the year.

“Our partnerships matter because no single nonprofit can solve Durham’s affordable housing challenges alone,” Burns said. “It takes government, businesses, universities, philanthropy, faith communities, volunteers, homeowners and neighbors working together. Seeing so many of those partners in one room was a reminder that Habitat is truly a community effort.”

Thank You, Durham

The 20th Annual Building Foundations Breakfast ultimately served as both a celebration and a call to action.

While Habitat Durham recognized the progress of the past year and the accomplishments of its first 40 years, organizational leaders emphasized that Durham’s need for affordable housing remains urgent.

Rising housing, land and construction costs continue to place homeownership beyond the reach of many working families. At the same time, existing homeowners—particularly seniors and families with limited incomes—continue to need assistance maintaining safe and accessible homes.

Habitat Durham is responding through new home construction, critical home repairs, homeowner education, advocacy, volunteer engagement, youth programming and partnerships across the public, private, nonprofit, educational and faith sectors.

“The need in Durham remains significant, but this breakfast reminded us that we do not face that need alone,” Burns said. “Our team is small, but mighty, and the strength behind that team is an entire community that continues to believe in this work.”

Habitat Durham thanked the homeowners, volunteers, sponsors, board members, staff, faith communities, civic leaders, donors and longtime supporters who have made both the annual breakfast and four decades of impact possible.

“Thank you for showing up. Thank you for believing in this work. Thank you for helping us build not just houses, but hope, stability, opportunity and legacy across Durham,” Burns added. “Forty years brought us here. What we build next will require all of us.”

The organization is encouraging the community to remain involved by volunteering, giving, sponsoring a build, supporting Impact Giving, purchasing a 40th anniversary shirt, becoming a corporate or faith partner and advocating for affordable homeownership throughout Durham.

Because when we build foundations, we build futures.

Thank you, Durham, for standing with Habitat. Let’s keep building.

About Habitat for Humanity of Durham

For 40 years, Habitat for Humanity of Durham has worked alongside families, volunteers, donors and community partners to build homes, communities and hope. Through affordable homeownership, critical home repairs, homeowner education, volunteer engagement, youth initiatives and community partnerships, Durham Habitat works to strengthen neighborhoods, preserve affordable housing and help families build stability, equity and generational wealth.

Media Contact

Habitat for Humanity of Durham
Durham, North Carolina
www.durhamhabitat.org