Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity news release
What: Wai Yin Chan and Linda “Digger” Barrow Women Build Dedication Ceremony
When: Saturday, December 20, 9:00 am
Where: 708 9th Avenue, Coralville, IA, 52241
(Coralville, Iowa) December 18, 2025 – Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity (IVHFH) construction
staff and volunteers have completed construction of the affiliate’s 15th Women Build home. To
celebrate the accomplishment and to congratulate the future homeowners, IVHFH is hosting a
Dedication Ceremony on Saturday, December 20 at 9:00 am.
While IVHFH has built several houses in Coralville since its founding in 1992, this is the first
Women Build home constructed in Coralville in the organization’s history. Throughout the year,
Women Build Honorees, Wai Yin Chan and Linda “Digger” Barrow, along with IVHFH’s Women
Build volunteers have worked together to raise funds and recruit volunteers to support the
construction of a Habitat home and IVHFH’s Helping Hands home repair program. The
volunteer group is excited to announce their record-breaking fundraising campaign of over
$140,000.
The Coralville home will allow parents of four children to purchase the home with an affordable
financing package that ensures their housing will cost less than 30% of her household income.
A portion of the Women Build funds have also been dedicated to IVHFH’s Helping Hands repair
program to help existing homeowners in need of critical home repairs, accessibility
modifications, emergency home repairs, and major appliance replacements.
The IVHFH Women Build Honorees
This year’s Women Build honors two extraordinary women and long-term IVHFH
volunteers: Wai Yin Chan and Linda “Digger” Barrow. Digger says, “We do what we do for
people who don’t have what we have, but they are every bit deserving.” You can learn more about
Wai Yin and Digger at https://www.iowavalleyhabitat.org/news/ivhfh-announces-15th-
annual-women-build-honorees-linda-digger-barrow-wai-yin-chan. Learn more about the 15th
Women Build project at bit.ly/waiyindigger
The Future Homeowners
2401 Scott Blvd. SE, Iowa City, IA 52240 319-337-8949 www.iowavalleyhabitat.org
As parents of four young children, Mohamed and Shaza look forward to the stability that
homeownership will provide for their family. “My goal was safety. And good schools. This is my
investment in my kids. I want to send them on the right track. Invest in them better so they can
do better. They say the kids are affected positively or negatively by their surroundings, so this is
a very important thing,” Mohamed shares. You can learn more about the family at
https://www.iowavalleyhabitat.org/news/meet-mohammed-and-shaza-future-iowa-valley-habitat-
for-humanity-homeowners.
Photos and Video: Representatives of the press are welcome to access and use pictures and
video at this link: https://iowavalleyhabitat.smugmug.com/2025-Projects-and-Events/2025-
Home-Builds/Women-Build-15/Media-Gallery/n-CpbdVJ. IVHFH asks that any media used be
attributed to IVHFH.
Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity
2401 Scott Blvd. SE Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: 319-337-8949
www.iowavalleyhabitat.org