New Prague

New Prague Partnering Community

Updates:

Thank you to Bill Belkengren and the Catholic Community Foundation for the grant award of $200. The funds will help build another New Prague Habitat home in 2012!

The December 2011 Outstanding Leadership Award is presented to:

Joan Goggins of New Prague

            Habitat for Humanity of South Central Minnesota is honored to name the first recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award, Joan Goggins. The Webster dictionary defines leader as a guiding or directing head of a movement, and Joan has certainly met this definition with her major influence overseeing Habitat’s rapid growth in New Prague.

            Joan has been with Habitat from the beginning serving the New Prague Partnering Community, and last October took the leadership role of the Fundraising Committee.  She was an excellent trailblazer in this position; a 43-year citizen is always involved in the local community. “I have always had a passion for helping people who are in need,” she explains.

            Joan took the reins driving the latest fundraiser in New Prague to help her long-time hometown and describes the transition as a “great post-career challenge. ” She calls her involvement with Habitat for Humanity of South Central MN a “positive experience,” and enjoys surpassing fundraising goals to fuel construction. She has exponentially surpassed her goals, generating tens of thousands of dollars last year alone. She loves the rush of “helping others and watching people come together. ”

            The people definitely of New Prague definitely rally for the Habitat Community, recently New Prague watched three homes pop-up and they plan to start constructing a new home located on Main Street this spring. “Seeing all the people working hard and making noise will strengthen awareness,” she shares, “it is rewarding when you see the results, all the people coming out to give a part of their talents. ”

            When Goggins is not on the phones or in meetings organizing the next fundraiser, Joan enjoys spending time with her four grandchildren. She is grateful for her health and is happily enjoying life. After everything she has accomplished, Joan gives all credit to the people around her, calling it “an honor to have key individuals that work so hard. ” Her modesty is one of the many traits that make her a great leader. HFHSCMN is grateful for Joan and all of her hard work. We are very excited to see what she will accomplish next.

Building

The New Prague Partnering Community has completed three homes. The committee hopes to build for a deserving family in 2012. The committee is focused on fundraising in 2011 to make another house a reality.

Fundraising

The committee celebrated bringing in over $23,000 at the October 2nd Champagne brunch and silent auction. The fundraiser took place in Montgomery at the Lake Side Supper Club. A big thank you to everyone who assisted, planned and donated toward the event! The committee brought in $20,000 through a sponsorship drvie.