On March 5, 2026, the West Washington Avenue build site in Santa Ana looked a little different than usual.
Instead of a typical construction crew, the site was filled with business leaders, volunteers, Habitat OC homeowners, and teams in brightly colored shirts competing for the 2026 Leaders Build Champions Cup.
The 17th Annual Leaders Build Challenge brought together local companies and community partners for a full day on the build site. By the end of the day, the event had raised more than $150,000 to support affordable homeownership opportunities for Orange County families.
And yes, there was some serious competition along the way.
From Boardrooms to the Build Site
Forty-eight volunteers traded their desks and meetings for hard hats and construction tools.
Teams got to work helping install protective house wrap on the homes under construction. This layer helps waterproof the homes and protects them from the elements, keeping the future Habitat OC homeowners on West Washington Avenue safe and dry.
The work took place at Habitat OC’s newest Santa Ana development, where six townhomes are currently under construction. The homes are expected to welcome their new homeowners later this year, possibly as early as June!
Five of the six families who will move in have already begun partnering with Habitat OC and completing their required sweat equity hours as they prepare for homeownership.
The Competition Was Very Real
Leaders Build has always included a competitive spirit, and this year was no exception.
After a morning of building, teams faced off in a series of challenges that brought plenty of laughter and bragging rights. The lineup included nail driving, giant pong, and hatchet throwing, turning the afternoon into a lively competition between teams.
When the dust settled and points were tallied up, the Leader Board indicated that this winner of the 2026 Leaders Build Champions Cup was the Automobile Club of Southern California!
Habitat Families on Site
One of the most meaningful parts of Leaders Build is the opportunity for volunteers to meet the families whose lives will be impacted by the homes under construction.
Future homeowners, including Juan and Maribel, joined the event after spending months completing their own sweat equity hours helping build homes alongside volunteers.
The day also included a visit from another Habitat OC homeowner, Katia, who has been in her home for six years. She attended with her children and shared how stable homeownership has helped her family grow and thrive.
Thank You to the Teams Who Made It Happen
Leaders Build is powered by companies and community partners who step forward each year to support Habitat OC’s mission.
Thank you to the sponsors and organizations that joined the 2026 Leaders Build Challenge:
- Antis Roofing & Waterproofing
- AAA Auto Club Enterprises
- BNBuilders
- CannonDesign
- City National Bank
- Cotality
- Eaton Aerospace
- EverBank
- Facial Lounge
- Farmers & Merchants Bank
- First Bank
- First Citizens Bank
- Halbert Hargrove
- Hammerlogic
- JoAnn and Ken Lickel
- McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.
- New York Life
- Orange County Trial Lawyers
- Parker Aerospace
Each team helped bring energy, teamwork, and a spirit of friendly competition to the build site.
A special thank you to Habit, who generously donated lunch to keep volunteers fueled throughout the day.
Looking Ahead
Over the years, the Leaders Build Challenge has helped raise more than $1.8 million to support Habitat for Humanity of Orange County’s work expanding affordable homeownership opportunities.
The homes currently rising on West Washington Avenue will soon welcome families who have worked hard to earn the opportunity to become homeowners. You can follow along as we share the latest updates and developments as we complete these homes here!
For everyone who showed up, picked up a hammer, competed in a challenge, or helped support the event, the day was a chance to build something lasting for Orange County families.
And next year, the Champions Cup will be up for grabs again. Companies interested in joining the 2027 Leaders Build Challenge can learn more about sponsorship opportunities by contacting Kent He at KHe@HabitatOC.org.
