Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod has recently been gifted a large donation from the Catania family to help build a small neighborhood of affordable homes in Sandwich in memory of family patriarch Vincent J. Catania.
Vincent (VJ) Catania and his family founded the Catania Hospitality Group, which previously owned and operated the Hearth ‘n Kettle restaurant chain, Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis, Dan’l Webster Inn in Sandwich and the John Carver Inn in Plymouth.
He also founded Pewter Pot Restaurants of Boston, developing 40 coffee shops between 1963 and 1973. Catania was active in many local chambers of commerce and Cape Cod Community College. He passed away in 2010.
VJ’s son Bill and his wife, Rev. Dr. Libby (Gibson) along with his sister Deb Catania made the donation.
Our father always had a special connection with Sandwich and had a strong sense of family. He always supported his family and the families of his employees. Habitat and Sandwich seemed to be a perfect way to honor his memory.
“The Dan’l Webster Inn has been a landmark in my hometown of Sandwich long before I moved here 40 years ago. When I was informed that the Catania family chose to honor the Inn’s founder, VJ Catania, with a gift of this magnitude to Habitat Cape Cod, it touched my heart in a very special way, bringing to mind the many special occasions my family celebrated at the Dan’l Webster.”
“This is Habitat Cape Cod’s largest gift to date, and it is my hope that someone in town will step forward to identify a location where Habitat can build and honor this commitment by the Catanias to help others experience the security of homeownership. Please contact me directly with any information, 508-362-3559 x11,” said Wendy Cullinan, President and CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod.
The Catania family recently sold their remaining business operations on Cape Cod.
Now in its 35th year, Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod is an award-winning lead developer of energy efficient, solar equipped, affordable homes. Recently completing their 170th home with several others currently under volunteer construction in Chatham, Sandwich and Falmouth and upcoming builds in Brewster, Dennis and Wellfleet. Local families help build their own homes alongside volunteers, purchase their home, and pay an affordable mortgage. Habitat homes are deed restricted to remain affordable in perpetuity.
