Habitat’s Gilmore honored by Elon University for distinguished service

Sussex County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Kevin Gilmore was recently honored with the Distinguished Alumni Service Award from Elon University in North Carolina.

Gilmore credits his four years at Elon with shaping his passion for service in both his personal and professional life. He was first introduced to service opportunities through Elon’s PreServe program the summer before his first year at the college. He later led several alternative school break service trips with Habitat for Humanity and was a proud member of Elon’s Habitat campus chapter.

His first full-time job position was as coordinator of service learning for the college.

The seeds of service that were clearly planted at Elon later grew into a rewarding career in which he strives to make the world a better place every day.

After graduating from Elon in 1996 with a degree in communications, Gilmore worked with Habitat International at its headquarters in Americus, Ga. From there, he served with Habitat for four years in Guatemala.

After earning his master of public administration degree at the University of Delaware in 2004, Gilmore went to work with Sussex County Habitat for Humanity as its first paid employee.

During his 18-year tenure, the Sussex County Habitat affiliate has built and sold 143 homes, repaired more than 300 homes and assisted more than 1,000 people through financial coaching services. A native of Milford, Gilmore is grateful to serve the community that nurtured him growing up.