Warrick Dunn, a former NFL star, collaborated with Catholic High School and Habitat for Humanity to construct, furnish, and decorate a brand new home in Baton Rouge, which they then presented to Dominique, a single mother, and Miracle, her eight-year-old daughter.
Catholic High School, Dunn’s alma mater, is said to have raised $84,500 to help with the home’s construction costs. Some students also dedicated many hours of community service and assisted with the home’s construction.
Dominique and her daughter were also given a $5,000 down payment assistance check and $10,000 worth of furniture from Aaron’s by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge, Build Sponsor Catholic High School and Warrick Dunn Charities.
The single mother works as an administrative assistant for the Louisiana Workforce Commission, and according to a statement, she benefitted from Habitat’s financial wellness programs to combat overspending.
Dominique and her family will be able to relocate from an apartment to their dream home with the support of Habitat.
“I’m just so thankful for this blessing and all the people that came into my life to help make this a reality. The sleepless nights and all the work it took to get here and become a homeowner, it was all worth it, and I’m just so grateful that I kept doing the work and didn’t give up,” Dominique said to BRProud.
As part of their “Homes for the Holidays” initiative, Warrick Dunn Charities (WDC) has been assisting single parents across the United States in achieving their goal of first-time homeownership. According to a press release, this was their 218th Home Celebration across the country. Dunn personally returned to his hometown to show the family around their new home and to give them a peek at the bright future that awaits them.
“Dominique and Miracle, single mother, first-time homeowner, I think it’s important to help change the community and the environment, create stability for a family that could potentially have good long-term positive impacts,” Dunn said, according to WAFB.
Dunn’s charity works with a variety of local organizations to continue supporting single parents as they move into their first home by furnishing the space, assisting with down payments, and even providing food for their pantry.
Dunn has helped hundreds of families take the next step in their lives by decreasing financial and stress loads on single parents. The ex-NFL player established the charity after being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1997. With his growing fortune, he founded Homes for the Holidays in commemoration of his late mother’s desire to purchase a home before she died.
“My philosophy has always been that for me to invest in you, you have to invest in yourself, and I just think that’s all of us doing our part to create a positive environment in our communities and wrap our arms around each other,” Dan shared with BRProud.
