HISTORY: TIMELINE & MILESTONES (2018-present)
2018
MARCH
Teams of Wittenberg University students spend their spring breaks repairing homes in four Georgia cities — Atlanta, Macon, Albany and Perry on their third straight year of large alternative spring break service trips with The Fuller Center.
United Church of Christ’s commitment to fund 50 homes in Nepal earthquake recovery accomplished through Fuller Center.
Completion of 66-home community in Mizque, Bolivia, strikes blow against Chagas disease, which had once festered in mud huts and shacks the new, safe homes replaced.
MAY
Fuller Center President David Snell delivers keynote address at National Day of Prayer event in Americus, Georgia. “Unity isn’t something that just happens,” Snell tells the crowd. “It is the result of good-hearted people doing good things, coming together to make the world better for all of God’s children.”
First Global Builders trip to Western Cape, South Africa.
JUNE
We could have won the National Spelling Bee this year! This was the word that won it for Spelling Bee champ Karthik Nemmani of McKinney, Texas — “Koinonia.” 🙂
President David Snell and wife Sheilla attend Fuller Center of Armenia’s 10th anniversary celebration, honoring the partner for the completion of more than 650 homes in that time.
Chattahoochee Fuller Center Project dedicates its 40th new home build in the area after a one-week blitz in Valley, Alabama. Carmen and Rodney Lott are the proud and grateful homeowners. See the emotional story of this blitz here.
Global Builders teams begin making trips to work on disaster recovery in Puerto Rico.
JULY
Finally! The nation’s top charity watchdog, Charity Navigator, agrees to evaluate and rate The Fuller Center for Housing. They give The Fuller Center its highest-level 4-star “exceptional” rating with its overall score of 95.47 out of a possible 100 points — higher than most nonprofits, especially those working in the area of housing.
AUGUST
Director of International Operations Ryan Iafigliola is featured in an extensive Go Abroad article about The Fuller Center’s work and his motivations to serve in this ministry.
Habitat for Humanity donates Millard Fuller’s former law office — which also served as the first headquarters of Habitat — to The Fuller Center for Housing.
SEPTEMBER
President David Snell releases his first book, “The Tattered Passport.” The book details the many fascinating places he has visited and people he has met through his years in the affordable housing ministry. Proceeds benefit The Fuller Center’s work, and copies can be easily ordered from Amazon.com at this link.
Three homes go up on Louisville’s east end during blitz build.
OCTOBER
Rising pop star Rayla, a favorite on Radio Disney, gives an exclusive interview with BSCKids in which she talks about summers spent volunteering with The Fuller Center and the impact it has had in her life.
DECEMBER
LeRoy Troyer, a long-time friend of the Fullers and a tremendous supporter of both Habitat for Humanity and The Fuller Center for Housing, dies at age 81. He was known for many things, including being former President Jimmy Carter’s house captain on Jimmy Carter Work Projects and as an architect for designing the massive Ark Encounter in Kentucky. “He leaves behind a huge legacy in the many churches, institutions and office buildings that he designed,” Fuller Center President David Snell said. “And he leaves a greater legacy in the hearts of all those who knew and loved him for his wisdom, gentleness and faith. LeRoy was the chair of The Fuller Center’s board for many years from its founding on and artfully guided us through good times and bad. We owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for The Fuller Center would not be what it is today without his good work in laying a firm foundation under it.”
2019
JANUARY
Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders dedicate first restored home in New Bern, North Carolina, and announce dozens of teams of volunteers are on the way with tremendous interest but little money focused on the area battered by Hurricane Florence the previous year.
Brenda Barton, who tirelessly worked to support U.S. covenant partners’ work, passes away after a brief illness.
APRIL
East Alabama Medical Center recruits Chattahoochee Fuller Center Project to build homes in tornado-ravaged Beauregard, Alabama, well outside of the CFCP’s normal work area. EAMC funds the first three homes, which are mostly built during a one-week blitz and dedicated less than two weeks after the build began. A dozen more homes are planned, including 10 to be built during the Millard Fuller Legacy Build at the end of September.
MAY
Dozens of volunteers assemble in Dickinson, Texas — where the Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders have been working for nearly two years since Hurricane Harvey struck the area — for the Brenda Barton Memorial Build, during which two new homes are constructed.
AUGUST
Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders announce beginning of operations in Panama City, FL, in response to continuing recovery needs from previous year’s Hurricane Michael in the Bay County area. This gives the Disaster ReBuilders three active bases of operations — in Texas, North Carolina and Florida.
SEPTEMBER
Millard Fuller Legacy Build (Sept. 29-Oct. 4) draws hundreds of volunteers to tornado-ravaged Lee County, Alabama, to build 11 new Fuller Center homes in one week. The event draws a great deal of support and media attention — including a film crew producing a “Project Christmas Joy” special for Hallmark Drama set to air in December 2019.
NOVEMBER
The 18th home in the Lee County, Alabama, tornado recovery is dedicated in the town of Smiths Station.
2020
JANUARY
The Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure completes its first-ever Tour de Florida ride, going from Orlando to Key West. The Tour de Florida becomes an annual event.
FEBRUARY
Countryside Mennonite Church of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, sends a 65-member Global Builders team to work in Peru, putting the Global Builders program over the 2,000-volunteer mark all-time.
