After having done her part with the Allied Arts drive, chairing the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and serving as president of Junior League, Ann Felton thought her stint with Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity would be brief.
Nearly two decades later, the chairman and CEO of Habitat for Humanity shows no signs of slowing. She even took on more responsibility this summer when elected to serve on Habitat for Humanity’s U.S. Council, which sets policy for Habitat chapters across the country.
“It’s really been a way for me to put my Christian faith in action,” Felton says. “It’s been really exciting to be a part of working with these families. That’s how I became hooked.”
Recruited to the board in 1990 with a finance and fund-raising background, she thought she’d spend only a year or two with the organization, which – at the time – had no staff and a shoestring budget of $150,000.
“They really weren’t sure where they’d find that,” Felton says, with a laugh. “I started meeting and working with the families, and I’ve been committed ever since. It’s been a wonderful opportunity for me to give back.”
LEAPS AND BOUNDS
The budget is $8 million now, and the staff tops 48. The group had 8,000 volunteers last year, and has grown by leaps and bounds. Established in 1990, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 500 homes in the metro area and has enjoyed support from the corporate community.
“The corporate side has really been wonderful,” Felton says. “Chesapeake challenged their employees to give so many hours last year … and also Devon has been very supportive,” she says, “7-Eleven, Arvest Bank, Maxwell Supply – I could go on and on. We’ve had great support from the community.”
Twelve weeks is the average timetable to build a Habitat Home, which comes in at around $75,000. Families with stable incomes of at least $16,000 per year can qualify, with a pledge of at least 300 hours of sweat equity.
The need has always been strong, but Felton says the economy has spurred interest in the program like never before.
“It’s been amazing. We have been averaging, for the last few years, 2,000 applicants a year, and I would say that’s gone up at least 30%,” she says. “We’ve been holding two board meetings a month to process our families.”
Each new homeowner goes through a Homeowner’s College before ever setting foot in their new abode.
“We know going from renting to owning a home is a big step,” Felton says. “We try to set them up for the best possible situation.”
Under her leadership, Habitat has expanded its role in the community to include Renovation Station, a low-cost building supply store that strives to fund at least four new builds per year, and A Brush with Kindness, which is a home-repair program for those in need. Felton says her group also is working with metro cities to rehabilitate foreclosed properties and put limited-income families into them.
“I’ve thought about (retiring), but I love so much what I’m doing that I don’t see that coming anytime soon,” she says. “It’s a pleasure to come to work every day, and it’s a pleasure to work with the staff and the board, and most importantly, it’s a great pleasure and blessing in my life to have the opportunity to work with our families.”