STRATFORD – Norwalk-based Terex Corp., a worldwide maker of lifting and material handling equipment, has donated one of its Genie telehandlers to Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County.
The donation, which was marked on Monday, Feb. 10 at Habitat’s Stratford headquarters, is the culmination of a 10-year relationship Terex has established with the nonprofit affordable housing builder for low-income families. Through Build Days sponsored by the company and separate donations, Terex has become one of Habitat for Humanities top corporate partners.
“During this time, Terex has given nearly $50,000 to our organization,” said Carolyn Vermont, CEO of the local Habitat for Humanity, which has turned 40 years old. “Of course, with this donation that takes it way up. Terex has had employees come here for Build Days nearly every year since 2014. Over this time, over 100 Terex employees have helped us build more affordable housing in Coastal Fairfield County.”
Scott Posner, Terex senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, explained how Habitat fits into his company’s corporate citizenship scheme.
“One of Terex’s core values is citizenship,” Posner said. “We rolled out our core values (program) in 2008. Really, for me, it’s tremendous since I’ve been with the company since 2004. Today (Monday) really is the culmination of events that began on May 19, 2023. We had a number of members of our ELT (executive leadership team) who spent a day with Habitat for Humanity then.”
The idea to donate the Genie telehandler was borne out of one of the Build Days when they realized they could benefit from the tool as they build homes and store materials in their Stratford warehouse.
“While we were there, we realized one of the products we make could be really useful for the folks at Habitat,” he said. “It got us to today where we have a beautiful Genie Telehandler in the parking lot” (at Habitat’s Stratford warehouse).
A 2024 telehandler or telescopic forklift, which can fetch more than $100,000, will be used by the local Habitat for Humanity to store and lift materials for house builds as well as other things, according to Josue Jorge, Habitat’s director of communications.
“This has several attachments which we can purchase,” he said. “It will make us more efficient with building the homes and managing our inventory.”
In a social media post, Vermont lauded the Terex donation.
“This game-changing piece of equipment will make a lasting impact on the future homes we build, helping us lift materials with ease and work more safely at heights,” she wrote.
Here in Connecticut we are short 98,000 units of affordable housing for low income families.
“So, to have a company like Terex supporting us has really impacted and transformed the lives of the families we serve,” she added.
