Today, we say goodbye to Jimmy Carter, a leader, humanitarian, and someone who showed us all what it means to serve with heart. While history will remember him as the 39th President of the United States, countless families will remember him as the man who helped them find a safe place to call home.
For Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Habitat for Humanity wasn’t just an organization; it was a calling. President Carter once said, “I think every human being has within himself or herself a desire to reach out to others and to share some of our blessings with those who are in need. What’s opened up that avenue for me and my wife and hundreds and thousands of others is Habitat for Humanity. It makes it easy for us to reach out and work side by side with the homeowner who’s never had a decent house, perhaps. I haven’t been on a Habitat project that I wasn’t thrilled and inspired and wept.”
That spirit of connection, generosity, and humility was at the core of everything he did. Over decades of service, the Carters didn’t just talk about making the world better—they grabbed hammers, climbed ladders, and worked alongside future homeowners to make it happen. In 2016, Habitat for Humanity named President and Mrs. Carter the inaugural Habitat Humanitarians, a fitting recognition for two lives so deeply aligned with the vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Joel Williams, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Lake County, reflected on President Carter’s profound legacy: “Jimmy Carter showed us what it looks like to lead with compassion and unwavering commitment. At Habitat Lake County, we see his legacy in action every day, whether it’s a family moving into a home they never thought they could afford or volunteers coming together to build hope one nail at a time. President Carter believed that housing is a basic human right, and his work has touched lives far beyond what any of us can measure. We honor him by continuing to serve local families and carrying forward his vision of a world where everyone has a safe, affordable place to live.”
President Carter’s legacy is one of compassion in action. His work reminds us that true leadership isn’t about power—it’s about lifting others up. Today, as we reflect on his remarkable life, we’re inspired to carry his mission forward: to care more, give more, and build more, together.
Thank you, President Carter, for showing us how to live with purpose, grace, and an open heart. You’ve left the world a brighter place.
Continuing Jimmy Carter’s Legacy of Love and Hope
Celebrate Jimmy Carter’s extraordinary legacy of love, service, and hope by making a gift to Habitat for Humanity Lake County in his memory. Together, we can continue the work he held so dear—helping families build strength, stability, and a place to call home.