“Habitat has successfully removed the stigma of charity by substituting it with a sense of partnership.”
— Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter
In September of 1984, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter led a group of Habitat for Humanity volunteers to New York, building alongside 19 families in need of safe, affordable housing.
That was the inaugural Carter Work Project, which is now a weeklong event somewhere around the world each year.
In 1984 in New York City, former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter lent their leadership and hands to work alongside homeowners and volunteers for the first Carter Work Project, igniting an incredible legacy as hands-on volunteers and advocates for affordable housing.
The 2024 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project was a landmark milestone for Habitat for Humanity, marking the project’s 40th anniversary. The 2024 Carter Work Project brought together volunteers, homeowners and supporters to build 30 new homes over the week.
President Carter also celebrated his 100th birthday during the event week, and his decades of work continue to be an inspiration for millions around the world.