JACKSON, Wyo. – Sometimes it’s clear that something special is happening.
On June 24, more than 260 community members gathered on the lawn at Calico Bar & Restaurant for Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area’s (Teton Habitat) annual Dream Builders luncheon. They came to support affordable homeownership in Teton County and by the end of the afternoon, they were celebrating what can happen when an entire community rallies behind a shared vision.
Just 30 minutes into the fundraising program, Dream Builders had already reached its fundraising goal.
“It happened faster than anyone expected,” said Jason Bruni, Development Manager for Teton Habitat.” Jeff Moran challenged everyone to reach the goal early so we could turn the fundraiser into a celebration instead. About thirty minutes into the program, we’d already done it.”
By the end of the afternoon, the community had raised more than $135,000 to support Teton Habitat’s mission of creating permanently affordable homeownership opportunities for local families.
But according to Bruni, what made the afternoon memorable wasn’t just the dollars raised.
“It felt like one of those days where everyone was feeling it,” he said. “People were taking pictures together, moving between tables, and celebrating with each other. It became less about fundraising and more about what our community has accomplished together.”
That celebration wasn’t just about a successful fundraiser. It was about what the community has built together.
At Parkside at Benson-Brown Station, Teton Habitat’s 18-home neighborhood is entering its final stretch. Families are preparing to receive keys to permanently affordable homes, bringing to life years of planning, construction, partnership, and community investment.
“Strong communities start with people having a place to live,” said Ben Johnson, CEO of Teton Habitat. “As we prepare to complete Parkside and look ahead to Northern South Park, this is a moment to come together as a community and recognize what’s possible when people, partnerships, and purpose align.”
For Bruni, one of Parkside’s greatest successes isn’t measured in buildings, but in what happens between them.
“If someone wants to understand the impact of Parkside,” he said, “you should go see for yourself. You’ll see kids playing together in the creek, riding bikes, and running through the park. They’re growing up with neighbors their own age just outside their front door. That’s the kind of community we’re trying to build.”
The completion of Parkside marks a significant milestone for Teton Habitat. Unlike previous developments, it is the organization’s first neighborhood built entirely by Habitat from beginning to end, every home created through Habitat’s homeownership model, and every homeowner part of the Habitat family.
While families prepare to move into Parkside, Teton Habitat is already looking toward its next chapter. The proposed Northern South Park development, with up to 200 permanently affordable homes, represents the organization’s most ambitious opportunity yet to expand homeownership for local families and strengthen the future of Teton County.
Dream Builders 2026 was a celebration of homes completed, families preparing to put down roots, and a community that continues to invest in its own future. This year’s fantastic event was made possible through the generosity of event host Calico Bar & Restaurant, The Engh Foundation, Bank of Jackson Hole, Big-D Signature, and the many others whose support continues to make affordable homeownership possible in Teton County.
If this year’s luncheon proved anything, it’s that solving Teton County’s housing challenges doesn’t happen through one organization alone. It happens when neighbors, businesses, volunteers, donors, public partners, and future homeowners all invest in the same vision.
Feeling energized by Dream Builders? Make a gift to Teton Habitat, and help us keep this momentum going!
