Habitat Builder Newsletter Fall 2015

San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, Inc. 400 South Irwindale Avenue Azusa, CA 91702

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Pasadena, CA Permit No. 224

FALL 2015 NEWSLETTER

A Publication of San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity | Issue 9

A world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Fall 2015

CORPORATE PARTNERS SPOTLIGHTS

CHESTNUT TAKES SHAPE

Habitat Builder is published by San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity Inc. Periodicals Postage Paid at Pasadena, CA.

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POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: SGV Habitat for Humanity, 400 South Irwindale Avenue, Azusa, CA 91702

SGV ReStores SHINE!

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n September 10th at the Environmental Awards Luncheon, the Irwindale Chamber of Commerce honored the Azusa ReStore, for the third time, with the Chamber’s Waste Reduction Award. The affiliate’s ReStores divert thousands of tons of usable materials from local landfills. This partnership helps area cities meet their goals for Carbon Footprint reduction.

Matt Vincent, Azusa ReStore Manager accepted this award.

eStores are an important contributor to SGV Habitat’s financial sustainability and mission growth. The long-term Blue Gehres joined SGV Habitat in July 2015 goal is that net operating income from the ReStores will cover all mission funding. This goal, and the desire to use her extensive background in nonprofit retailing, inspired Blue Gehres to accept the position of Director of ReStores. Blue jumped right in to join the managers and staff at both SGV Habitat ReStore locations in their efforts to create great shopping and donation experiences for customers.

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ould your group like to volunteer at a ReStore?

It’s fun and rewarding!

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ign up online at sgvhabitat.org/ getinvolved and share your experiences with your friends and on social media.

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pecial thanks go to the volunteers from CARING Housing Ministries who have made generous contributions regularly at the Atwater Village ReStore! The “purple shirts” are more than welcome at any of our sites!

raming of the Chestnut homes will be complete in October. The impressive design will catch your eye as you enter our project! This will mark a significant milestone in the progress toward completion and means new jobs will be available on-site.

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olunteer Opportunities! We need your help in the following areas: • Framing completion: October • Exterior painting: October • Insulation, foam & ‘Green’ Requirements: Starting mid-Oct. • Interior priming & painting: November through December • Safety, tool prep and site organization: Always!

CONNECT

WITH US facebook.com/sgvhabitat twitter.com/sgvhabitat instagram.com/sgvhabitat SAVE THE TREES

FOR OUR HOMES Sign-up for an e-copy of the Habitat Builder on our website www.sgvhabitat.org

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e have professional friends and contractors helping us catch up with siding and drywall labor. Please understand the site will be very busy with inspections and approvals during this phase. Thank you for your patience as we fine tune the days which are open to volunteers. There is a lot of great work coming up in the near future, and we will gladly find volunteer work days to fit your schedule.

Giving back to the community, whether through a volunteer day or a fundraiser, has been close to the hearts of Southern California Edison (SCE) employees throughout the company’s history. For years, the company has encouraged employees to contribute to nonprofit organizations through the annual Employee Contributions Rally. This year, San Gabriel Valley Habitat, was invited to attend and dress up in the “Blast from the Past!” era theme. Can you guess which era we chose?

About 200 SCE employees learned about Habitat’s mission and the local ReStores.

The rally was a success, and SGV Habitat appreciates the many employees who stopped to sign-up to volunteer or to contribute monthly as a member of the Carpenters Club.

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et’s take advantage of the cooling temperatures and turn up the heat at Chestnut!

THE CHESTNUT CONSTRUCTION TEAM

WANT TO HELP? Call or e-mail Kathy, our Volunteer Manager (626) 387-6899 x17 volunteernow@sgvhabitat.org Scan this quick response (QR) code with your smart phone to get started with your volunteer application today!

Save the date: #GivingTuesday 2015 is December 1. You can be part of the celebration by giving back to the community.

Visit GivingTuesday.org to find out more!

Bank of America (B of A) held two Corporate Build Days at the Chestnut Homes in September. Forty-three B of A employees volunteered, and even Senior Vice President, Chris Bogharian, felt the glow of helping others as she accomplished framing on the third story!

Special thanks to all of our corporate partners and their generous employees!

