DJ is on track to graduate from Southeast Missouri State University in December with his degree in corporate communications. He plans to own his own business someday. Aubriana is a psychology major at OSU. She wants to help people, likely in her own practice.
“I even got a degree myself,” Ms. Northington said proudly. “I got my degree in criminal justice. I wanted to work as a police officer, but with two small kids, that just wasn’t an option. Now I work as a docket court clerk at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.”

The house was built as a project with Habitat for Humanity of Central Oklahoma, enlisting the aid of many OBA members and staff. From planting flowers to painting walls, lawyers and judges worked alongside one another to put the pieces of the house together. Financially, donations were raised to help shoulder the cost of the home. The work put in by the OBA members was a key part of the driving force behind Ms. Northington’s success, and she is always quick to make note of that.
“If not for the kind words and encouragement, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” she said. “Everyone kept telling me that I could do it, to keep it up for those kids, to keep on going, so I did. I didn’t want to lose it and let everyone down after all the hard work they’d put in. Sometimes people get something like this and they take it for granted,but I wasn’t going to do that. I couldn’t do that.”

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“My dad was a legend. He really was,” says Stricklen. “He could take apart a car and put it back together with his eyes closed.

Jimmy Smith died of suicide in December. He hung drywall for 37 years. Looking at the finish on a wall is enough to remind her of her father. Forty-four days after Amber lost her father, her husband also died of suicide at the age of 41. The obituary for Donald “Ty” O’Neal reads: “He loved being a daddy and he was so good at it.”

Amber glows when talking about her late husband and how he parented. Some of her most precious memories include Ty painting her daughter’s fingernails and teaching her two sons how to fish.

“He’s pretty amazing to tell you the truth,” Amber says.

Amber is left with her four children in a cramped home that reminds them of the Ty’s passing. Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity put her on the fast track for a new home. FOX 25 is partnering up with the Stricklen family to help with the build.

“I can’t even explain it. It means a lot,” says Stricklen.

Part of the arrangement with Habitat for Humanity is that a new homeowner like Amber has to put in the time and sweat equity to get their new house. Once it’s finished they’ll have a new home and a mortgage. COHFH calls it a “hand up, not a hand out”.

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About Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity

Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry
that provides affordable housing for hardworking, limited income families. The organization has built nearly 900 new homes in central Oklahoma since 1990; all sold at cost and with zero interest mortgages. For more information, visit cohfh.org or call 405-232-4828.

“I usually start things and never finish, but not this time. This time, I was determined to succeed at becoming a homeowner and I am so close I can taste it,” said Annette Henderson, future Habitat homeowner. “I want my children to know their mother did all she could to make a better life for them.”

Henderson, who put in 300 hours in sweat equity, which serves as a down payment on the home, will make zero-percent interest mortgage payments once her family moves into the house.

7-Eleven, which began supporting COHFH in the early 1990’s, sponsored the 900th home build.

“7-Eleven is Central Oklahoma Habitat’s longest standing partner,” said Ann Felton Gilliland, chairman and CEO of Central Oklahoma Habitat. “The company truly cares about building stronger communities. It has been a great pleasure and blessing to have the opportunity to get to know the Brown family and experience their servant hearts, and we are grateful for their ongoing support.”

“We’re proud of the decades-long relationship 7-Eleven has with this much-needed organization,” said Jim Brown, owner, 7-Eleven. “One of 7-Eleven’s core values is to show gratitude to the community that supports our stores. We have stores all over the metro area that are supported by the people who are supported by Central Oklahoma Habitat. It’s a natural partnership. We’re excited about this milestone in the life of this great ministry, and we look forward to continuing our support as we work together with “Habitat” to bring brighter futures to limited-income families in the Oklahoma City metro.”

The 900th home build also coincides with Oklahoma City-based ClimateMaster donating its 500th geothermal heating and cooling system. Since 2006, ClimateMaster has collaborated with COHFH to construct energy efficient homes central Oklahoma.

“The completion of the 500th geothermal build by Central Oklahoma Habitat represents the dedication and pride ClimateMaster takes in supporting the community. The installation of geothermal heating and cooling into the affordable housing model reduces future costs, both in utility and maintenance,” said Todd Graf, President, ClimateMaster. “We are honored to work with an organization, such as Central Oklahoma Habitat, and to participate in the valuable work they do in supporting limited-income families in Oklahoma.”

“Thanks to our invaluable partnership with ClimateMaster, Central Oklahoma Habitat is the most energy efficient homebuilder in the state of Oklahoma. On average, our homes save families $700-to-$800 per year on their utility bills,” said Gilliland.

For Henderson, getting out of their overcrowded, two-bedroom apartment will give her and her children their own space and so much more.

“This home will give us a place of security and stability. It will give us a place to call ours, a place to feel free.”

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About Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity

Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry
that provides affordable housing for hardworking, limited income families. The organization has built nearly 900 new homes in central Oklahoma since 1990; all sold at cost and with zero interest mortgages. For more information, visit cohfh.org or call 405-232-4828.

About ClimateMaster, Inc.

ClimateMaster, Inc. manufactures water-source and geothermal heat pumps, which are considered to be the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly type of air conditioning and heating products available on the market today. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla., ClimateMaster, Inc. For more information, visit www.climatemaster.com.

