Glenn Waller was a man who valued giving back to the community. So it made sense that he left his daughter, Mary Waller Bullard, and two sons individual charitable trust accounts when he passed away, wanting his children to have the opportunity to give back to the community, too. Mary thought hard about what she wanted to do with her account, determined to do something that represented her father’s values, instead of just writing a check to an organization.
“I wanted to do something that fully embodied what my dad stood for, that would honor his memory, something that I know he would be proud of,” said Mary. “I realized that a lot of what I have in my life was because of him, and I wanted to honor him, passing it along.
In 2005 Mary and her husband were in the market to buy their first home.  However, the market was hot, making even fixers hard to afford. Glenn suggested they buy a fixer and in turn he would help them with the rehab, allowing his daughter and son in-law to experience the dream of homeownership. Mary, her husband and father spent six months rehabbing the house, with Glenn guiding and teaching them skills along the way. It turned out to be a good investment and a couple years later Mary and her husband decided to take the skills her father had taught them and rehab housing for investment purposes.
So when Mary received the trust, it made sense to reach out to Habitat and use the funds and her skills learned from her father to rehab a home for a local family in need.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with the Mahmood family, who will be purchasing the home,” said Mary. “They are a really sweet family, and the children who are young adults are really eager. I admire them for their dedication to their parents.”
To Mary, home is a refuge, a place where you can relax, enjoy your family and friends and make memories. And thanks to her generosity and values instilled by her father, now another family will have the chance to own a safe and healthy home.
“I hope the Mahmood’s feel welcomed by the community, and that it will provide long-term stability and really feel like home.”

The Mahmood family in front of their new home with members of the Waller family and Habitat staff.
It takes a special kind of person to make plans for the benefit of unknown people in the unknowable future, and the Habitat for Humanity Legacy Society was designed to recognize these forward-thinking friends. For more information on how you can leave a legacy with Habitat for Humanity contact Erika Read at  503.287.9529 x16.