For six years Habitat Tucson has partnered with Tucson Medical Center (TMC) to sponsor and build a home for one of their employees.

“…One of our board members suggested a meeting with Michael McDonald (Habitat’s Executive Director). The idea: Would TMC be interested in building homes for its employees?” said Michael Duran, Vice President and Chief Development Officer.

“It was a WOW moment for both us when we realized that we could build homes for our own employees,” he said.  “I believe that when we launched this program, we were the first to do anything like it.”

Since the beginning of the Homes from the Heart program, TMC has helped six of its employee families achieve their dreams of homeownership.

“The reward for us at TMC?  The smiles, the pride, the incredible feelings that our employees have.  They’re so loyal and committed.  It’s really their smiling faces and those of their children that make it all worth while,” he said.

TMC has committed to building another house this year which was started on September 11, 2010 at Habitat’s annual Building Freedom Day.  Through the years, many TMC employees have come out to swing a hammer in support of their co-workers.

“Our employees love to do this because they know they’re doing it for one of our family…They’re doing it for a TMC employee and they know it’s the right thing to do,” said Michael.  “Not only is it an employee retention tool but it’s an economic incentive to give people – employees – an opportunity to realize their American dream.”