Community Impact: Bringing Our James Hardie Purpose (and Vision) to Life
Director of Global Social Impact Molly Ernst-Alper sits down with Beth Lechner, 23-year CEO of Habitat for Humanity of East Central Ohio, for a conversation about how the chapter works with families and individuals to prepare them for homeownership.
At James Hardie, we are proudly guided by a set of principles that influence everything we do as an organization – from our company values to our mission to our foundational imperatives.
Most central to who we are as a company is our purpose of Building a Better Future for All™. It’s what drives us and reflects who we are at our best. Bringing this purpose to life also empowers us to realize our vision: to inspire how communities design, build, and grow today and tomorrow.
One of the most prominent ways we do this is through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity® International. You may recall James Hardie’s sponsorship of larger initiatives like Habitat Strong, Habitat for Humanity’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project and the James Hardie™ Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational.
We also proudly support more grassroots efforts like local home builds through product donations and employee volunteers in order to give back to the communities where we live and work.
Director of Global Social Impact Molly Ernst-Alper sits down with Beth Lechner, 23-year CEO of Habitat for Humanity of East Central Ohio, for a conversation about how the chapter works with families and individuals to prepare them for homeownership.
Beth explains that a common misconception is Habitat homes are “given” to families. They do, in fact, purchase their homes and receive a zero-interest mortgage through the organization. To support their journey into home ownership, Habitat for Humanity of East Central Ohio offers a series of educational courses and training to help set them up for success.
Beth also shares the impact of James Hardie’s contributions to the East Central Ohio community – particularly our relationship with the Pro Football Hall of Fame which is based in Canton, Ohio. Through our collaboration on the James Hardie™ Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational, the Hall has gotten more involved in local builds and has established a creative partnership of its own.
Tune in to hear from Beth about how we are Building a Better Future for All™ within East Central Ohio. And don’t miss the 2026 James Hardie™ Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational which tees off on March 6 – benefiting Habitat for Humanity, First Tee®, and the Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation.
