The success of Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis has been due to many factors. However, the three factors believed to be most important are highlighted here.

First, we have outstanding volunteer support and dedication. St. Louis is blessed with people who have huge hearts and are willing to donate their time and talents to help less fortunate people realize the American dream of home ownership. From the very beginning, the volunteer support we've received has been outstanding. After all, it was volunteers who founded and worked diligently to build Habitat into the organization that it has become. Today, it's the volunteers who lead our construction groups, work on the various committees that guide our organization, and successfully manage our special events which help sustain our bottom line. Volunteers continue to be the backbone of this organization. Without our volunteers, we simply could not exist.

Secondly, we have a dedicated staff and leadership. Our organization has been blessed through the years with a staff that truly understands the mission of Habitat. They've made a commitment to the organization's success and growth. They understand growth isn't just colorful lines on a PowerPoint chart, but it represents another child that will have a safe place to do his homework or invite friends over, another St. Louis family who will be able to have Thanksgiving dinner in their home and not at the local shelter. They "get it." The Habitat staff members' diligence and dedication has a direct impact on the success of Habitat's growth.

Thirdly, there is the financial support. We have incredible volunteers, a dedicated staff, and outstanding leadership, but none of this would be possible without the funding given by the St. Louis community. It is the money that is entrusted to us by the St. Louis community each year that makes the growth chart and the construction plans go from paper on a board room table to a reality.