habitat builder a publication of San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity
August 2008 www.sgvhabitat.org
Successfully “Raising the Roof”
Four hundred guests helped raise $85,000 for affordable
Portantino, Betty Sandford, Thomas Suess, Anil Verma, and
housing on June 14th at the SGV Habitat for Humanity
Tom Verti.
“Raising the Roof” gala. The event was held at the spectacu-
Mayor Larry Zarian.
lar grounds of the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena on a beautiful and balmy summer evening.
The master of ceremonies was former Glendale
We give very special thanks to Glendale Galleria for being the Signature Sponsor for this gala. Thanks are also extend-
Guests feasted on delicious Tuscan Italian food. Silent and
ed to The Walt Disney Company, Citi, Community National
live auctions were strongly competitive and exciting, and
Bank, and Transwestern for their supporting sponsorships.
raised a large amount of money to help build more afford-
Congratulations and great appreciation go to SGV Habitat
able homes. Very enjoyable entertainment was provided by
for Humanity Board Member Cynthia Heydt who chaired the
“The Three Waiters,” who pretended to be real waiters and
Gala Committee.
sang familiar songs from operas and musicals.
Gala Committee members who contributed to the success of
Honorary Chairs for the event were Pasadena’s Mayor
this fundraising event were: Donna Baker, Jamie Berridy, Jan-
Bill Bogaard and his wife Claire. The Honorary Committee
ie Fain, Ljiljana Grozdanic, Charlotte Hogan, Yasmine Khalil,
was comprised of Mark Azizi, the Reverend Ed Bacon, Elisa
Janet LaFevre, Eva Malhotra, Kelly McCune, J.P. O’Connor,
Callow, Bill and Brenda Galloway, Richard Koshalek, David
Nina Perry, Peggy Spear, Juanita St. John, Marilyn Waters,
and Janet Lazier, Joan McCarthy, Assemblymember Anthony
and Sonja Yates.
Inside: Giving • Meet the Frausto Family • Best of Pasadena Award
Board of Directors: Claus Agger-Nielsen Jan C. Berentsen Michael T. Davitt Tom Doud Ann Dougherty George Garfield Donald W. Goodman Cindy Heydt Daric Lee Deborah A. Loveland John Mac Lean Carol Martin Judd Reas Janelle Williams Howard Woo Staff: Executive Director Sonja L. Yates Accountant Sayaka Ota Office Manager Catalina Velez Volunteer Coordinator Jan Robinson Special Projects Coordinator Linda Hammes Builders Surplus Store Manager Bill Anderson BSS Driver Ricky Brownlee Sales David Hill
Giving Shop & Give Ralphs – Link your Ralphs Club card to SGV Habitat for Humanity. Every time you shop at Ralphs they will donate a percentage of your purchase to our work. Enroll at www.RALPHS.com, click the “Community Contribution” link, click on “Participant” and enter 82343 (NPO Number) for Habitat for Humanity – San Gabriel Valley. You must renew your commitment each year so if you were previously enrolled, please enroll again. Albertsons – Link your Albertsons Club card to SGV Habitat for Humanity. Every time you shop at Albertsons they will donate a percentage of your purchase to our work. To register your card call 1-877- 9327948 and select Habitat for Humanity San Gabriel Valley (#49000113440). The eScrip program– eScrip is a hassle-free way to support our work. The program and merchant partners have come together to create a system that rewards customer loyalty by contributing a percentage of purchases to SGV Habitat for Humanity. When you register (link) your debit or credit cards with eScrip and shop at merchant partners such as Macy’s, OfficeMax, Vons, Eddie
SGV Habitat Humanity can earn 10% of purchase amounts on thousands of participating products at eScrip partner stores from August 6th through September 9th. It is easy to take part. Look for participating products marked with a yellow school bus at the store. There are over 3,000 participating products to choose from in this 10% promotion. Be sure to use your eScrip Club Card when you make purchases. If you are already registered with eScrip, a 10% contribution will be automatically donated to your group. If not, you can still participate by purchasing qualified items from September 11 to October 15, saving your register receipts, and mailing them to SGV Habitat for Humanity. Contact Sayaka Ota at 626-792-3838 x 14 or accounting@sgvhabitat.org if you have questions. Thank you for supporting SGV Habitat for Humanity.
Emily’s Gift would like to give the money that I earned to Habitat for Humanity.”
