Christmas is a time for family, joy and thanksgiving. For Maria and her three children, this Christmas will also be a time to celebrate the blessing of a fully furnished home.
First Things First Foundation, the charity of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner and wife Brenda, teamed with Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona and corporate partners including U-Haul® to provide their 62nd furnished home to a single mom in need of a hand up.
The home reveal for Maria, Yurizi (17), Caleb (15), and Zuri (13) took place Dec. 18 in Tempe. The family had been living with Maria’s mom for the past 14 years. Maria came to the U.S. from Mexico City and, after 22 years, she finally got her Green Card.
“This is a new start for me, and it opens a new chapter in my life,” Maria said. “Everyone who helped us get to this point shows me that there are still good people in this world. There are still people who care about others and will work hard to give them happiness.”
Homes for the Holidays
First Things First’s Homes for the Holidays program performs its magic once a house is built by Habitat, volunteers, and the family who will live there. U-Haul, Brooklyn Bedding® and Aaron’s® and other companies donate time and funds to fill the house with furnishings, creating a comfortable home.
U-Haul has proudly supported the Warners’ work since 2008 through financial commitment, equipment use and volunteer hours. Before each inspiring and emotional home reveal, U-Haul Team Members go shopping for the family that First Things First selects and then help decorate the house.
“It’s always fun to partner with the Warners’ foundation and holiday shop for a deserving family,” said Kelie Budd-Hale, U-Haul Media & PR specialist. “I got to shop for the mother’s and older daughter’s bedrooms. It meant a lot that we were able to do something for them that they may not have been able to do for themselves.”
Welcome Home
The Warners, Habitat, sponsors and news reporters welcomed Maria and her children in their driveway Thursday morning. After a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and a prayer to bless the family and home, everyone went inside.
“I didn’t expect all of this,” Maria said. “This is all I need and more. I’ll be able to sleep in my own bed – by myself.”
Yurizi, Caleb and Zuri were overwhelmed to see their own furnished bedrooms with Christmas stockings, and a kitchen filled with food. Caleb was especially thrilled to learn there were chicken tenders in the freezer for him to eat.
To read about U-Haul Company’s support of past home reveals, click here.
