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cover story
Building Hope and Community.
Your contributions and volunteerism help Habitat make a life-changing difference for struggling families and, in the process, positively impact our neighborhoods.
Every day, thousands of local hard-working families have to decide between paying rent or buying groceries. Monthly rent in the Bay area has escalated, leaving a significant gap between what families can afford and what’s available. At Habitat Pinellas, we are working hard to make affordable homeownership a reality because we believe that everyone deserves a decent place to live. Thanks to our donors and volunteers, the dream of homeownership came true for 26 low-income families and 59 children in 2012. Hard work and generosity made it possible for these families to have something that most of us take for granted: peace of mind and a stable place for their children to thrive.
A Hand Up, Not a Handout. Habitat families work hard; they don’t ask for hand outs. By the time they get their keys, they have put in at least 250 hours of “sweat equity,” made a modest down payment, and received a zero-interest mortgage. They are physically and financially invested in their homes and set on the right path toward responsible homeownership. The homeowner classes they are required to complete as part of their covenant with Habitat provides them with the tools to be successful homeowners and contributing citizens to their local community. For Every Dollar Donated, 94 Cents Works for the Habitat Program.
People are often surprised with how much we can do with their donations. With as little as $30, we can put up a wall in a Habitat home, buy several bags of concrete or a bundle of shingles. Impressive, seeing as $30 isn’t enough to fill up a gas tank these days. Even the smallest donations can make a big difference and our supporters know their money is going to a good cause. How Habitat’s building program benefits our community: • • • • •
Revitalizes neighborhoods Increases the tax base Encourages volunteerism Removes substandard housing Provides employment for subcontractors
Habitat for Humanity Pinellas County received a Charity Navigator four-star rating for the sixth consecutive year, which means you can trust that we are being responsible with your donations. 94 cents of every dollar donated goes to our program.
Building Hope with Your Donation! We ask you to consider making a
contribution to our annual donor appeal, which enables us to keep building. Please visit our website to donate online at www.habitatpinellas.org . Thank you for your support of Habitat Pinellas! We wish you a prosperous new year!
we build homes, not houses
A Home for the Pugh Family to Thrive They are a refreshingly joyful family who had been living in less than joyful conditions for as long as they can remember. Due to ever-increasing rent, Alfred and Agatha Pugh and their six children have moved often from houses to apartments to their most recent townhouse, which absorbed 50% of Alfred’s net pay. Just three bedrooms contained the family of eight. The three daughters shared one room and the three sons slept in another, where two of the boys shared a single twin bed. The electric stove didn’t heat properly. The burners and oven worked “only when they wanted to.” Compounded by the poor window and door insulation, the home’s air conditioning unit was faulty and inadequate. The mold and mildew in the rundown townhouse caused two of the Pugh boys to seek medical care for acute breathing problems. The home also had a significant pest problem – so bad that the termites had even destroyed their furniture.
Alfred rides a bicycle to work and the family either walks, bikes or rides the bus everywhere, including the Habitat construction sites where they fulfilled their sweat equity hours during this past year! Through it all, the Pugh family remained focused on building their life together “filled with caring, sharing and love.” In October, the Pugh family was overjoyed to receive the keys to their new fivebedroom home in Pinellas Park.
Devout Christians, the family sees their new home as a blessing and the Habitat program as a “saving grace.” “The stress of our monthly living obligations and adverse conditions have been removed and our family truly has a safe place to call home,” said Alfred. To Agatha, the lower monthly mortgage “equals higher goals like all of our children going to college!” But to the Pugh children, their new home is simply and joyfully, “awesome!”
To make ends meet, the family foregoes having a vehicle.
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Help Us Build 2 Homes in 7 Days for 2 More Families!
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BLITZ BUILD 2013 FEBRUARY 8 –10 and 13–16 Join over 500 volunteers as they build two Habitat homes for the Carriger and McComish families in our Stevens Creek subdivision in Clearwater!
SIGN UP FOR BLITZ BUILD AT HABITATPINELLAS.ORG! Select a shift and register online today! For more details, download our Blitz Build brochure.
volunteer spotlight
“Paying It Forward” When other families in Connecticut were gathering to hunt and fish, Kevin Anderson’s family would get together to build. In Habitat style, when his family members or neighbors had a need to repair or remodel a home, the family would organize build days to lend a hand. Kevin Anderson is a new Habitat ReStore volunteer. He helps in the store once a week and plans to expand his efforts to the construction sites now that the weather is cooling. Kevin first became involved with Habitat for Humanity while working for the Burger King Corporation in Miami as a food scientist. Burger King sponsored a house, which opened the door for employees to engage with the Habitat mission. It was a natural fit for Anderson who then also became a once-a-month Habitat volunteer through his church. “I believe in giving back, paying it forward, or however you want to put it,” said Anderson. “I’ve been blessed and Habitat provides a way for me to give back.”
