ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter died at age 100 on Sunday.
As obituaries on Carter began to circulate, so too did stories on the charitable work he did after he left the White House in 1981.
One of the biggest initiatives Carter spearheaded after his presidency was the Carter Work Project. The Carter Work Project is an annual effort that helps families in need obtain safe and affordable housing.
In 2018, the Carter Work Project — which is now a week-long event — was held in Mishawaka and South Bend. During the event, Carter and First Lady of the United States Rosalynn Carter helped build or improve 41 homes in the area.
Photos courtesy of Habitat for Humanity.
According to Habitat for Humanity’s website, the first Carter Work Project happened in 1984, when the former president and first lady helped renovate a six-story, 19-unit apartment complex in New York City.
Since then, more than 108,100 volunteers have participated in the Carter Work Project. Per Habitat for Humanity, the initiative has included projects in 14 countries. In total, 4,447 homes have been built or renovated via the Carter Work Project.
The Carter Work Project celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024. Over the project’s 40-year history, the Carters worked as fundraisers, advocates and hands-on construction volunteers, according to Habitat for Humanity.
In addition to his service with Habitat for Humanity, Jimmy Carter was also renowned for the work he did with the Carter Center — the nonprofit organization he and Rosalynn Carter founded in 1982. In 2002, Jimmy Carter received a Nobel Peace Prize for his charitable efforts.
Memorial events are planned for Carter in both Georgia and Washington D.C. The exact timing of the events have yet to be decided.
Carter is survived by his four children, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Rosalynn Carter died in November 2023.
More photos of Jimmy Carter’s charitable work are available here. Additional coverage of Carter’s life and legacy are available in these stories:
