Owning a Home – A Dream Come True for a Seattle, Washington Associate
Owning a Home – A Dream Come True for a Seattle, Washington Associate
By Cathy L. Miller
Tue 19 Feb 2008
I started working with Bank of America in April 2001 in the NW Tax Reporting Unit. It’s been 7 years and I still love my job and all of the associates with whom I have the pleasure of working each day. Bank of America is a wonderful company for which to work and nothing has validated this belief for me more than the support I received from the company in realizing one of my greatest dreams: owning my own home.
I always dreamed of owning a home though the dream always felt unattainable.
My outlook began to change the day I picked up a flyer from the Fremont Public Association which contained an advertisement of a series of classes sponsored by the United Way on how to become a home owner. In the class, I discovered that they would match my investment 3 to 1 up to $2,000 for a down payment toward the purchase of a home. I went to all the classes faithfully for the entire year and each payday I put what I could into a savings account.
After one year, I completed the class, received a completion certificate and felt ready to find my new home. Unfortunately, my initial efforts were discouraging because everywhere I looked, the prices were too high. I began to despair and started to believe that I was never going to be able to buy a home. Despite these feelings, I continued to save for the down payment and deep down, I continued to believe that I would eventually find the right home.
Once again, my hope was rewarded when I picked up a flyer advertising a meeting hosted by Habitat for Humanity.
My hopes were reignited when I went to the meeting and learned that I qualified but the process could take up to a year. A few months later, I was overjoyed when I received a call from Habitat informing me that I was accepted to receive a home at Patterson Park!
I could barely contain my excitement. I knew a lot of hard work was in front of me, but these concerns quickly diminished when compared to the prospect being an actual homeowner. Part of my arrangement with Habitat for Humanity required that I complete 500 hours of sweat equity. Making the arrangement even more agreeable was the condition that allowed 200 of those hours to be done by volunteers.
Fortunately, I had resources available to me where I could find some volunteer assistance. I contacted the Bank of America Volunteer Network and The First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue. Between Bank of America and my Church, I was able to find the manpower necessary for the 200 volunteer hours in no time at all.
I was deeply moved by the generosity and selflessness of everyone who volunteered. Seeing all these people volunteer to take time out of their busy lives in order to help build homes for myself and the other families was overwhelming. After these individuals had fulfilled their 200 hour commitment, they continued to assist me and the other Habitat recipient families. I was especially delighted to see my manager, Linda Roberson and some of my co-workers and their spouses participating in the effort.
All of these events made me appreciate my good fortune.
But this wasn’t even the best part.
I recently learned that Bank of America sponsored my home! I felt overwhelmed with joy and appreciation all over again. I am very proud that Bank of America cares about people and is always looking for ways to help them achieve their goals.
On February 9, 2008, with my friends and family at my side, Mike Olson, Northwest SFO Market President, presented me the keys to my home. After so many months of saving, searching and hoping, I had finally made my dream come true. I will be moving into my new home on March 1, 2008!
Thank You
Cathy L. Miller
Sr Operations Representative
Bank of America
By Cathy L. Miller
Tue 19 Feb 2008
I started working with Bank of America in April 2001 in the NW Tax Reporting Unit. It’s been 7 years and I still love my job and all of the associates with whom I have the pleasure of working each day. Bank of America is a wonderful company for which to work and nothing has validated this belief for me more than the support I received from the company in realizing one of my greatest dreams: owning my own home.
I always dreamed of owning a home though the dream always felt unattainable.
My outlook began to change the day I picked up a flyer from the Fremont Public Association which contained an advertisement of a series of classes sponsored by the United Way on how to become a home owner. In the class, I discovered that they would match my investment 3 to 1 up to $2,000 for a down payment toward the purchase of a home. I went to all the classes faithfully for the entire year and each payday I put what I could into a savings account.
After one year, I completed the class, received a completion certificate and felt ready to find my new home. Unfortunately, my initial efforts were discouraging because everywhere I looked, the prices were too high. I began to despair and started to believe that I was never going to be able to buy a home. Despite these feelings, I continued to save for the down payment and deep down, I continued to believe that I would eventually find the right home.
Once again, my hope was rewarded when I picked up a flyer advertising a meeting hosted by Habitat for Humanity.
My hopes were reignited when I went to the meeting and learned that I qualified but the process could take up to a year. A few months later, I was overjoyed when I received a call from Habitat informing me that I was accepted to receive a home at Patterson Park!
I could barely contain my excitement. I knew a lot of hard work was in front of me, but these concerns quickly diminished when compared to the prospect being an actual homeowner. Part of my arrangement with Habitat for Humanity required that I complete 500 hours of sweat equity. Making the arrangement even more agreeable was the condition that allowed 200 of those hours to be done by volunteers.
Fortunately, I had resources available to me where I could find some volunteer assistance. I contacted the Bank of America Volunteer Network and The First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue. Between Bank of America and my Church, I was able to find the manpower necessary for the 200 volunteer hours in no time at all.
I was deeply moved by the generosity and selflessness of everyone who volunteered. Seeing all these people volunteer to take time out of their busy lives in order to help build homes for myself and the other families was overwhelming. After these individuals had fulfilled their 200 hour commitment, they continued to assist me and the other Habitat recipient families. I was especially delighted to see my manager, Linda Roberson and some of my co-workers and their spouses participating in the effort.
All of these events made me appreciate my good fortune.
But this wasn’t even the best part.
I recently learned that Bank of America sponsored my home! I felt overwhelmed with joy and appreciation all over again. I am very proud that Bank of America cares about people and is always looking for ways to help them achieve their goals.
On February 9, 2008, with my friends and family at my side, Mike Olson, Northwest SFO Market President, presented me the keys to my home. After so many months of saving, searching and hoping, I had finally made my dream come true. I will be moving into my new home on March 1, 2008!
Thank You
Cathy L. Miller
Sr Operations Representative
Bank of America
posted by Mary S. at
12:20 PM
