06/04/2026
In 1997, second graders at Nitrauer Elementary School in the Manheim Township School District participated in a five-week read-a-thon to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. The students found sponsors to make donations based on the number of books they read. In total, 32 students read 574 books and raised $374.02 for Habitat.
The money that students raised went into Habitat’s Emerald Valley project (you can learn more about Emerald Valley at the 40 Years tab on our website).
Fran McCaffrey, Habitat’s executive director at the time (who was educator for 30 years before coming to Habitat), led the students on a guided tour of a Habitat construction site to show them where their money was going. After the tour, the students surprised McCaffrey with homemade housewarming gifts for the families who would eventually move into the Emerald Valley homes.
Education has always been connected to Habitat’s mission. When families have a stable place to call home, students can have better academic outcomes.
Today, Habitat homebuyer partner families with students can contribute to their family’s sweat equity by earning A’s and B’s in school.
Last May, Habitat homebuyer Estefanye (pictured with her children) hit the required 100 hours of sweat equity needed to match with her future home. And that milestone was even more special because Estefanye’s children’s excellent marks on their report cards helped her get there.
Estefanye, who recently graduated from a local community college phlebotomy program, stresses the importance of lifelong education to her young children.
“I always encourage education,” says Estefanye. “Even when my kids don’t want to go to school, I say ‘Mommy’s got to go to school too.’”
