Buccaneers and Habitat for Humanity Build Two Homes in Brandon

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers teamed up with Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Bay Hillsborough on Tuesday. Two homes rose in Brandon. Players put up their own money, and the Glazer family doubled each gift.

This year marks the third time the squad has worked with the group on building houses. Kourtney Sanchez, Chief Impact Officer for the Buccaneers, explained that players pick what matters most each year and chip in from their pockets.

"Every year when those players identify the community priorities that they want to serve and give back to, they donate their own funds to build the two houses right here behind us and then the Glazer family, just to show support and appreciation, they match dollar for dollar every donation our players make out into the community," Sanchez said, per FOX 13.

Costs keep climbing. Finding a place to live grows harder each month. "As housing prices increase and housing affordability becomes tougher and tougher, it's a way that they can tangibly give back," Sanchez said.

The 2025 rookie class showed up Tuesday morning. Other players arrived after lunch. Season ticket holders grabbed hammers and got to work too.

Richard Rogers, Chief Resource Development Officer for Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Bay, spoke warmly about the team's help. "They've been one of our biggest supporters, not only helping to fund these homes, because they've done several homes with us now over the past few years, but also they've come out and helped build the homes for these families and the players are out here building all day long," Rogers said.

Raul and Dionne Johnson will live in one house. They hammered nails right next to the players. A single mom with three kids will move into the second house when spring comes.

"We thought we would have to move out of the state of Florida because of rising costs," Raul said. "When this program came along, we never thought we're going to be homeowners. Never. And then when Habitat came in and we applied and we got it."

The couple learned later who paid for their house. "We didn't know that the Buccaneers sponsored our home. So, when we got a phone call, it was like, 'wow,' we didn't know," Raul said.

Twenty-three Habitat houses will fill the neighborhood. All should be done by December 2026. Each family must work 300 hours building their own house and helping with others.