Millard Fuller 1935-2009
Millard Fuller was a co-founder and former president of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit organization known globally for building houses for those in need for nearly three decades. He was highly regarded as the leader of the modern-day movement for affordable housing. Linda Fuller reported today that her 74 year old husband died on February 3, 2009, after being taken to a Georgia hospital complaining of chest pains.
Millard and his wife forged a bond with Clarence Jordan in the early 70’s that led to the creation of Habitat for Humanity. Fuller moved his family to Zaire in 1973 and spent the next three years undertaking a housing ministry. In 1976 the couple pulled up stakes and settled in San Antonio, Texas where they utilized volunteer labor to construct affordable, safe houses for needy families in the slums of Texas. Soon the idea took hold in Appalachia, and by 1981, just five years from its inception, Habitat for Humanity had affiliates in fourteen states and seven foreign countries.
In 1984 Fuller recruited his most famous volunteer, President Jimmy Carter. A native of Plains, Georgia, just a few miles from Habitat’s headquarters in Americus, Georgia, Carter gave not only his name and reputation to the new non-profit, but his own resources as well.
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter made financial contributions regularly, but most significantly to Habitat, they developed the Jimmy Carter Work Project, an annual week-long effort to build Habitat homes all over the world. The Carters participated all week at these events which came to attract thousands of volunteers each year.
By 2003, Habitat affiliates world-wide had built over 150,000 homes and were active in 92 nations. Disputes between Fuller and the Habitat International board of directors regarding the future direction of the organization came to a head in 2004. He and Linda were fired in March 2005 amid allegations of inappropriate behavior by him directed toward females.
It was at this juncture, April 2005, that Fuller established The Fuller Center of Housing. He expanded on the foundation of Habitat by encouraging communities to create “collaborative and innovative partnerships” to address the housing needs of the most needy in communities. He continued to travel extensively to raise awareness, funds and volunteers in his efforts to eradicate substandard housing from the face of the earth.
Fuller was the recipient of 50 honorary degrees. In September 1996, President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. In October 2005, the Fullers were honored by former President George H. W. Bush and the Points of Light Foundation with a bronze medallion embedded in The Extra Mile Volunteer Pathway in Washington D.C.
Former President Jimmy Carter released the following statement after learning of Fuller’s death, “Fuller was one of the most extraordinary people I have ever known.”
More photos below.