Kevin Anderson assists with ReStore donations.
Kevin owns and operates a consulting business called Excellence in Innovation, which specializes in food product design and innovation. His wife teaches English and drama at King High School in Temple Terrace, which provides additional volunteer opportunities for Kevin building stage sets for school drama productions. We welcome Kevin to the Habitat family. We hope his experience supporting the Habitat mission and building homes for local families will be fulfilling. Thanks Kevin! – Kevin Klucas, Volunteer Coordinator
Shorecrest Students Attend Habitat Conference Three seniors from Shorecrest Prep, Brook, Caitlin and Shiloh, recently joined youth leaders from across the nation at the Habitat Youth Leadership Conference in Atlanta to learn new techniques for their school Habitat chapter. They also learned about the opportunities Habitat offers beyond high school
and college, including international volunteer opportunities. The trio has led Shorecrest Prep’s chapter to new heights with their commitment to nine Saturday volunteer days for Habitat Pinellas during this school year. Thank you Brooke, Caitlin, Shiloh and Shorecrest Prep!
President and Mrs. Carter Join Volunteers in Haiti For the second During the week of Nov. consecutive year, former U.S. President 26, volunteers Jimmy Carter and helped construct the homes in the his wife, Rosalynn, joined hundreds of Santo community, which is coninternational volunteers to help build 100 sidered to be the homes in Léogâne, epicenter of the 2010 earthquake Haiti, during the 29th annual Habitat for that devastated COURTESY OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL. Humanity Jimmy and the country. Rosalynn Carter Work Project. “Last year, Rosalynn and I worked side
Come build with us!
Where We’re Building Now: St.Pete: 1911 28th Avenue North clearwater: 1884 North Betty Lane 3 houses at our Stevens Creek Subdivision
Volunteer today! by side with families left homeless by the 2010 earthquake and Habitat volunteers to build desperately needed homes in Haiti,” said President Carter. “We have a deep personal investment in the future of Haiti and are happy to be building 100 homes in Leogane again this year.”
volunteer spotlight
Volunteers Needed for Build in Guatemala! April 6-14, 2013
Are you adventurous, flexible, culturally sensitive, service-oriented and ready to get your hands dirty working hard?
Glori volunteers three to four days every week, assisting with data entry for ReStore donations.
Habitat
HERO GLORI MEZERA HABITAT VOLUNTEER A tribute to one of our many extraordinary Habitat supporters!
Glori Mezera is our volunteer extraordinaire! For over nine years, Glori has been volunteering her time and talent to assist our Administrative Office. Three to four days every week, all year long, she provides invaluable hours assisting us with ReStore donation data entry, which helps us with tracking and reporting.
Then join us on this excursion to beautiful Guatemala, where we tithe unrestricted funds each year to assist Habitat Guatemala. Building in partnership with Habitat Guatemala and Habitat Pinellas will provide you with a unique opportunity to get to know the country and a community in a personal and meaningful way. We will learn and share with the local people as we work side-by-side with their community. The cost is $1,490 for the 9-day trip (airfare and entry/exit fees are not included).
Glori’s giving ways are not limited to Habitat. Devoted to her faith, she also spends several days each week volunteering for various ministry programs at Calgary Chapel. Habitat Pinellas is truly blessed to have such a committed and reliable volunteer on such a long-term basis. She is a joy to be around and is truly a member of our Habitat family. Thank you Glori!
If you are interested in joining us for this build in Guatemala, please contact Gaby Camacho at 727.536.4755, ext. 306, or at materialsup@habitatpinellas.org
Bank of America Provides Volunteers along with $35,000 Contribution Employee volunteer support at our build sites has been stellar from our friends at Bank of America. This year there have been several staff work days dedicated to Habitat Pinellas involving nearly 100 Bank of America volunteers. We also received a check for $35,000 from Bank of America Tampa Bay market president Bill Goede this summer in support of our mission. Thank you to Bank of America and its big-hearted staff!
community partners GALA PHOTOS BY SHELLY DIGNUM.
