Mesa homeowner gets holiday surprise from Kurt and Brenda Warner

Mesa, AZ – A Mesa woman, who received a new home – in part – through a program operated by the City of Mesa, got an amazing surprise just in time for Christmas. Angela Perez, a single mother of one son, was rewarded for her hard work by having her home completely furnished through the efforts of Arizona Cardinals Quarterback Kurt Warner, his wife Brenda and their First Things First Foundation.

Thanks to the “Homes for the Holidays” program, the First Things First Foundation rewards unsuspecting candidates, who achieve the American dream of home ownership, by partnering with corporate donors to fill the houses with everything a first-time homeowner would need. Angela received furniture, appliances, linens, mattress sets, a supermarket gift card and down payment assistance thanks to Aaron’s Inc., U-Haul, R and S Mattress Liquidators, Safeway and First Things First.

The “Homes for the Holidays” program was started in 1997 by former NFL running back Warrick Dunn. Locally, First Things First works with community organizations, including Housing Our Communities in Mesa, to find eligible candidates working to improve their lives and those of their children by taking the necessary steps to buy a new home. The nominees are reviewed and selected by Kurt and Brenda Warner. Angela was selected for putting herself through school to become a medical assistant and earn her first job in a doctor’s office making $7 per hour. She worked hard to earn pay raises and eventually saved $5,000 which was used towards the purchase of a home in Mesa for her and her eight year old son Joshua.

“We understand you can work hard, but there are times in life when you need someone to believe in you and give you a push and that is what this program does,” Kurt Warner said. “This program has brought together a lot of partners to help a wonderful family, who has worked hard, to achieve their dream.”

“I was completely caught off guard by this. I’m grateful, overwhelmed and in shock. This is wonderful,” Angela Perez said, after arriving with her son to see her new home completely furnished and receiving the keys from Kurt and Brenda Warner.

Angela received her new home through the help of the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, operated by City of Mesa Housing and Revitalization. The HOME program uses federal grant money to help communities expand the supply of decent, safe, sanitary and affordable housing, with primary attention to housing for low-income families. The City partnered with Housing Our Communities, a non-profit community-based organization, which helps low to moderate income families become first-time homeowners through home buyer education programs and debt counseling, loan origination and down payment and closing cost assistance.

“It is rewarding to see a program like this which helps a hard working homeowner like Angela achieve her dream of home ownership,” District 2 Councilmember Alex Finter said. “This program is also beneficial to the entire City because it improves our neighborhoods.”

“This is exactly the type of partnership where Mesa, private companies and non-profit groups team up to make our community better and change lives,” City Council Community and Neighborhood Services Chairperson Dina Higgins said. “We are so grateful to Housing Our Communities, the companies who furnished the home, First Things First and especially Kurt and Brenda Warner for bringing Christmas early to a very deserving family.”

Since its inception, First Things First has surprised 20 families with “Homes for the Holidays,” including six in Arizona.

Source: City of Mesa

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