Oklahoma News9    Oklahoma KFOR    Oklahoma FOX    The OklahomanFlorentz, originally from Brooklyn, New York, joined the U.S. army at the height of the Vietnam War where he served two years as a helicopter medic. During his service, he received a Purple Heart, an Air Medal (FOURTH OAK LEAF CLUSTER) with “V” device for Valor Under Fire and a SE Asia Medal. Upon his return, Florentz went back to school to become a surgical technician with the Veterans Administration. He worked for VA hospitals in New England, Tennessee, and Arkansas before landing a job in Oklahoma City in 1987. The following year, he purchased his first home.

Stephen Florentz Trust Trustee, Mike Bourland, who was Florentz’s friend and insurance agent, says Stephen grew up living in a tenement area of Brooklyn, and that was one of the reasons he cherished homeownership.

“Steve told me what he was doing with Habitat several years ago. He valued homeownership so highly,” said Bourland.

Florentz reentered the Army Reserve in Oklahoma City, and when the U.S. entered the war in Iraq in 1991, Florentz’s unit was activated overseas. Florentz served nearly a year in Operation Desert Storm, taking care of injured American soldiers at the army hospital in Saudi Arabia. Florentz retired from the VA in 2006, and spent the next decade being active – running, bicycling and volunteering his time for various churches around Oklahoma City.

“What’s funny is Steve never actually volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. He was not much of a contractor,” said Bourland. “He grew up in the Jewish faith but he did not actively practice – he would go to any church in Oklahoma City to volunteer his help.”

Florentz passed away from heart disease in December 2016.

“Since Stephen’s passing, beyond his donation, we learned he never received his military honors, so we want to see that he is properly honored for his service to our country,” said Felton Gilliland.

During the COHFH ceremony, Honoring America’s Warriors Honor Guard will render military honors and present the American flag to Mr. Bourland.

“Stephen has no close family so this acknowledgement is especially important to the Honor Guard. In many ways, it means the most to them when there is nobody present to recognize a person’s contributions to their country,” said Scotty “Dee” Deatherage, Exec. Dir. of Honoring America’s Warriors.

“His military career spoke volumes about his character, his service to his nation, and other veterans who are left behind,” said retired USAF Major General Rita Aragon. “His service continues even past his life, he continues to serve others with his gifts.”

The COHFH ceremony will conclude with the unveiling of a new Legacy Estates sign honoring Florentz. His ashes will be interred that afternoon at Fort Sill National Cemetery in Elgin at 2 p.m.

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About Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity

Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry
that provides affordable housing for hardworking, limited income families. The organization has built nearly 900 new homes in central Oklahoma since 1990; all sold at cost and with zero interest mortgages. For more information, visit cohfh.org or call 405-232-4828.

About Honoring America’s Warriors

Honoring Americas Warriors is a 501(c) (3) non-profit tax-exempt organization dedicated to supporting the physical, mental, and spiritual wellness services to our nation’s veterans. Honoring Americas Warriors provides teams of disabled/retired veterans a new mission to be back in-service dress uniform to provide/augment military funeral honors only, for honorably discharged veterans that have served this country. Honoring Americas Warriors also provides direct support to our nation’s heroes in the areas of outdoor sporting activities, adaptive sports, mental health & spiritual wellness, family & couples gatherings, service/companion dog placement, employment as well as prevention of veteran suicide, and “Homes for Warriors”, a partnership with Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity. Honoring Americas Warriors works with community leaders, elected officials and legislators, and other non-profit organizations to enhance veteran’s awareness and promote veteran’s initiatives. For more information, visit www.honoringamericaswarriors.org or call 405-948-4376.

“Our organization has always desired to serve our veterans by providing our resources to make the dream of owning a home a reality, but the challenge has been identifying veterans who may qualify.  So we reached out to Ret. USAF Major General Rita Aragon with the Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs and she connected us with Honoring America’s Warriors”, said COHFH CEO, Ann Felton.

Honoring America’s Warriors is an Oklahoma based non-profit that serves a large number of veterans in Oklahoma.  The organization provides military honors with disabled veterans back in service dress uniform as well as outdoor activities and several other programs.  “This partnership is a perfect fit for us as we have identified veterans who qualify for the program and are currently renting”, said Scotty Deatherage executive director for HAW.

The homes will be built in several additions that COHFH currently has under construction located in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas, including Blanchard.  The two organizations have identified veterans who are eligible for the homes, and now they need to raise the funds to get them completed.  If you would like to donate time or monetary donations you can contact Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity at (405) 232-4828 or go to their website www.FundAHome.org.

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About Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity:

Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that provides affordable housing for hardworking, limited income families. The organization has built over 800 new homes in central Oklahoma since 1990, all sold at cost and with zero interest mortgage. For more information, visit cohfh.org or call 405-232-4828.

About Honoring America’s Warriors

Honoring America’s Warriors is a 501(c) (3) non-profit tax exempt organization dedicated to supporting the physical, mental, and spiritual wellness services to our nation’s heroes. Honoring America’s Warriors provides teams of disabled veterans, in service dress uniform to augment military funeral honors for our brave that have served this country, colors presentations, memorials, and dedications. Honoring America’s Warriors also provides direct support to our nation’s heroes in the areas of outdoor sporting activities, adaptive sports, mental health & spiritual wellness, family & couples gatherings, service/companion dog placement, employment as well as promote prevention and community awareness of Veteran Suicide, Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI).  For more information, visit www.honoringamericaswarriors.org or call 405-659-4156.