Century Communities, Partners Break Ground on Home for Veteran

The custom-built, mortgage-free home is located in The Woodlands Hills in Willis, Texas

HOUSTON, Aug. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Century Communities, Inc., (NYSE: CCS) – a top 10 homebuilder, industry leader in online home sales and the highest-ranked homebuilder on Newsweek's list of America's Most Trustworthy Companies 2023 – along with the Houston Texans, The Howard Hughes Corp., Greater Houston Builders Association and Operation Finally Home, celebrated the groundbreaking of a custom-built, mortgage-free home for U.S. Army Sergeant Joanna Ellenbeck.

Century Communities is building the home for Ellenbeck and her daughter on a lot donated by The Howard Hughes Corp. in The Woodlands Hills in Willis, Texas. Ellenbeck was surprised with the news during a Texans game last December.

"Century Communities is honored and privileged to partner with such great organizations to build a deserving veteran a home," said Liesel Cooper, national president of Century Communities. "We are proud to be able to make a difference in the communities we are a part of through efforts like this, but more importantly we are proud to have been given the opportunity to help an American hero and mother."

The groundbreaking ceremony for the 2,012-square-foot home was held Aug. 11. Slated for completion in spring 2024, the four-bedroom, three-bath home features an open-concept design with island kitchen overlooking the combined great room and dining area and a spacious owner's ensuite featuring a huge walk-in closet.

The home was custom designed for Ellenbeck, who enlisted in the U.S. Army after 9/11 and served for more than eight years, including three combat deployments: one to Afghanistan and two to Iraq. Serving with the 25^th Infantry Division, Ellenbeck worked as an avionics mechanic throughout her military career, repairing Black Hawks, Chinooks and Kiowa 58 helicopters.

For her service, Ellenbeck received multiple awards and recognition. These include an Iraq Campaign medal with five stars, four Army Commendation Medals, two Meritorious Unit Commendations and two Army Good Conduct Medals, in addition to a National Defense Service Medal and a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, among others. She was honorably discharged in 2010. 

She carries visible and invisible scars from her service, including a debilitating back injury sustained from her 2004 deployment. Ellenbeck's doctors believe her service-related injuries will require her to use a wheelchair in the future.

Currently residing in Arizona, Ellenbeck plans to move to Houston to be closer to family and friends and provide her daughter the medical, therapeutic and educational support she needs. Ellenbeck's daughter was born blind, has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair.

Century Communities customized the single-story home for the Ellenbecks, including sloped concrete to allow wheelchairs smooth transitions into the home; widening of all doors; addition of a blocking system in the child's bedroom for a harness system; installation of a changing table in the owner's bathroom; addition of grab bars in all bathrooms; and removal of the linen closet in the owner's bath to replace it with a door that allows for quick and easy access to the child's bedroom.

In addition to construction by Century Communities, most of the vendors involved have donated time, money and products to the project.

"Opportunities like being able to provide the Ellenbecks a safe, custom-built home to meet their needs is what our mission of A Home for Every Dream is about," added Cooper. "We take seriously our role of partner in the communities in which we build, which is why we are thrilled to be a part of this endeavor and will continue our efforts to make a difference in the lives of others."

About Century Communities

Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE: CCS) is one of the nation's largest homebuilders, an industry leader in online home sales, and the highest-ranked homebuilder on Newsweek's list of America's Most Trustworthy Companies 2023. Through its Century Communities and Century Complete brands, Century's mission is to build attractive, high-quality homes at affordable prices to provide its valued customers with A HOME FOR EVERY DREAM®. Century is engaged in all aspects of homebuilding — including the acquisition, entitlement and development of land, along with the construction, innovative marketing and sale of quality homes designed to appeal to a wide range of homebuyers. The Company operates in 18 states and over 45 markets across the U.S., and also offers title, insurance and lending services in select markets through its Parkway Title, IHL Home Insurance Agency, and Inspire Home Loans subsidiaries. To learn more about Century Communities, please visit www.centurycommunities.com.

About The Howard Hughes Corporation®

The Howard Hughes Corp. owns, manages, and develops commercial, residential, and mixed-use real estate throughout the U.S. Its award-winning assets include the country's preeminent portfolio of master planned communities, as well as operating properties and development opportunities including: the Seaport in New York City; Downtown Columbia® in Maryland; The Woodlands®, Bridgeland®, and The Woodlands Hills® in the Greater Houston, Texas area; Summerlin® in Las Vegas; Ward Village® in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi; and Teravalis™ in the Greater Phoenix, Arizona area. The Howard Hughes Corporation's portfolio is strategically positioned to meet and accelerate development based on market demand, resulting in one of the strongest real estate platforms in the country. Dedicated to innovative placemaking, the company is recognized for its ongoing commitment to design excellence and to the cultural life of its communities. The Howard Hughes Corporation is traded on the New York Stock Exchange as HHC. For additional information visit www.howardhughes.com.

About The Greater Houston Builders Association

The Greater Houston Builders Association, chartered in 1941, is a trade organization whose members are involved in the development, homebuilding, and remodeling industries in 11 counties in the Houston area. The association currently has over 1500-member companies, is the 3rd largest builders association in the country and the largest in Texas. GHBA is the voice of Houston's residential construction industry, serving their members and the community through education and advocating professionalism and quality housing. The association also interacts with the government, community and general public to enhance the business climate for its members and to provide quality obtainable housing to the community it serves. The association is also active in community outreach and charitable events.

About Houston Texans Foundation

The Houston Texans Foundation was founded in 2002 with a mission of being Champions for Youth. The Foundation believes that youth are the champions of our future, and therefore it is dedicated to enhancing their quality of life. Since 2002, more than $45 million has been raised through annual fundraising events, disaster response programs, an annual United Way campaign and partnerships with nonprofit organizations on gameday. Through fundraising efforts, the Foundation supports and administers programs in education, character development and health and wellness to empower the next generation of Texans. The Foundation has aligned with three strategic community partners; the Houston Texans YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston and the Houston Food Bank, and the majority of their support goes to these three organizations through monetary donations, programming and volunteerism. The Houston Texans Foundation is committed to inspiring positive change within the Houston community.

About Operation Finally Home

Based in New Braunfels, Texas, Operation Finally Home is a nonpartisan/nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to provide custom-built, mortgage-free homes, transitional housing and home modifications to veterans, first responders and their families. Established in 2005, the organization has completed or is in planning on more than 430 home projects in more than 32 states. Operation Finally Home partners with corporate sponsors, builder associations, builders, remodelers, developers, individual contributors and volunteers to help these heroes and their families by addressing one of their most pressing needs – a safe place to call home. For more information about Operation Finally Home, visit OperationFinallyHome.org, follow @OpFinallyHome on Twitter and find us on Facebook.

SOURCE Century Communities, Inc.