For its 2025 Veterans Build Home project, Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside has partnered with Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl champion Martin Gramatica and the Gramatica Family Foundation.
Gramatica and his teenage son, Gaston, spent time Wednesday helping the Habitat team work on a St. Petersburg home-in-progress.
Priscilla Reed, who served 10 years in the Army, will be its recipient.
Habitat started to build the 1,296 sq. ft. home for Reed in March. It should be complete by August or September.
Gramatica has supported Habitat for Humanity for over a decade. The 2025 project is the fifth time his Foundation has sponsored a Veterans Build Home project.
For the former Bucs player, it’s a way to set an example for his children and give back to the community.
“It’s more about showing them the value of hard work, but also appreciating our veterans and thanking our veterans for what they do and through Habitat we’re able to do that,” he explained to the Catalyst.
“I want them to realize that the freedoms we have in this country [are] because of men and women like Priscilla, so I want them to understand that, realize that and appreciate that.”
Gramatica and his son worked on a variety of tasks including cutting the baseboards and putting them in place.
“This is awesome,” Gaston said, “because I grew up being around all of these house dedications, coming with [my dad] to every single one, and it’s really cool to finally be a part of building one.”
It’s a way to continue his father’s legacy and help veterans who have selflessly fought for the country, he added.
“My dad has definitely shown me from a young age that we need to respect our men and women that serve in the military, because they sacrifice everything for us for us to be free.”
Reed, 59, has never owned a home before.
After the Covid-19 pandemic, she was unhoused or homeless for four months. Trying to find a long-term affordable place to live has been a challenge for her.
“[It’ll be] the last time to pack and unpack. That’s the main thing, and then to lay down in my bed and know that nobody can [kick] me out,” she said. “‘Your lease is up and we’re not going to renew it.’ I don’t have to deal with that.”
After completing mandatory Habit for Humanity home ownership classes, Reed will close on the home and have a 0% APR mortgage, meaning she will not have to pay interest on house payments.
She hopes to give the home to her children in the future.
“I want it to stay in our family and just always be a part of my kids’ families,” she explained.
Gramatica was a kicker for the Bucs from 1999 to 2004, and helped the team win Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003. In 2012, he founded the Gramatica Family Foundation to support veterans in the community by providing them with homes.
Gramatica Family Foundation website.
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