Dennis Baxter Receives Humanitarian Award

LOMA LINDA>> Serving the community as the executive director of Habitat for Serving the community as the executive director of Habitat for Humanity is one of the many accomplishments Dennis Baxter, a native of San Bernardino, has under his belt. Recently at the Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce Annual Community Awards and Installation of Officers Dinner, Baxter was presented with the Humanitarian of the Year award by William Arnold, president of the Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce. Before working with the Habitat for Humanity, Baxter was a broadcast journalist in Sacramento and the Inland Empire. He also served as the general manager and talk show host on KCAA radio. Baxter worked a dual career as he was also a licensed mortgage professional who developed a passion for helping first-time home buyers. As Arnold introduced Baxter to the podium, Arnold also noted he served as a San Bernardino City Council member from 2006-2010. “(Baxter) focused on the stewardship of his home city of San Bernardino,” Arnold said. In 2010, Baxter joined the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity and helped open the current Restore in Loma Linda. “We do what we do and that is build homes to eradicate poverty in the Inland Empire,” Baxter said. Baxter explained the crisis of inadequate substandard housing and the vision that Habitat for Humanity holds. “With 3,000 affiliates worldwide, including 1,500 in the United States and 40 in California, (the vision) is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. We embrace this notion by seeking to put God’s love into action by building homes and building hope for the families we serve,” Baxter shared. Baxter said he loves the work he does and is thankful for the leadership of the board of directors, including Board of Directors President Jesse Mock, who was also in attendance at the event. “Stewardship is also important as every day I recognize the importance of being a good steward of the land, funding, donations and in-kind donations we receive on a daily basis,” he said. Baxter said it is about serving others and then read a verse from the Bible about Jesus’ example of serving others in Mark 10:45 that states, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as ransom for many.” “This really means very much to me and more than I can even truly express because I’m shocked to get (an award) for something I do every day,” Baxter said.