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Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County Launches Its First Private Equity Community Build

Families and individuals needing safe and affordable housing partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a residence.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County is partnering with five private equity firms and several financial, insurance, and legal companies to launch its first-ever Private Equity Community Build. The collaboration aims to raise more than $300,000 to construct affordable housing in Lake Worth Beach. The co-chairpersons for the project are Russell Kreutter of Hidden Harbor Capital Partners and Kevin Elwell, M&A Tax Director at BDO and Board Chair of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County. The Private Equity Community Build is scheduled for January 26th, 2024, with more than 120 members of the Private Equity community volunteering for two new construction initiatives and three neighborhood engagement and repair initiatives in Lake Worth Beach.

“Palm Beach County has become a home for the private equity ecosystem and it is truly heartwarming to see their passion for giving back to the community,” Julia Murphy, Chief Advancement Officer for Habitat for Humanity of Great Palm Beach County. The excitement level from all the participants has been truly inspiring and we know the day of the build will be hugely impactful for so many in Lake Worth Beach. Special thanks go to Russell for not only the idea but also for introducing us to the world of private equity as we envision this partnership growing bigger each year.”

Russell Kreutter and Kevin Elwell initiated the community build project. Kreutte, a passionate advocate for affordable housing and a regular Habitat volunteer has worked with Habitat affiliates in Southeast Asia, Florida, and various other parts of the U.S. His ultimate objective is to unite the private equity community to create home equity for families in need that can last for generations. Meanwhile, Elwell, who has been a part of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County since 2016, serves as the organization’s board chair.

“I have loved volunteering with Habitat as an individual volunteer and felt we could make a broader impact in the community by connecting the private equity ecosystem to Habitat for Humanity’s mission and creating a highly impactful and rewarding build for all involved,” Kreutter says. “We want this first event to be a blueprint for this to happen annually in Palm Beach County as well as other markets across the country.”

The participating private equity firms list comprises AE Industrial Partners, Comvest Partners, Hidden Harbor Capital Partners, Norwest Mezzanine Partners, and Sun Capital Partners. Along with them, multiple other firms, such as Akerman, BDO, Ernst & Young, Kirkland & Ellis, Lockton, McDermott, Will & Emery, and PwC, are also participating in the event.

“It is an honor to lead this incredible organization at such a pivotal time,” Elwell says. “By bringing together world-class members of the private equity ecosystem, we are building hope and community for so many families. Seeing these business leaders, some of whom recently relocated here, giving back to our community continuing to make Palm Beach County the premier location to live, work and play for generations to come.”

The participants will be working on two new home construction projects and three neighborhood engagement projects, including exterior painting and landscaping. One of the houses is intended for Sharrell Murphy, a working mother of three adult children. Sharrell is excited to learn more about homeownership through Habitat’s Homeowner workshops and to have a permanent residence that her grandchildren can enjoy.

“Being a homeowner is a dream come true. I look forward to building memories and meeting milestones with my family in our future home,” Murphy says.

To learn more, visit HabitatGreaterPBC.org or email Kristen Bardin, Director of Advancement, at kristen.bardin@habitatgreaterpbc.org

Photo caption: Private Equity Community Build Co-Chairs: (L) Russell Kreutter, Partner, Hidden Harbor Capital Partners; (R) Kevin Elwell, M&A Tax Director, BDO and Board Chair, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County

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Drew Limsky

Drew Limsky

Editor-in-Chief

BIOGRAPHY

Drew Limsky joined Lifestyle Media Group in August 2020 as Editor-in-Chief of South Florida Business & Wealth. His first issue of SFBW, October 2020, heralded a reimagined structure, with new content categories and a slew of fresh visual themes. “As sort of a cross between Forbes and Robb Report, with a dash of GQ and Vogue,” Limsky says, “SFBW reflects South Florida’s increasingly sophisticated and dynamic business and cultural landscape.”

Limsky, an avid traveler, swimmer and film buff who holds a law degree and Ph.D. from New York University, likes to say, “I’m a doctor, but I can’t operate—except on your brand.” He wrote his dissertation on the nonfiction work of Joan Didion. Prior to that, Limsky received his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Emory University and earned his M.A. in literature at American University in connection with a Masters Scholar Award fellowship.

Limsky came to SFBW at the apex of a storied career in journalism and publishing that includes six previous lead editorial roles, including for some of the world’s best-known brands. He served as global editor-in-chief of Lexus magazine, founding editor-in-chief of custom lifestyle magazines for Cadillac and Holland America Line, and was the founding editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida. He also was the executive editor for B2B magazines for Acura and Honda Financial Services, and he served as travel editor for Conde Nast. Magazines under Limsky’s editorship have garnered more than 75 industry awards.

He has also written for many of the country’s top newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, USA Today, Worth, Robb Report, Afar, Time Out New York, National Geographic Traveler, Men’s Journal, Ritz-Carlton, Elite Traveler, Florida Design, Metropolis and Architectural Digest Mexico. His other clients have included Four Seasons, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Yahoo!, American Airlines, Wynn, Douglas Elliman and Corcoran. As an adjunct assistant professor, Limsky has taught journalism, film and creative writing at the City University of New York, Pace University, American University and other colleges.