APRIL
After the Covid pandemic strikes, The Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure — our top single fundraising event — comes up with the Home Challenge to encourage people to stay active and continue raising money for the important work of The Fuller Center.
MAY
Inspired by the success of the Home Challenge, The Global Home Challenge — a virtual bike/run/walk trip around the world to help raise funds and awareness with both the Bicycle Adventure and the Global Builders program on hold due to the pandemic.
SEPTEMBER
Disaster ReBuilders set up a base in Southwest Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Laura and begin accepting volunteers.
Fuller Center launches free-to-use vacation bible school program — The Worldwide Mansion. Curriculum and materials are offered free for churches to use at fullercenter.org/vbs.
DECEMBER
The Fuller Center for Housing of Armenia becomes the first Fuller Center partner in the world to surpass the 1,000-home milestone.
2021
JANUARY
The Chattahoochee Fuller Center Project completes its 19th and 20th homes in the Lee County, Alabama tornado recovery effort.
FEBRUARY
In El Salvador, 65 families who were displaced from land they could not prove they owned move into 65 new homes of The Fuller Center’s El Espino community.
APRIL
A team of Georgia Southwestern State University students in the President Jimmy Carter Leadership Program become the first Fuller Center U.S. Builders team to serve in the Mississippi Delta and the first team to make a trip since the pandemic began. Story
The Bicycle Adventure is officially back with a successful weeklong Natchez Trace ride.
MAY
The Millard Fuller Center Legacy Build returns with a weeklong build in Hillsville, Virginia. It is part of a post-pandemic Legacy Build program that allows multiple covenant partners to stage highlight builds in their area.
The Bicycle Adventure’s cross-country ride begins after missing 2020 because of Covid.
AUGUST
Portugal becomes The Fuller Center’s first covenant partner in Western Europe. It will go on to become a hugely popular Global Builders destination.
SEPTEMBER
“Good Morning America” host Robin Roberts visits her home state of Louisiana and features the outstanding work of the Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders.
OCTOBER
Volunteers build two new homes in West Point, Georgia, during a very rainy Millard Fuller Legacy Build hosted by the Chattahoochee Fuller Center Project.
NOVEMBER
Millard and Linda Fuller’s granddaughter Sophie Davina launches a new song “Look Back on Every Blessing” to help raise money to build a home in Haiti with the support of long-time supporter Jackie Goodman who matches every stream of the song with a dollar. The home is funded within two weeks. Story
DECEMBER
The Fuller Center dedicates its 500th home in El Salvador. Story
A team of students from Western Kentucky University keep their commitment to serve in Americus just days after their campus and communities are struck by devastating tornadoes. Story
2022
JANUARY
Disaster ReBuilders establish volunteer base in Madisonville, Kentucky, for long-term tornado recovery operations.
FEBRUARY
The Fuller Center Global Builders program hits the 500-team milestone with a trip to Peru. Story
Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure heads out on inaugural two-week Gulf Coast ride from Florida to Texas.
MAY
First-ever Global Builders trip to Madagascar. Story
JUNE
Chattahoochee Fuller Center Project dedicates first two senior homes — 780-square-foot homes that are well-equipped and energy-efficient, while also being manageable and affordable for seniors. Story
JULY
Co-founder Linda Fuller visits team and Global Builders in Portugal.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams volunteers at Fuller Center of Greater New York City’s Build-A-Thon. Story
AUGUST
Cross-country Bicycle Adventure culminates with an emotional build day with the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing in Maine to help a family battling ALS. Story
Fuller Center adds its second covenant partner in Western Hemisphere — Cluj, Romania — which becomes a popular destination for Global Builders.
“The Vision at Work” — a book detailing the history and principles behind The Fuller Center for Housing — is published by Fuller Center President David Snell. Story
OCTOBER
Two-home Millard Fuller Legacy Build kicks off in Millard’s hometown of Lanett, Alabama. This will complete the neighborhood that started with the inaugural Legacy Build in 2009.
First Global Builders team to work in Romania has rave reviews. Story
NOVEMBER
98-home La Bretaña community dedicated in El Salvador. Story
2023
JANUARY
Anglican Relief and Development Fund partners with Fuller Center to help communities after natural disasters.
FEBRUARY
Twenty-four new Fuller Center homes dedicated in Nigeria. Story
MARCH
In-depth episode of “The Americus Podcast” features extensive interview with President David Snell. Story
APRIL
New 50-home community dedicated in Juayuá, El Salvador. Story and photos
MAY
Second Millard Fuller Legacy Build for The Fuller Center for Housing of Greater Carroll County concludes in Hillsville, Virginia. Story
Ten-week cross-country Bicycle Adventure and four-week East Coast ride begin on same day.
JUNE
Fuller Center of Greater New York City Executive Director Jim Killoran is featured on “The Joe Piscopo Show” on New York’s popular AM-970.
JULY
New book, “The HOPE Equation,” co-authored by Fuller Center board chairman Jeff Cardwell and Vice President of Communications Chris Johnson is released. The Fuller Center and Millard Fuller are featured prominently throughout. Story
AUGUST
Chattahoochee Fuller Center Project dedicates two new smaller homes, 768-square-feet each, in Millard Fuller’s hometown of Lanett, Alabama, setting an affordable example for home construction in a more expensive age of building. Story
Independent audit shows Fuller Center’s percentage of expenses going to programs at a record 94 percent, far exceeding nonprofit industry standards of at least 65 percent. Complete story and more information