At Manatee Habitat, we have been fortunate to receive support from our local community which has kept our mission alive for the past 30 years. Among our steadfast supporters, Blalock Walters law firm stands out for their significant contributions spanning three decades.
Cliff Walters, Principal at Blalock Walters and husband of Susie Walters, has been a cornerstone of our affiliate since its inception. Susie was asked to lead the creation of the Manatee Habitat affiliate and went on to become our first president. Inspired by her dedication, Cliff decided to contribute in a unique way—by providing pro bono legal assistance for home closings. To date, Blalock Walters has facilitated 103 Manatee Habitat home closings, all as donations.
In the early days, Cliff initially tried his hand at volunteering on construction sites. Realizing it wasn’t his forte, he found a way to leverage his professional skills to benefit our mission. He offered to handle the legal services for closings as long as he didn’t have to be on the jobsite, providing critical support behind the scenes.
His colleague, Will Robinson, who joined Blalock Walters in 2003 and is now a Principal, reflects on his early days with the firm and Habitat. As a young lawyer, he was looking for great opportunities to serve great clients and gain experience.
“I stared off helping draft documents and I did some of my very first closings as a real estate lawyer with Habitat homeowners,” said Will. He added, “Closings are difficult and stressful, but the Habitat closings are some of the very few that bring joy to my life as a real estate lawyer.”
Young lawyer Will Robinson stands proudly with a Habitat homeowner and volunteer after a successful closing in the early 2000s, marking a significant moment in the early days of our affiliate’s history.
Cliff highlights that in the early days, there were no paid employees at Manatee Habitat. It was truly a community effort in which everyone pitched in, from teaching educational classes to engaging with local churches, service clubs, and businesses. “With the momentum we gained, we were able to bring in an administrative team to run the organization as it continued to grow. It’s been exciting to be part of the Habitat family over the past few decades.”
One of the most memorable moments for Cliff was attending a Habitat convention where founder Millard Fuller was actively involved.
“I learned so much about what Habitat meant and how important it was to partner with deserving families and give them the dignity of a home they worked on and paid for. It was illustrative to me of how a community grows and comes together for a greater good,” said Cliff.
Blalock Walters has served as a pillar of support for Manatee Habitat since our founding. Our mission relies on continued in-kind donations like these from local businesses. We are deeply grateful for their ongoing commitment and look forward to many more years of partnership.
At Manatee Habitat, every contribution, whether it’s on the construction site or behind the scenes, helps us build homes, communities, and hope. Thank you, Blalock Walters, for being a vital part of our story.