Tuesday morning started like any other for Katherine and Michael Warren of Zephyrhills — until it very suddenly didn’t.
What began as a quiet morning at home turned into a full-blown holiday surprise when members of the Ryman Roofing team pulled up outside their house with life-changing news: the Warrens were the winners of the company’s holiday roof giveaway and would be receiving a brand-new, much-needed roof on their home.
“I just saw all the cars first,” Katherine Warren said, laughing. “I was like, ‘I don’t get it.’ Then it took me a minute to register seeing them standing there. And I was like, ‘There’s no way. There’s no way.’ It was almost one of those pinch-me moments.”
For Michael Warren, the surprise was nearly impossible to put into words.
“There’s no words. There isn’t,” he said. “We never win anything. We always try to do whatever we can, and we really don’t expect anything in return. I never thought — not in a million years.”
The Warrens were lovingly nominated by several people. Their heartfelt submission stood out from the more than 100 entries of what Ryman Roofing said was the largest number of entries the giveaway has ever received. In fact, several nominations highlighted the same thing: how much the Warrens consistently give to others.
“We look for those kinds of things,” said Ryman Roofing owner Kevin Ryman. “It was about how much they gave to everybody else. People need help. We got the most entries we’ve ever had this season.”
Now in its 15th year, the annual Free Roof Giveaway has become one of Ryman Roofing’s favorite holiday traditions — and this year’s event carries extra meaning. Kevin Ryman shared that this will be the final giveaway before his retirement.
“This will be the last one,” Ryman said. “Yeah, but I get more out of this than they do.”
While Kevin prefers to stay out of the selection process — “too many people call me,” he joked — the decision still reflects the values he and his family have built the company on.
Kelly Ryman said the giveaway represents a legacy that goes far beyond roofing.
“It’s kind of so cool,” she said. “This is such a proud endeavor from my dad and my grandfather. They’ve always wanted to create a legacy of really giving back to the people who gave us success and supported us when things weren’t wonderful. We really do look for somebody who has impacted a community.”
As holiday traditions go, few end with quite as much joy as a driveway full of smiling faces, a family in disbelief, and a reminder that sometimes, giving really does come full circle.