Tropical Transformation! “Havana Nights” put a lively new spin on our annual Hammers & Heartstrings Gala fundraiser. No longer a black tie affair, this year’s event adopted a tropical theme complete with prize-oriented gaming tables and Caribbean cocktail attire. continued on next page
Gala guests George and Jennifer Keatinge with Shannon Brumenshenkel and Michael Tylman.
Honoring Those Who Honor Us On October 18th, Habitat Pinellas unveiled a Donor Recognition Wall, located at the entrance to our ReStore and Administrative Offices, in the presence of some of our closest friends – our supporters. In attendance at this event were representatives from Pinellas County and various city governments, corporations, foundations, social organizations, faith-based entities and individual donors, as well as members of our board of directors and advisory board. The unveiling ceremony also included the inaugural presentation of two annual awards. Habitat Pinellas CEO and president Barbara Inman presented Paul Lokey, president of Lokey Automotive Group, with the “Partner of the Year Award.” Dan Stowers received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his ongoing in-kind engineering design services. Donor levels recognized on the wall include: House Sponsors ($50,000+), Foundation Society ($25,000+), Cornerstone Partners ($15,000+), Roof Raisers ($10,000+), Frame Builders ($5,000+), Legacy Club and Lending Partners.
– Steve Lightburn, VP Development
LEFT: Jack Weldon and Deborah Dowling of Dowling + Weldon stand in front of the donor wall they designed for Habitat. Many thanks for their in-kind design services donation! RIGHT: Paul Lokey and Dan Stowers with Barbara Inman after the award presentation.
ReStore
ReStore Supervisor Glenn Cooperman stands in front of some of the paper house donations.
Wells Fargo & Company donates $50,000 to Habitat Pinellas
On Nov. 8th, Wells Fargo bank manager Eric Sharpe presented a $50,000 check to Habitat’s Barbara Inman during a formal presentation at one of Habitat’s newly constructed homes on 28th Avenue N. in St. Petersburg. Thank you Wells Fargo!
Havana Nights
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Gala
Held on Saturday evening, September 22, at the stunning Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach, “Havana Nights” was a hit with all who attended! The tropical-inspired menu included roast suckling pig and seafood paella. And the colorful decor, lively music and gaming tables worked to create a festive ambiance for our Habitat supporters. A Casino Event of Central Florida provided the gaming tables and dealers, to the delight of many of our guests who competed for an assortment of exciting prizes. The event was alive with a broad selection of music complemented by large screen video images flanking the crowded dance floor. “The food was phenomenal,” said guest Tamara Davis, remarking on the changes to the Hammers & Heartstrings event. “The atmosphere and location were beautiful! I think you all did a great job putting it together.” Another guest who had attended all five of the previous Hammers
Gala guests Amy Rettig and Angie Mazeres with local news anchor Deiah Riley.
& Heartstrings Galas exclaimed, “This is the best event ever!” Special thanks to our Hammers & Heartstrings event sponsors, HSN and Quorum Services, and to our mistress of ceremonies Deiah Riley, ABC Action News anchor. Many thanks to our planning committee and all of our patrons for their generous support including: Bayfront Health System, Adamo & Associates Realty Executives, EverBank, Florida Forest Products, Joe and Gina Fontana, Hill Ward and Henderson, Mary-Ellen Howells, Scott and Julie Klavans, Pinellas County Housing Authority, Progress Energy, and Skip and Vicki Tylman. Proceeds from Havana Nights will sponsor at least one Habitat home build.
“Give a Buck” Raises $900! In honor of World Habitat Day, celebrated on October 1st, the ReStore conducted a month-long paper house promotion, collecting dollar donations for the Habitat Pinellas program. Hundreds of paper houses signed by donating customers lined our office windows, representing customers who opted to “Give a Buck” or more. Thank you to all our ReStore customers for their enthusiastic support that raised over $900 in cash donations!
Donation Pick-Ups Just a reminder from the ReStore: as the end of the year approaches and the new year begins, our donation pickup schedule fills up quickly. If you are planning to support Habitat with building materials or home furnishing donations, please contact us as soon as possible to secure your spot. If you drop off items, please keep in mind that the ReStore is closed on Sundays. We are open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.. Please arrive by 4:30 p.m. (½ hour before closing) for all weekday drop-offs, and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
- Randy Bauler
13355 49th Street North Clearwater, Florida 33762
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what you can do • VOLUNTEER! to help our families • DONATE! and Habitat... • SHOP our ReStore!
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Check out our new site dedicated solely to our ReStore at HabitatPinellasRestore.org!
Visit us at www.HabitatPinellas.org to register as a volunteer, make a donation or learn more about our program!