Doors of Opportunity Installation
Habitat for Humanity of Summit & Wasatch Counties, Utah joins the world in mourning the death of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and joins observances around the world to remember his life of service. He and Rosalynn Carter served as Habitat for Humanity’s most famous volunteers over the 35 years they helped to build affordable housing with the organization.
“We are sad at the passing of President Jimmy Carter and deeply appreciative of all the work he did for and with Habitat for Humanity for the benefit of others,” said Shellie Barrus, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Summit & Wasatch Counties. “Our Habitat will be celebrating President Carter’s life of service by erecting a memorial door at our ReStore that people can come and sign. We want to pay tribute to him and acknowledge how his efforts opened doors to brighter futures for thousands of Habitat homeowners over nearly four decades.”
“President Carter’s contributions to Habitat for Humanity are among the most vital to our organization,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “He opened doors of opportunity for families worldwide, and all of us at Habitat have been honored and humbled to work alongside him. We were truly blessed to have his support, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Carter family.”
After leaving the White House, the Carters sought out meaningful ways to continue their commitment to social justice and basic human rights. They first volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Americus, Georgia, near their home of Plains, in March 1984. Later that same year, the Carters joined Habitat volunteers in New York City’s Lower East Side to renovate an abandoned building in partnership with families in need of affordable housing.
That trip marked Habitat for Humanity’s first Jimmy Carter Work Project (later renamed the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project). Each year since then, up until 2019, the Carters have volunteered with Habitat to build or improve houses alongside homeowners in communities across the United States and around the world. President Carter also served as a member of the organization’s board of directors from 1984-1987.
“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,” President Carter had said. “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.”
Inspiring millions over the last three decades, President and Mrs. Carter worked alongside more than 104,000 volunteers across the U.S. and in 14 countries to build, renovate and repair 4,390 homes. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has served more than 46 million people around the world.
In 2016, Habitat named President and Mrs. Carter as the inaugural Habitat Humanitarians for their extraordinary dedication to service in alignment with Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Celebrating the Life of Jimmy Carter
The door celebrating President Carter’s life of service will go on display at the Park City ReStore, 6280 Silver Creek Drive, beginning January 2, 2025. Those wishing to honor the late president can come and sign their name to the door and learn more about his involvement with Habitat.
