A Candid Conversation on Leadership, Community, and the Meaning of Home

Earlier this month, Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties (Habitat SKKC) celebrated 40 years of serving the greater Seattle area at its “Beyond the Build” Luncheon. Every year, the fundraising event takes the opportunity to reflect on the organization's great work and to recognize volunteers and supporters who bolster Habitat for Humanity’s mission. For such a momentous occasion, event organizers tasked Athlete Speakers with securing a keynote speaker who knew the region, understood hard work, and shared an appreciation for the journey it takes to achieve great things with the help of those around you.

Our agents couldn’t think of anyone better than Seattle’s own Super Bowl LX-winning head coach, Mike Macdonald. The 38-year-old football maven steadily rose through coaching ranks, spending eight years in various roles with the Baltimore Ravens, then ascending to Ann Arbor as the defensive coordinator for the Michigan Wolverines for three seasons, before landing the head coaching job with the Seahawks in 2024. In just his second season, he helped the city hoist its second Vince Lombardi Trophy, beating the New England Patriots.

The event was emceed by the “Voice of the Seahawks” Steve Raible, who kicked off the event with this message: “During our time together today, and through your generosity, we will draft the next big play for affordable housing as we lay the groundwork for the next 40 years.”

Habitat SKKC’s CEO Brett D’Antonio took the stage and reflected on the past 40 years of work: “In 1988, our affiliate dedicated its first home, two years after our founding. At that time, they looked at the future and made the goal to finish another 40 houses in 20 years. This was a bold number. But you can’t serve more people if you don’t push and grow—these are words we continue to live by.”

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The program included a moment of prayer, as well as the opportunity for several local families to share their testimonies on achieving stability and their dream of homeownership with the support of Habitat for Humanity.

“What these houses really represent is the possibility to start a new chapter of life, feeling hopeful and connected,” remarked one of the event organizers while on stage.

The luncheon closed with Raible sitting down with Coach Macdonald for a candid fireside chat, followed by a Q&A session with the room. Macdonald referred to the Seahawks as a “beacon of light” in the community and his desire to lead through service, ensuring the franchise becomes even more ingrained in the community in the coming years.

He also had an opportunity to reflect on the concept of “home.” As one of the fastest-rising head coaches in the sport, moving is part of the equation, whether from rural Georgia to major metros like Baltimore or, ultimately, to the Pacific Northwest, where settings change in an instant. One of the most important things for Coach Macdonald is maintaining a sense of home and putting down roots early. Given how often NFL head coaches travel during the season as well, having a landing place that you can trust and feel safe in is paramount. That is the opportunity Habitat SKKC’s donors and volunteers have given to over 3,000 people in the region.

This year’s event raised a whopping $2.2 million for future initiatives helping those most in need.

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