Tampa Bay Lightning Community Foundation donation helps Habitat homeowner

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties celebrated the Cookinson Family and their journey to affordable homeownership on May 8, at 2174 16th Ave S., St. Petersburg.

Single mom, Denise, put in at least 350 sweat equity hours and completed 36 homebuyer education classes to earn a 0% fixed-interest mortgage and the keys to her Habitat Home.

On October 21, 2023, Habitat homeowner and board member Davisha Earley was honored by the Tampa Bay Lightning as a Lightning Community Hero, during a home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, at Amalie Arena.

Earley received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and Lightning Community Heroes program, which in turn was donated to Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties. That $50,000 has helped to build the Cookinson Family Home. During the building process, employees from the Lightning, and Vinik Sports Group, spent a day working on the home by installing window shutters, and doorknobs, improving energy efficiency by caulking outlets and lighting fixtures, and doing paint touch-ups.

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