Corey Sauer Steps Up as Diamond Sponsor for Carter Work Project

Most Habitat for Humanity supporters first encounter our work by volunteering on a build site. Corey Sauer is no different. What’s different about Corey, though, is how he has continually deepened his support of Habitat’s mission since that first day swinging a hammer. Ten years later, Corey is an incredibly generous donor, one of our most frequent volunteers, a tireless advocate for our work, and now the top sponsor of the 2024 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project.

Corey supports Habitat because he sees the impact for families—for the very real people who buy these homes and transform their lives through homeownership. And Corey believes deeply in the power of individuals. “Individuals can make a difference, can be a part of something larger than yourself, and be a force for good,” Corey shares.

When Corey heard that Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity was selected to host this year’s Carter Work Project, he immediately wondered how he could be involved. He saw how corporations step up as sponsors of this global project year after year, but he wanted to demonstrate how individuals can play a critical role, too.

As he’s done on numerous occasions, Corey called Kate Loe, our VP of Resource Development, with good news: Corey would be a Diamond Sponsor of the 2024 Carter Work Project.

Carrying on the Carters’ Legacy of Service

The Carter Work Project is an annual event that casts a global spotlight on Habitat for Humanity’s mission. Since 1984, President and the late Mrs. Carter came together with other volunteers around the world to build homes and draw attention to the transformational power of homeownership. Those who had the honor of building alongside the Carters recall their tireless work ethic – they were there to put in a hard week’s work to build houses, not to pose for a photo op.

Corey Sauer embodies this same work ethic and humility. In the last year alone, Corey has volunteered more than 100 days with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. He is most content when he has a hammer in hand. “No meetings, just a stack of lumber and nails, and I’m a happy guy.”

Corey is much more comfortable on a rooftop than in front of a camera. But like the Carters, Corey understands that the cameras and media buzz help raise awareness of Habitat’s work. “It is such a significant event in terms of the number of homes we will build and the amount of people involved. It really is a landmark way to advertise Habitat and its greater mission. To be a part of something that doesn't come along very often and is really special was very appealing to me.”

Corey shared that the Carters’ legacy of service inspires him and adds meaning to his sponsorship:

“[The Carters demonstrate] that there are people out there willing to dedicate their lives to public service. To be even tangentially associated with that project and that effort they've made in their own lives is huge for me. It's inspiring. I want to be like that. The Carters represent a tangible creation of public service that manifests in changing the world. They are such prominent and giving people but they’re willing to do the unglamorous work. It’s a model of giving back that shows there's no job or task or problem that we are bigger than.”

And as so many of us have felt after a day on a Habitat site, Corey knows the impact of this service is meaningful and long-lasting.

“At the end of the day it's not intangible. It's not transitory. These homes are going to last 70, 80, 100 years. And who knows how many families will have them over that time.”

Looking Ahead to Carter Work Project

Corey has personal connections to the site of The Heights development – which was previously the Hillcrest Golf Course – and he expressed his excitement to see the transformation during the build week. Imagine a golf course with the sod peeled back. Then imagine 800 volunteers hammering, sawing, and installing lumber each day for five days in a row, turning that open space into 30 homes for local families. That’s what Corey is most looking forward to for Carter Work Project.

Corey is also eager to work alongside friends, family, and others throughout the week. With his Diamond Sponsorship, Corey has many volunteer slots to fill, so he’s rallying his friends and family to join him in doing what he loves. He’s hopeful that this tangible experience on site will help them better understand why he’s so committed to Habitat for Humanity. Corey hopes his support has a ripple effect on his community, demonstrating that individuals – not just corporations – can contribute to causes in a big way.

In addition to inviting his friends and family, Corey is leveraging his sponsorship slots to make this coveted volunteer opportunity accessible to others who have shaped his Habitat experience.

Corey has experienced Habitat’s global mission through a build trip to the Dominican Republic. Now, he’s hosting “Global Village Gone Local” to engage other Global Village volunteers from the Twin Cities in the Carter Work Project.

Corey has also extended invitations to some of Habitat’s faith partners and other Regular Volunteers like him. These groups are the lifeblood of our work, contributing to our mission as dedicated volunteers, donors, and advocates.

Lastly, Corey wants to welcome Twin Cities Habitat staff and their families to volunteer for a day. Over the last decade, Corey has developed relationships with many of our site and office staff. He expressed that, through our staff, he has learned the complexity of building a house, the depth of the racial disparities in our state, and the impact our mission has for families. Corey appreciates the contributions of all our staff members and is recognizing that by inviting them to build during Carter Work Project.

“Just Keep Showing Up”

When I spoke with Corey, I couldn’t help but be amazed by his commitment. His willingness to keep showing up, to keep giving more. I asked him where he finds his motivation and he expressed that all of us have the power to take small actions to make a big difference.

Corey says, “Step up and volunteer for a day and ask what you can do to help, and if the experience was enjoyable or it resonates with you, then just keep showing up and helping as often as you can.”

All of us at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity are grateful for and inspired by Corey’s overwhelming generosity and dedication. Thank you, Corey, for your commitment to showing up and helping as often as you can—your impact is immeasurably vast.