At its 13th annual convention held recently in Nashville, EXIT Realty Corp. International continued its corporate sponsorship of Habitat for Humanity pledging a further $250,000 bringing the total pledges to-date to $2.25 million.

"We’re so proud to be associated with an organization like Habitat for Humanity," said EXIT Realty Founder and CEO, Steve Morris. "Habitat’s philosophy of providing a hand up, rather than a hand out, is right in line with our corporate philosophy."

A portion of every transaction fee collected by EXIT Realty Corp. International is earmarked for Habitat and to-date, the company has sponsored 17 home builds across the continent. The most recent build was in Nashville just prior to the kick off of the convention.

EXIT Realty partnered with Nashville homeowner, Stella Johnson, a 22-year-old single mother of three children. She will finish her sociology degree next year and works full-time after her job was eliminated following the devastating 2010 floods. Moving her children to a safer neighborhood was paramount in Johnson’s decision to apply to Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity, which requires homeowner families to invest 200 hours of sweat equity, which includes classroom instruction and helping build their own and other homes.

"This has definitely been the best experience of my life – it’s very life-changing for me and my children," said Johnson. "I’m very appreciative of EXIT Realty for giving me the opportunity of homeownership that I probably never would have had. The neighborhood is beautiful compared to where I live now. Moving will give me a fresh start and the opportunity to start my kids off on the right track. It’s a good change that I need right now."

Along with the dedication ceremony for Johnson’s home being held this month, EXIT Realty is also dedicating a home in partnership with Salt Lake Valley Habitat for Humanity in Salt Lake City, Utah.

"Habitat for Humanity makes the dream of homeownership come true with so many wonderful families like Stella’s," said Morris. "EXIT Realty is privileged to be a part of it."

About EXIT Realty: EXIT is a proven real estate business model that supplies single-level residual income - for agents, security, stability and direction; for agents' families, security in the form of beneficiary and retirement residuals.  EXIT’s MIND-SET Training Systems offer the industry’s best hands-on, interactive sales training.  State-of-the-art technology, including the Digital Marketing Strategy, gives agents the edge in a competitive marketplace.

About Habitat for Humanity International: Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit housing organization that brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 500,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitat.org or follow Habitat on Facebook, Twitter or Blog.

Stella Johnson started working at the Rainforest Café inside Opry Mills when she finished high school in 2007, and she was promoted to supervisor of the retail operation in 2009. After the flood wiped out Opry Mills in May of this year, Stella lost her job; she has been working for Advance Financial as a Customer Service Representative since August 2010. Stella got promoted to Vault Teller in January 2011.

In addition to her busy work schedule, Stella is also a full-time student at Fisk University and will graduate in December of 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology.

Stella is the proud mother of three children: sons, Jaden (4) and Christian (18 months), and daughter Kadence (7 months). She and her family currently live in a townhome in an MDHA community near the Sam Levy homes. Stella’s main concern with her current living situation is the safety in the neighborhood. She says there is a high crime rate with lots of drug activity around her home. She is ready to live in a “safer environment where my kids can grow and play.”

Stella and her family are the new recipients of EXIT Realty's latest Habitat for Humanity home being built in Nashville, Tennessee.  The EXIT Blitz days, Saturday October 22nd and Sunday October 23rd, kick off Convention week.  

EXIT Realty Associates can register to participate in the build by logging into the EXIT Resource Center and clicking "Habitat Sign Up" in the left column.  Registration is limited so don't delay!

We have a limited number of rooms available at our Convention host hotel, the fabulous Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, for the nights of Friday October 21^st, Saturday October 22^nd and Sunday October 23^rd at the rate of $99 per night.  To take advantage of this special rate, first register for the build in the ERC, then register at the Gaylord for the build dates plus your Convention stay.  The hotel will be notified by EXIT Realty Corp. International to apply the special rate for the build nights to your stay.

Please note that the special rate of $99 only applies to a limited number of rooms for the build nights of October 21st, 22nd and 23rd and you must be registered for and attend the build to take advantage of these rates.  The rest of your stay at the Gaylord will be charged at the special Convention rate of $189/night provided you register at the hotel before September 23^rd.

For more information about EXIT Realty's work with Habitat for Humanity, please visit www.exitrealty.com/habitat. For more information about Habitat for Humanity's work around the world, please visit http://www.habitat.org/.

Don't miss your chance to have a life-changing experience while contributing to the local community by participating in EXIT Realty's Nashville, Tennessee Habitat Build!

Nashville is the host city for EXIT’s Annual Convention and these blitz days take place the weekend before the start of Convention.  Come to town early and enjoy the uplifting experience of participating in a Habitat Build! Meet the recipient family, Stella Johnson and her three children (learn more about the Johnson family in a special blog post later this week). What a great way to kick off Convention week! Complementary t-shirts will be provided on site. 

Blitz dates: October 22nd and 23rd

EXIT Realty Associates can register to participate in the build by logging into the EXIT Resource Center and clicking "Habitat Sign Up" in the left column.  Registration is limited so don't delay!

We have a limited number of rooms available at our Convention host hotel, the fabulous Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, for the nights of Friday October 21^st, Saturday October 22^nd and Sunday October 23^rd at the rate of $99 per night.  To take advantage of this special rate, first register for the build in the ERC, then register at the Gaylord for the build dates plus your Convention stay.  The hotel will be notified by EXIT Realty Corp. International to apply the special rate for the build nights to your stay.

Please note that the special rate of $99 only applies to a limited number of rooms for the build nights of October 21st, 22nd and 23rd and you must be registered for and attend the build to take advantage of these rates.  The rest of your stay at the Gaylord will be charged at the special Convention rate of $189/night provided you register at the hotel before September 23^rd.

For more information about EXIT Realty's work with Habitat for Humanity, please visit www.exitrealty.com/habitat.