Susan has been involved with Habitat for Humanity Toronto since 1998.  At that time the Habitat for Humanity office and ReStore were located on Coldwater Avenue.  Susan got started volunteering with us after she drove by one day and decided to stop in and offer to volunteer.   Staff were pleased to have a new volunteer in the office and promptly provided Susan with her first assignment - to drive packages around the city.  Soon after, she was promoted from mail carrier to take minutes of the board meetings

After hearing that Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity would be in Toronto in May of 2001 she contacted Neil Hetherington to let him know that she would like to host him for lunch at her home.  Neil thanked her for that gracious offer, but indicated that plans were in the works to invite 80 corporate donors to a cultivation lunch instead.  She told him that her party room would hold 150 people!  And so the lunch was held at the Hawkin’s home.

In 2002 she hosted another lunch with Millard at her home as part of World Youth Day.  In 2003 she moved in to a volunteer leadership role by becoming a member of the board of directors.

During this time Susan also continued to volunteer on the build sites.  Often Susan organized her family and friends to build with her on projects including Volk Way, Lakeshore, Hainford and many more.  She put her construction skills to use internationally and flew to Thailand to help build 82 homes in 5 days with President Jimmy Carter.

Susan has also provided committee leadership for the Women Build in 2009, hosted a fundraising garden party at her home and most recently acted as co-chair on the advisory council for the Red Rose Ball, an event which netted $375,000 in one evening for Habitat for Humanity Toronto.

Susan has opened her home on several occasions to donors, party goers and Toronto’s elite. She has been a tremendous help to Habitat Toronto staff and the partner families. She gets the mission, and she gets her manicured nails dirty building homes. Susan caught “Habititus” many years ago and we couldn’t be happier about it.

In recognition of 12 years of service as a volunteer, donor, host and leader it is our pleasure to announce to you the 2010 volunteer of the year. – Susan Hawkins.