Nevada family donates $1 million to Fuller Center

AMERICUS — The Americus-based Fuller Center for Housing nonprofit housing ministry has received a donation of $1 million from Doug and Jill Miller of Henderson, Nev. The Millers have been long-time donors to The Fuller Center’s work and have volunteered on multiple builds in the United States and internationally.

“A ministry like The Fuller Center depends on the kindness of others,” Fuller Center President David Snell said. “It is only because of our dedicated volunteers and donors that we are able to help families in need have a decent place to call home. We consider these good folks to be our partners, and we couldn’t hope for better partners than Doug and Jill Miller.

“Since their first involvement with Millard Fuller’s work in 1999, they have been on numerous builds and given thousands of dollars,” Snell added. “This most recent gift is a true blessing and will enable us to help many more families into simple, decent homes. They are true partners, and there aren’t enough words to thank them for their generosity.”

“My parents taught me two important life lessons —the value of hard work and the responsibility to share my blessings,” said Doug Miller, who was born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1936, and recalls working from his earlier days as a delivery boy, dress factories, grocery stores and service stations before coming to the United States in 1965, gaining U.S. citizenship before launch a successful construction career.

“I hardly remember a time in my life when I wasn’t working one job or another — and there have been many.” he said. “It’s allowed me to make a good living and to have some left over to share. When it comes to sharing, though, I look for ways for my gifts to build people up and be used wisely. We’re confident that the money will be used wisely —The Fuller Center doesn’t support a fancy office or large organizational bureaucracy —and we know that the families who benefit from the gift will have more than just a decent place to call home; they’ll have the dignity of knowing that they worked for it.”

The Millers first became acquainted with Millard Fuller’s work when they met him and former President Jimmy Carter at Habitat for Humanity’s Carter Work Project in Manilla, the Philippines, in 1999. The Millers have been on more than 25 builds since then.

“I admire and support The Fuller Center for Housing, which is doing good work around the world,” said President Carter, who welcomed the Millers to his home in Plains for the presentation. “I was recently in Shreveport, where I got to see the work firsthand. I’m thankful to the Millers for this generous gift, which will be of benefit to many families.”

To learn more about this donation, see www.fullercenter.org.