EMPLOYEE HIGHLIGHTS Grants and Partnerships Manager

Audrey Booth-Edwards

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SGV HABITAT LEADERS Left: Council member, 6th District, Steve Madison; SGV Habitat’s Executive Director, Sonja Yates and City Manager Michael Beck (Photo by James Macpherson, Pasadena Now)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Elaine Wilkerson, President Greg Barsamian, Vice President Nicolas (Nick) Alparaz, Treasurer John Mac Lean, Associate Treasurer Andrew Pittroff, Secretary Thomas S. Bunn III Scott Carpenter Glen Dawes Ann Dougherty George Hernandez Nimrod Johnson Joshua Kreinberg Robert Law Otis Marston David Van Wyk Emory Younes

STAFF Sonja Yates, Executive Director Audrey Booth-Edwards, Grants & Partnerships Manager Catalina Velez, Office Manager Kathy Karimi, Volunteer & Youth Programs Manager Lindsey Lottie, Marketing & PR Manager Sayaka Ota, Accountant Sherri Cubangbang, Accounting Assistant Marty McBride, Family Services Coordinator Damien Allen, Director of Construction Lindsey Lesher, Construction Superintendent

DESIDERIO DEMOLITION KICKOFF

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ulldozers are in action at the former Desiderio Army Center following City of Pasadena’s September 10th Demolition Kickoff Ceremony.

Interested citizens and SGV Habitat supporters are excited that the longawaited pair of Desiderio Reuse projects are now underway. Demolition work will be completed by the end of 2015, and, weather permitting, grading and utility infrastructure will be underway for SGV Habitat’s nine (9) affordable bungalows in early 2016.

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he 5.17 acre parcel has been subdivided between City of Pasadena and SGV Habitat. City will transform 3.8 acres of the land into the new Desiderio Park, designed as a passive space and a neighborhood park which will include open turf area, trees, security lighting, walkways, picnic tables, benches, play equipment, drinking foundations and a parking area. SGV Habitat will build nine affordable single-family craftsman style bungalow homes on 1.3 acres of the land, and the homes will connect to the park. To fulfill these two reuse objectives that have

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ith 633 people attending the first round of application meetings for the nine Desiderio homes, the need for affordable housing in Pasadena was definitely apparent. Sonja Yates, spoke about this need. “Pasadena is a high-cost community and rents are going up,” she said, “The need is dire and we are excited to be part of the solution.” Madison discussed Pasadena’s commitment to creating more affordable housing and how the Desiderio Project is just one of Pasadena’s efforts.

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adison talked about the importance of preserving the history and connection to the military.

Reginald B. Desiderio, was an Army captain killed in battle, and the Reserve Center was named in his honor. Thanks to a Legacy Gift to SGV Habitat for Humanity by a 22-year Navy Veteran, three of the Desiderio homes have been designated for veteran families.

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aving worked on the Desiderio project since 2006, Sonja Yates shared her joy in seeing the demolition

Construction Superintendent

commence, “It’s a dream not quite fulfilled but well on its way!” Madison was also quoted as saying, “You work long and hard

Mike Escarzaga, Construction Assistant Superintendent

in public life to try and have some real

ReStores

change, and a lot of what we do is process

Blue Gehres, Director of ReStores Merrick Drake, Atwater Village Manager Michael Springs, Atwater Village Assistant Manager Matt Vincent, Azusa Manager Cesar Baltazar, Azusa Assistant Manager Christopher Kahl, Procurement & Partnerships

oriented and at times mundane. But then

400 S. Irwindale Avenue • Azusa, CA 91702 (626) 387-6899 • info@sgvhabitat.org

udrey BoothEdwards Grants and Partnerships Manager, started working for SGV Habitat in February 2015 through a transition backto-work program.

What was originally a temporary position, turned permanent when the interim Grants and Partnerships Coordinator position became available. After a few short months, Audrey was promoted Manager. We are lucky to have her on our team! Audrey has a gift for writing from her heart. Grant makers respond to Audrey’s authentic grant requests.

you have that magical moment that helps people. This project is at the top of the list for me!”

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teve Madison shared the challenges and triumphs that came with championing this Desiderio collaboration. He explained to the crowd assembled for the ceremony how there were eleven separate proposals for the Desiderio Reserve Reuse Plan.

One of the components required by the Federal Government for the Desiderio Re-use Plan was affordable housing, and San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity (SGV Habitat) was chosen for this piece of the project.

been approved by the Army, HUD, the Department of Parklands, and the City of Pasadena, the affordable housing and parkland components will be executed as one Planned Development. Madison talked about his excitement that the project is finally coming together.“When you meet the families who get to purchase and live in Habitat homes, you will meet people who are completely invested and grateful to be in a community. These are going to be nine great new neighbors,” remarked Madison.

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Lindsey Lesher

indsey Adriane Lesher, Construction Superintendent, is a Los Angles-based artist, designer and builder.

Lindsey studied art and design with an emphasis in exploring the functionality of art. A Southern California native, she has worked in the art industry over the past decade as a Gallery Curator and Designer as well as a Project Engineer in the construction industry. Lindsey started work with SGV Habitat as an AmeriCorps construction volunteer. Now she supervises the Chestnut site and is working on her Contractors License. Lindsey is a great addition to the construction team. She is both patient and kind-hearted as she guides the volunteers daily tasks.