When Adam Peterson was a graduate student at Loyola University Chicago, he started a program that would eventually lead him all the way to volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East.
“Some other graduate assistants and I got together to start an alternative spring break program for fraternity and sorority members called Greeks for a Good Cause,” said Adam. “We went to both New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama. Building a home together created a lifetime of memories. I was hooked from then on and have regularly volunteered with Habitat ever since.”
After graduate school, Adam found work at Portland’s FamilyCare Health as a Children’s Behavioral Health and Addictions Team Lead. FamilyCare focuses on keeping people healthy in their communities by addressing many of the social determinants of health—like education and economic stability.Safe, stable homes and a strong neighborhood are important influences on a community’s health.
FamilyCare has now participated in two Team Builders days on site at Habitat’s Helensview and Glisan Gardens builds, bringing out upwards of 30 representatives from the company each time.
“Both times bringing FamilyCare employees to the build site was incredible,” said Adam. “There were different jobs that met each person’s ability level, and all those who participated enjoyed their experience.”
“You would be hard pressed to find a more enthusiastic and hard-working group of folks than our friends at FamilyCare,” said Tor Ostrom, Habitat’s Director of Volunteer Programs & Corporate Engagement. “Their support in the past year has been amazing. The impact of their volunteer hours coupled with a financial contribution really helped advance Habitat’s work in the community.”
“Working as a team doing something completely different than your work function really brings people together,” said Adam. “We had Vice Presidents working next to our Member Navigators doing the same thing. It’s a really great way to get to know people who you might not otherwise interact with.”