Community Corner

A Much Needed Father's Day Gift

A local bank and a charity join together to make a wish come true for a local family.

Rafael Santana-Franco has done the best he can to raise his three daughters, Emely, Iris and Selenny all by himself. The maintenance worker and single dad has trouble making ends meet even working full-time, with rent eating up more than 40 percent of his budget. Rafael’s living quarters were too small for a trio of active girls and he didn’t know where to turn.  

“My girls are everything to me and I wanted to provide them with a home. I knew it wouldn’t be easy but it would be worth the effort” explained Rafael.

Raphael applied for and got accepted into Habitat for Humanity Burlington County’s affordable homeownership program. He and his family put in more than 400 hours of sweat equity building theirs and others’ homes. As a result of their efforts and other volunteers who help reduce housing costs, the Santana-Franco family will be able to purchase their home at an affordable rate, 0 percent interest mortgage.

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The family moved into their new home, at 1939 Broad Street in Cinnaminson, on Monday June 11.  Open house is from 5:30-6 PM, with a dedication to follow. 1st Colonial sponsored the reception. The bank president and CEO, Gerry Banmiller, said, “We believe in lending a hand.  When we heard about Rafael, his family and his work ethic, we knew this was someone we wanted to support.”

The bank is also involved in a number of other upcoming Habitat for Humanity projects in the New Jersey area and will be opening a checking account for the Santana-Franco family, depositing enough money to pay the first month’s mortgage.  Banmiller added, “We wanted the family to settle in.  This extra cushion will assist them in a great start on their new life.”

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—Submitted by Habitat for Humanity


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