Mets Star Ron Darling, Actress Emily Bergl and Supermodel Selita Ebanks Join Habitat for Humanity - New York City's 2011 Builder Awards, Helping to Raise More Than $1 Million

NEW YORK, Nov. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Mets star Ron Darling, actress Emily Bergl and supermodel Selita Ebanks were special guests at Habitat for Humanity - New York City's 12th Annual Builder Awards at Cipriani Wall Street. The event's online auction continues through Nov. 28.

"Thanks to our many generous and committed supporters, this year's Builder Awards was our best ever, raising more than $1 million, which will help build more affordable homes for New York City families in need," said Habitat-NYC Executive Director Josh Lockwood.

Habitat-NYC saluted the following honorees:

• Credit Suisse, Corporate Partner of the Year Award. Douglas L. Paul, Vice Chair of the Investment Banking Division. Providing many years of generous funding support and thousands of hardworking volunteers, Credit Suisse is a steadfast supporter of Habitat-NYC homes and Doug is a longtime member of Habitat-NYC's Board of Directors.
• Blue Sea Development Company, Millard Fuller Social Justice Award. Les Bluestone, Co-Founder.  Les is a former Board Chair of Habitat-NYC, and his company was the first in creating affordable Energy Star and LEED homes in New York City. Most recently, he embarked on an extraordinary development partnership with Habitat-NYC to co-develop two green buildings in the South Bronx, the 50-unit General Colin Powell Apartments and the 63-unit Melody. These innovative buildings enabled Habitat-NYC family partners to build their own co-ops alongside volunteers before moving into a welcoming, mixed-income environment.
• Collegiate Church Corporation, Richard Wong Faith-in-Action Award. Reverend Charles D. Morris, Senior Minister of the Fort Washington Collegiate Church, accepted the award. Collegiate Church Corporation's New York City member churches have offered strong faith support to Habitat-NYC for almost 15 years by helping to build both a strong organization and many Habitat homes and by advocating for better affordable housing policies.    
• The Smith Family, Family Partner of the Year Award. Juliet Smith and her children, Valina, VeAnnah, and twins Jada and SeArah moved into their Habitat-NYC home in Brooklyn this year. Juliet personifies the strong work ethic of Habitat-NYC family partners. An emergency medical technician, Juliet often worked her overnight shift before going directly to Habitat-NYC construction sites to help build homes.

Special guests also included Ron Terwilliger, Global Chair of Habitat for Humanity's World of Hope Campaign; Habitat-NYC Board Chair Peter Knitzer, Executive VP and President of E*Trade Bank; Candace George, a Habitat-NYC family partner and Board Member, and Habitat-NYC's former Board Chair Maureen McPhilmy O'Reilly.

CONTACT: Beverly Cheuvront, +1-212-991-4000 x344, [email protected]

SOURCE Habitat for Humanity - New York City