As we enter our 20th year of service, we reflect on how it all began.
It’s been nearly 20 years since a group of volunteers first said “yes” to repairing and rebuilding homes. What followed has helped keep thousands of older adults and families safe in the homes they love.
And it all started with a yes.
Rebuild Upstate began in August 2006 as Tigers Go. Founder Chris Manley and a group of Clemson University students saw the need for continued disaster relief after Hurricane Katrina and headed to the New Orleans area to help. For about a year, students and community members made trips to clean, repair, and rebuild homes.
By early 2007, that same spirit of service made its way back home. A request came in to repair a house in the Clemson area, and in January, the work that would become Rebuild Upstate began. It was officially incorporated soon after. At the time, no one fully realized how many families across Upstate South Carolina were living in unsafe or unhealthy conditions.
Over the next few years, the focus shifted from Louisiana to meeting needs right here in our community. By 2011, all efforts were centered in Upstate South Carolina. Since repairing that first local home in 2007, Rebuild Upstate has completed more than 1,800 home repairs across Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, and Pickens counties with the help of over 15,000 volunteers.
Along the way, there have been a lot of moments that started with a simple question:
Should we focus our work here at home?
Yes.
Can we build partnerships with municipalities and local governments?
Yes.
Can we launch a metal ramp program for hospice patients?
Yes.
Can we respond to disasters and create a housing recovery program?
Yes.
Now, as we celebrate 20 years of saying “yes,” we want to hear yours.
Whether you’ve volunteered on a build day, supported our work, prayed for a homeowner, or simply followed along, you are part of this story.
Will you take a moment to share your “yes”?
We’ve created a short survey where you can tell us about a meaningful experience, a connection you made, or a moment that stayed with you. Your story will help us celebrate the thousands of people who have made this work possible and inspire what comes next.
Ready to celebrate? Share your story.
You can even record a brief audio or video. Our team might have a surprise or two for those willing to share a video.
Whether it was one time or many, your “yes” matters. And we’d be honored to hear it and share it with others as we celebrate our collective impact.
Thank you for being part of the story.
