Construction Superintendent Nick, left, Virus, left, Volunteer Dan Grommersch, center, and Volunteer Aaron Henry go over plans for walls during Habitat for Humanity of Orange County’s 16th annual Leaders Build Challenge in Santa Ana, CA, on Friday, May 16, 2025. The nonprofit’s fundraising and team-building event had 75 volunteers building walls that will be the second floor of four living units.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Charles Antis takes a selfie with Henry DiCarlo, center, and Cori Vernam, right, as he holds last year’s winning trophy during Habitat for Humanity of Orange County’s 16th annual Leaders Build Challenge in Santa Ana, CA, on Friday, May 16, 2025. The nonprofit’s fundraising and team-building event had 75 volunteers building walls that will be the second floor of four living units.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Santa Ana Councilman Johnathan Ryan Hernandez helps build walls destined for his district during Habitat for Humanity of Orange County’s 16th annual Leaders Build Challenge in Santa Ana, CA, on Friday, May 16, 2025. The nonprofit’s fundraising and team-building event had 75 volunteers building walls that will be the second floor of four living units.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Volunteers in the parking lot of Behr Paint helps build walls during Habitat for Humanity of Orange County’s 16th annual Leaders Build Challenge in Santa Ana, CA, on Friday, May 16, 2025. The nonprofit’s fundraising and team-building event had 75 volunteers building walls that will be the second floor of four living units.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Volunteers leave messages on the studs of walls during Habitat for Humanity of Orange County’s 16th annual Leaders Build Challenge in Santa Ana, CA, on Friday, May 16, 2025. The nonprofit’s fundraising and team-building event had 75 volunteers building walls that will be the second floor of four living units.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Norma Torres, left, and Ha Nghia share a laugh as they joins the Parker Aerospace team removing nails from a board while helping to build a wall during Habitat for Humanity of Orange County’s 16th annual Leaders Build Challenge in Santa Ana, CA, on Friday, May 16, 2025. The nonprofit’s fundraising and team-building event had 75 volunteers building walls that will be the second floor of four living units.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Volunteer Narciso Alarcon, center, helps the team from Antis Roofing as they lift a wall they built during Habitat for Humanity of Orange County’s 16th annual Leaders Build Challenge in Santa Ana, CA, on Friday, May 16, 2025. The nonprofit’s fundraising and team-building event had 75 volunteers building walls that will be the second floor of four living units.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Construction Superintendent Nick, left, Virus, left, Volunteer Dan Grommersch, center, and Volunteer Aaron Henry go over plans for walls during Habitat for Humanity of Orange County’s 16th annual Leaders Build Challenge in Santa Ana, CA, on Friday, May 16, 2025. The nonprofit’s fundraising and team-building event had 75 volunteers building walls that will be the second floor of four living units.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
In business, you build customer bases, you build teams and on Friday, May 16, these leaders from several Orange County companies built walls that will give families the chance at affordable homeownership.
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County hosted its 16th annual Leaders Build Challenge on Friday, where “local leaders trade boardrooms for toolbelts” and help with the construction of the organization’s newest home projects.
The challenge was to build and raise the walls for the second stories of six future homes, at stake were the bragging rights in contests such as nail driving and rubber hatchet throws.
The event is also a fundraiser for Habitat OC, with more than $1.5 million raised over the years. Building alongside the volunteers were some of the families that are set to move into the homes.