Newsletter Editor Michael Schutz San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity 770 N. Fair Oaks Avenue Pasadena, California 91103 Phone: (626) 792-3838 Fax: (626) 792-7006 www.sgvhabitat.org
Bauer, Baja Fresh, Carl’s Jr., Claim Jumper, and many more, you will help raise funds for SGV Habitat for Humanity. For a complete list of merchant partners and information on how you can register, go to www. escrip.com, click “sign-up,” and designate San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity to receive contributions (our Group ID is 500004323).
During the Monrovia Old Homes Tour this spring, an enterprising young lady named Emily Curley set up a lemonade stand in her front yard. She had a rather successful day selling a refreshing beverage to passersby. Emily sent a letter to realtor Donna Baker and enclosed the proceeds from her sales. In the letter, Emily said, “I
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Emily, we at SGV Habitat for Humanity say, “Thank you” for your hard work and generous spirit. Because of your gift, we are closer to our goal of building four new affordable homes on Sherman Avenue in your home town of Monrovia. We hope that a family who buys one of those homes has a little girl who will have her own room that you helped provide. If you, like Emily, want to help provide safe, decent, affordable homes for deserving, hard-working low-income buyers, please use the enclosed envelope to mail your gift. Simply write “Sherman Campaign” on the memo line of your check, and it will join Emily’s gift in making the dream of homeownership possible.
habitat builder
The Frausto Family Loves their New Habitat Home “Dad ! I can see your breath! It’s freez-
bedroom, 1 1/2 bath houses,
ing in here!” exclaimed Christian, age
Bertha cried again--this time
10, when the Frausto family of four lived
tears of joy. After months of
in a one-bedroom, one-bath rental unit
giving 500 sweat equity hours
with no heat. The dad, Enrique, had to
of work, on September 15, 2007
sleep in the only bedroom since he had to
they received the keys to a
leave for work at 5:00 a.m. His wife, Ber-
dream come true. Enrique was
tha, Christian, and Karissah, 16, shared
in awe and disbelief. He kept
space on the cold, living room floor. For
repeating, “There’s a second
ten years the family shared one closet
floor! I’m going to get lost!”
with all their “stuff” pouring out when
He had such pride and stated,
they opened it. Even though they lived
“I helped build our home and
ed, to the “common area” of each hous-
in a friendly neighborhood with an un-
made wonderful friends. I also learned
ing development.
derstanding landlord, that did not make
the ‘tricks of the trade’!”
up for the bathroom floor that was cor-
When they moved in, the family final-
Rent on their tiny, unheated apartment
ly had some privacy. It took Christian
was a hefty $750 a month – for very lit-
some adjustment to be by himself and
tle. Now their payment of $889 on their
separate from his mom in his own bed-
much bigger, comfortably heated own
room. Both children found they could
In 2004 they applied for Habitat’s Gar-
home includes the interest-free mortgage
concentrate better in their new, quiet
dena Homes but did not qualify. Bertha
to SGV Habitat for Humanity, property
home while doing their homework.
was so disappointed that she cried for
taxes, insurance and homeowners asso-
days. Enrique, a medical supply man-
ciation dues.
roded from water damage. The dream of owning their own home was a vision that never faded.
ager, considered moving out of state if they were unable to qualify for a Habitat home. Their dream, their vision, became stronger. They would not give up.
The Frausto family never gave up and are now living their dream. Their lives
All Habitat homeowners pay an in-
have been transformed and changed for-
terest-free loan in order to cement their
ever. Their gratitude to Habitat and to all
commitment to maintaining their home
the volunteers who made their dream a
and help fund construction of more
reality is immeasurable.
In 2005 they applied for the Palmer
affordable homes. Homeowners asso-
Homes in Glendale. When they found
ciations are set up to make sure repairs
out they qualified for one of the three
and replacements are made, when need-
A Habitat home is a hand up, not a hand-out!
habitat builder
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Builders Surplus Store Wins Best of Pasadena Award SGV Habitat for Humanity has been selected for the 2008 Best of Pasadena Award in the Building Materials category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA). The USLBA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies it believes have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. USLBA honors companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community. Congratulations to Store Manager Bill Anderson and his great crew for this outstanding achievement!
REMINDER! There’s still time to take advantage of a great offer to help SGV Habitat for Humanity build more affordable homes. Burke Williams Spa is donating 20% of all gift card sales to SGV Habitat for Humanity. The gift cards never expire. This promotion only runs through August 31, 2008, so order your cards today. To order a gift card online, visit www.burkewilliamsspa.com/sgvhabitat08.htm
Please e-mail us so we can update our e-mail address mailing list: info@sgvhabitat.org San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity 770 North Fair Oaks Avenue Pasadena, California 91103
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