We join observances around the world to remember and celebrate former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his life of service following his recent passing. He and Rosalynn Carter have served as Habitat for Humanity’s most famous volunteers over the 35 years they helped to build affordable housing with the organization. 

“With a desire for freedom and justice, housing equity was one of the human rights that President Carter held close to his beliefs,” said Bev Thiel, Habitat Kent Executive Director.  “I feel most closely aligned, as does our work at Habitat Kent, with his belief that in every person there is something fine and pure and noble, along with a desire for self-fulfillment, our work as a social justice agency is to nurture and enhance those desires. We mourn the loss of this servant and statesman and hold in our hearts the many blessings he provided families.”

While President and Mrs. Carter traveled the world wielding hammers and touching so many lives, we have felt their impact right here in Michigan. In 2005, several Habitat affiliates in Michigan joined together for a Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Benton Harbor and Detroit. We were honored to participate in this inspiring and impactful week. 

After leaving the White House, the Carters sought out meaningful ways to continue their commitment to social justice and basic human rights and began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in Americus, Georgia in March 1984. Later that year, they helped renovate an abandoned building in New York City’s Lower East Side marking the first Habitat for Humanity “Jimmy Carter Work Project”. Each year since then, the Carters have volunteered with Habitat in communities across the US and around the world. President Carter also served as a member of the board of directors from 1984-1987. 

“I think every human being has within himself or herself a desire to reach out to others and to share some of our blessings with those who are in need. What’s opened up that avenue for me and my wife and hundreds and thousands of others is Habitat for Humanity. It makes it easy for us to reach out and work side by side with the homeowner who’s never had a decent house, perhaps. I haven’t been on a Habitat project that I wasn’t thrilled and inspired, and wept.” – President Jimmy Carter 

Inspiring millions over the last three decades, President and Mrs. Carter have worked alongside more than 104,000 volunteers across the U.S. and in 14 countries to build, renovate and repair 4,390 homes. 

We are honored to join Habitat’s all over the world in a special tribute to President Carter.  We invite the community to visit the Gerald R Ford Presidential Library and Museum to sign a designated door in honor of President Carter and his legacy of putting Habitat for Humanity on the map and bringing global awareness to the need for affordable housing. We are grateful to the museum for opening its doors to us for this meaningful event. 

We also invite the public to leave a tribute on our Facebook event page. 

President Carter Door Signing Tribute Details 

Sign a Habitat door to honor President Carter’s legacy of bringing global awareness to the need for affordable housing. 

Where: In the lobby at The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 
Dates: December 30 – January 5 (please note, the museum will be closed on January 1) Time: 10 am – 5 pm 

Photos and videos of President and Mrs. Carter volunteering with Habitat for Humanity are available at www.habitat.org. 

Photo Credits: Habitat for Humanity International