Simpsonville recognized by Habitat for Humanity

City of Simpsonville named Organizational Donor of the Year

(Release date: April 5, 2022)

Simpsonville, S.C. — Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County presented its award for Organizational Donor of the Year to the City of Simpsonville at the Habitat for Humanity Donor & Volunteer Appreciation meeting on Tuesday.

Simpsonville Mayor Paul Shewmaker and Simpsonville City Councilmember and Mayor Pro-tem Jenn Hulehan of Ward III accepted the award on behalf of the City.

Mayor Shewmaker said after the event that the City of Simpsonville is humbled to be honored as Organizational Donor of the Year.

"While it is technically true that the City donated the land for the 13 homes at Woodside, I believe it is an investment in our community rather than a gift," Shewmaker said. "In return we get a whole neighborhood of hardworking people who will contribute their citizenship to Simpsonville for years to come."

Board of Directors Chair for Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County Glenda Morrison-Fair, Simpsonville City Councilmember and Mayor Pro-tem Jenn Hulehan of Ward III, Simpsonville Mayor Paul Shewmaker and Habitat Greenville President/CEO Monroe Free pose for a photograph at the Habitat for Humanity Donor & Volunteer Appreciation meeting on April 5, 2022. The City of Simpsonville received the Organizational Donor of the Year award | Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County

To increase the availability of affordable housing, the City of Simpsonville donated in 2017 a plot of land in the Woodside Park area to Habitat Greenville. Five years later, more than half of the planned 13 houses in the Woodside Park neighborhood are complete. 

Director of Development at Habitat Greenville Noël Brooks presented the award to the City at the meeting. Brooks, who has worked closely on the Woodside Park project with Simpsonville City Council and City leadership, invited Mayor Shewmaker and Councilmember Hulehan on stage during the award presentation.

"While there were challenges along the way to get to the point where we could build, the City never faltered in their dedication to bringing affordable homeownership to Simpsonville,' Brooks said. "Since the launch of this new community in Simpsonville, both the Mayor and Councilwoman have been faithful attendees of subsequent wall-raisings and dedications, demonstrating their continuing support of Woodside and the families who will reside there."