HOUSTON (June 11, 2024) – Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE: CCS), in partnership with the Houston Texans, The Howard Hughes Corporation, the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA), and Operation Finally Home, presented U.S. Army Sergeant Joanna Ellenbeck and her daughter with a custom-built, mortgage-free home in The Woodlands Hills on May 16.
The Ellenbeck family was initially surprised with the news during a Houston Texans game on December 18, 2022, where Ellenbeck was honored as the Texans’ Salute to Service honoree. The announcer revealed that Ellenbeck and her daughter were being gifted a new home, thanks to Operation Finally Home and its partners.
The Ellenbecks recently moved from Arizona to Houston to be closer to family and friends, providing better medical, therapeutic, and educational support for her daughter, who was born blind and has cerebral palsy. Century Communities customized their 2,012-square-foot, single-story home to accommodate their needs, including wheelchair-accessible features, widened doors, and specialized equipment in the child’s bedroom and bathrooms.
During the home welcoming ceremony, representatives from the Houston Texans, including cheerleaders, mascot TORO, and Texans legend Steve McKinney, joined leadership from Century Communities’ Houston Division, Howard Hughes, GHBA, Operation Finally Home, and numerous partners and contractors. Ellenbeck and her daughter were escorted to their new home by the Patriot Guard Riders and Operation Finally Home Vice President Lee Kirgan.
Ellenbeck enlisted in the U.S. Army after 9/11 and served for over eight years, including three combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. She worked as an avionics mechanic with the 25th Infantry Division, repairing helicopters. Ellenbeck sustained a debilitating back injury during her service, which will likely require her to use a wheelchair in the future.
For her service, Ellenbeck received numerous awards, including an Iraq Campaign Medal with five stars, four Army Commendation Medals, two Meritorious Unit Commendations, and two Army Good Conduct Medals, among others. She was honorably discharged in 2010.
