Habitat For Humanity Bringing Back Building Hope Gala

CONROE-MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX — After two years off because of COVID-19, Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County will host its annual Building Hope Gala on April 2 at The Waterway Marriott in The Woodlands.

The "enchanted evening"-themed event, which features dinner and an auction, will honor volunteers Lisa and Fred Koetting and a group of weekly construction volunteers called the Red Hat Crew, according to a news release.

The Koettings have been advocates for Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County for the last decade, serving in leadership roles and helping the nonprofit launch important projects.

Lisa has been heavily involved in past years' Building Hope Galas, serving as auction chair for one year, co-chair for three years and serving on the committee another four years.

Fred, the president and CEO of Schulte Building Systems in Hockley, served as an advisor on architectural design for Habitat for Humanity's ReStore at Woodforest Center and provided the steel building materials at cost.

The home improvement store and donation center, located on Highway 242 in south Conroe, provides sustainable income for Habitat for Humanity's home construction and repair program.

The Red Hat Crew is a group of dedicated volunteers that work several days per week preparing construction sites and assists in leading house build volunteers on Saturday workdays. The group is largely responsible for the construction of 20 houses over the last few years while dealing with the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The need for affordable housing in Montgomery County has never been greater as one of the fastest growing areas in the country," 2019 Building Hope Gala honoree Larry Abston said in the release. "The Koettings and the Red Hat Crew are well deserving of being the 2022 Building Hope Gala honorees, having demonstrated their longstanding servant leadership in giving back to the community in such a meaningful way. They inspire the best in all of us and make our community stronger."

Tickets to the gala are $350, and sponsorships for tables of 10 begin at $3,500 with both options currently on sale. For more information on Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County or to learn how to volunteer, go to the organization's website.