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Business & Tech

Habitat for Humanity Auction Raises Money for Future Projects

North Shore non-profit group event at Holy Ghost Society Cultural Center in Peabody Saturday evening will help families realize American Dream.

Seventeen-year-old Ana Bojos, her parents and 19-year-old brother saved two or three times in mortage costs and bought a house twice the size of their old one when they moved into their new Habitat for Humanity home in Salem.

Their new home on Harrison Avenue has a kitchen, dining room, two bathrooms, four bedrooms, a TV/computer room and a large roof. They along with other North Shore Habitat for Humanity homeowners attended the non-profit group's spring fundraiser, "Building Homes Building Communities" at Peabody's Holy Ghost Society Cultural Hall.

According to Don Preston, the group's president, the event raised money to build houses, like the Bojos', as well as possibly one house in Zambia, Africa with Habitat International. Tickets cost $35 per person and included 14 live auction items, 120 silent auction items, entertainment provided by St. John's Prep Celtic Team, and a roast beef dinner with a cash bar.

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"This is a local piece of a world-wide effort," Preston explained, "Two hundred and fifty guests are expected (doubled from last year), including volunteers from Salem State University, who just returned from alternative spring break in Baumont, Texas, Masconomet Regional High School, and Beverly High School, and board members from Nahant, Beverly, Marblehead and surrounding communities."

Clarisa Gonzalez, Bojos' mother, commented on the better life opportunities that decent housing provides. "Don supported us in many different ways. Without him and Habitat's work, none of this would have been possible."

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Joel Brenner of Peabody volunteers every Saturday as a construction supervisor on-site. He is also on the board of directors as head of the site selection committee.

"We're caught up in zoning and building the home. But, there's joy in the dedication ceremony -- the final point -- and the look on the homeowners' faces is tremendous. Sometimes, we loose sight, and we just want to put people in homes to build communities. But, you can't build communities without people," Brenner said.

According to Bojos, about 200 volunteers worked on their house for a year and a half from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a regular basis.

They heard about this housing opportunity through an announcement at their Episcopal church in Salem.

Twenty-year volunteer Sue Bowdridge, of Malden, who is on the fundraising committee, added that homeowners pay an interest-free mortage, and some homes are historical rehabitation, including the recent Park Street in Peabody remodeled home, while others are built from the foundation. She has built at least 12 homes.

An award ceremony was held after dinner, and immediately before the live auction, in honor of the late Judy Hilliard, a former Habitat treasurer, represented by First Church of Swampscott, Congregational. Wells Fargo received the Cornerstone Award, for being a major financial supporter of Habitat.

"It is interesting for the Ghost Society to host us, because they and Habitat are two community organizations working together in Peabody. It's a beautiful hall. People who run this are easy to work with, and I'd recommend this hall to anyone," said Preston.

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