Donor Spotlight - Jean and Les Kasten
Do you remember our article on the Sew and Sews from 1st Presbyterian of Naples making quilts for every unit in our community? Jean Kasten had visited the quilters one day in 2018, where she first met IFHA Board Member Betty Mangos, who was speaking of the heartbreaking conditions in Immokalee and the IFHA plan to build homes to overcome poverty.
“There were multiple families in the same run-down trailers, with strange men living there too! Who thought this was a good idea?” said Jean.
Then Board Member Cleve Cleveland and Betty made the presentation at 1st Presbyterian when both Jean and her husband Les were in attendance.
The couple was interested and truly taken with the need, but they were reluctant to commit to a donation until there was real progress on the site. They kept up to date with the status of the project, but wanted to know it was going to happen. In 2021, this dynamic couple decided the time had come, and they bought in with a donation. They were even more convinced in 2022 and donated again, and are now excited to see their contributions paying off.
“We wanted to know the project would succeed, and sure enough, the walls are going up!” they said.
Jean and Les plan to continue to provide support and they look forward to seeing the first families moving in later this year. Can you believe it? The Kastens do!
It is interesting to see where our donations are coming from and what motivated these donors to choose IFHA.
A former patent attorney with a center city Philadelphia law firm, Les retired early, but worked part time for many years, primarily teaching and mentoring younger lawyers in the firm. Most of his work during this time was done from the couple’s home outside of Philadelphia, or their second home on the Outer Banks, which they sold in 2012.
While in the Philadelphia area, Les was a regular with Habitat for Humanity. He served as an elder at their church there, and along with several other churches, they committed to building two Habitat houses from scratch. Les can tell some interesting stories about his experiences with Habitat!
The couple became snowbirds in 2014 and made Naples their primary residence in 2017. Both Les and Jean served as deacons of 1st Presbyterian Church of Naples.
We are proud to have this wonderful couple among our supporters!