Individual Profile: Matt Cooper
Matt Cooper began working with the Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity when he was in high school about 12 years ago, volunteering consistently during his summer breaks. At UConn he served as the President of the Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter and also participated in the alternative spring break trip to New Orleans that year.
After transferring from UConn, Matt spent time working with the Habitat for Humanity Lehigh Valley Chapter. After returning to Connecticut, he joined Hartford Habitat as a monthly Crew Leader since 2008. More recently, his volunteering has progressed from the worksite to the conference room. In 2010, Matt joined Hartford Habitat’s Board of Directors and is a member of the finance committee and the property acquisition committee.
When Matt is not working with other board members, he is out on the worksite crew leading. A Crew Leader is a skilled construction volunteer who leads and supervises a team of volunteers to get the day’s work done at the site. Matt is moved by the homeowner’s hectic lives as they try to manage both their jobs and family life. He believes that Habitat’s mission is to help improve the lives of area hard working families.
"I think the homeowners I get to meet at the job site are all tremendous and they are extremely hard working families.”, Matt said.
Matt believes that all the different groups that volunteer with the Affiliate are all great people to work with at the work site. In his Crew Leader role, Matt constantly works with different faith groups, campus chapter groups, corporate groups as well as individuals.
Matt belongs to the First Church of Wethersfield, Conn himself and hopes that his contribution to Habitat is helping them achieve their goal. Matt is also a Committee Vice-Chair with the Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (HYPE) and a group meal leader for the South Park Inn in Hartford. Matt enjoys home renovation projects, skiing, golf, softball, and is an avid UConn and Boston sports fan. Matt currently resides in Wethersfield, CT.
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Myths & Truths
MYTH: Habitat for Humanity was started by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
TRUTH:Habitat for Humanity International was started in Americus, Ga., in 1976 by Millard Fuller, along with his wife, Linda. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, are longtime Habitat supporters and volunteers who help bring national and international attention to the organization’s house-building work. They lead the annual Jimmy Carter Work Project to help build houses and raise awareness of the need for affordable housing. Since the first work project in 1984, more than 2,000 houses have been built in conjunction with JCWP events.
Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity - a proud Equal Opportunity Employer.