Celebrating All Saints Church~ Habitat’s Partner since 2005
San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, Inc. 400 South Irwindale Avenue Azusa, CA 91702
JUNE/JULY 2017 NEWSLETTER
A Publication of San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity | Issue 11 June/July 2017
Building strength, stability, self-reliance, and shelter.
Exciting Progress at Women Build 2017
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Sonja Yates and Sharyn Delahousie of All Saints Episcopal Church celebrate partnership. Pastor Mike Kinman and group of All Saints volunteers at Desiderio
ASADENA PARISHIONERS FROM ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL
Church have put their faith into action building and repairing homes for those who need a safe and decent place to live. We express appreciation and gratitude for this great collaborative partnership. • From 2005-2017, All Saints has donated $31,828.50. This includes sales from Alternative Gift Fairs, Youth Program fundraisers, fundraising events and Mission Funding given by All Saints’ volunteers. • All Saints groups, with Sharyn Delahousie leading the way, have volunteered at build sites regularly with an average of 10-12 volunteers per day. Since July 2016, they have volunteered five (5) times. All Saints Church is committed to be a place where parishioners are joyfully and energetically committed to living out Jesus’ central message of love, justice and
compassion. San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity is a place where faith communities can commit to doing good works with God at the center. We are proud and grateful to be a partner with All Saints Church. All Saints’ sustained construction volunteer involvement began in 2008 with an initial group of volunteers who participated in the 2007 Jimmy Carter Work Project in Los Angeles. A dedicated core group of committed volunteers continued the work as the church’s longest running ongoing local Transformational Journey. All Saints Transformational Journeys intentionally challenge participants to go outside of their comfort zone to encounter diverse people who live in challenging circumstances.
Habitat Builder is published by San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity Inc. Periodicals Postage Paid at Pasadena, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: SGV Habitat for Humanity, 400 South Irwindale Avenue, Azusa, CA 91702
Sonja Yates Retires, Mark Van Lue Takes the Helm July 1st
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as Executive Director for San Gabriel Valley (SGV) Habitat for Humanity. Since 2004, it has been a wonderful and enriching experience for me to serve alongside a host of dedicated donors, volunteers and staff who enable our amazing partner families to achieve homeownership. When I retire, I will continue to be an enthusiastic supporter of our critically important affordable housing mission!
NANCY DELIRA
Faith Relations Coordinator
Creating the Future: Arcadia High School’s Habitat for Humanity Club On April 22nd, 47 members of Arcadia High School’s Habitat for Humanity Club volunteered at the Desiderio Homes site in Pasadena to literally help create the future for SGV Habitat’s partner families. Student volunteers were supported by Arcadia dignitaries Sho Tay, Mayor Pro Tem; Janet Chew, President, Arcadia Unified School District; Cung Nguyen, Board Member, Arcadia Unified School District; Catherine Merel, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, Arcadia Unified School District; and Dr. David Vannasdall, Board Member, Redevelopment Agency of Arcadia. Led by two-term HfH Club President Travis Chen, over 50 high school members engage in community service which
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includes volunteering with SGV Habitat for Humanity and Union Station. These future community leaders are committed to giving back to their community and building a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Club members were also hosts for SGV Habitat’s recent Women Build. Chen remarked at the close of the lunch celebration on May 13th, “Assisting at the Women Build Day was a true pleasure and honor. Seeing so many community members from all around coming together to participate in this special day was heart-warming. It is my hope that all the volunteers continue to be advocates and ambassadors for the Habitat for Humanity Mission.” Travis Chen is a graduating senior at Arcadia High School. He will attend USC and will be studying in France in the fall.
N JUNE 30TH, I WILL BE RETIRING FROM MY POSITION
I am happy to introduce you to Mark Van Lue who has been working with me and the Board of Directors since April 3rd to accomplish a smooth and highly successful transition in affiliate leadership. Mark brings 18 years of successful Habitat for Humanity leadership. He started his Habitat career in 1999 as Construction Manager for Habitat for Humanity in South Bend, Indiana. In 2006, he moved to Americus, Georgia to accept the position of Director of Construction and Environmental Resources at Habitat for Humanity International where he provided global support and oversight to Habitat’s construction operations. Mark has led Habitat build projects around the world including India, Nepal, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. He also provided project management for Habitat’s disaster response team following hurricanes Katrina and Rita and for high profile special event builds in the U.S. In 2007, he joined Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles as Vice President of Construction and Real Estate and later moved to Chief Operating Officer. Raised in Indiana, Mark now lives with his wife, Laura, in Monrovia. The couple has two grown daughters and five grandchildren. Mark has been honored with the Clarence Jordan Award for developing the Cornerstone Training Program, a hands-on construction skills training course, and the Lester M. Wolfson Award for non-fiction writing. I am deeply grateful for your partnership during my years of service. Please welcome Mark as SGV Habitat’s new Executive Director and support him in continuing to grow the capacity of our SONJA YATES affiliate to touch more lives through our mission of building and repairing affordable housing. Executive Director
SUCCESSFUL AND PRODUCTIVE WOMEN BUILD
2017 is in the books! Thank you to EVERYONE who made Women Build 2017 a success! May 11, 12 and 13 were three amazing days of women empowering women! Teams worked to install siding, frame and raise walls and paint. Special thanks go to the leaders and employees of Lowe’s in Burbank, Disney VoluntEARS, former California State Senator Carol Liu and her friends, Glendale Council Member and former Mayor Paula Devine, Dolores Gillham from CBS2/KCAL9, Travis Chen and the Arcadia High
School Habitat for Humanity Club, and our mighty core of volunteers which included members of SGV Habitat’s Board of Directors. Wonderful folks from Christ the Shepherd Church of Altadena provided delicious lunches on Saturday. We rejoice in the continuous support provided by this faith community. There were close to 200 participants over the threeday Women Build at the Desiderio Homes site. Stay tuned for the announcement of Women Build 2018 when finishing touches will be put on the Desiderio Homes in preparation for sale and the Dedication Ceremony!
Mark Van Lue and Sonja Yates
ABOVE: Group photo including the leaders and employees of Lowe’s in Burbank: Roxanne Alvarado (Human Resources Manager), Chris Horan (Store Manager), Stephanie Anguiano, Rosie De La Cruz, Yxoline Diaz, Elsa Gonzalez, Samantha Hernandez, Angie McCarthy, Evelyn Mendoza, and Edith Navarro.
ABOVE TOP: We appreciate the news coverage by Dolores Gillham from CBS2 and KCAL9 chronicling the progress. Travis, Dolores, and Macha pictured.
At Habitat for Humanity ReStore, each donation and purchase helps build homes for local families in need.
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The City of Glendale Housing Authority and San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity invite you to attend the
OUR LEADERSHIP Board of Directors Greg Barsamian, President Scott Carpenter, Vice President Andrew Pittroff, Secretary Nimrod Johnson (NJ), Treasurer David Battany Christine Bogharian John Clairday Bob Law Otis W. Marston Jr Peg Rogers Elaine Wilkerson David Van Wyk Emery Younes
Advisory Board John Mac Lean, Chair Nicolas (Nick) Alparaz Donna Baker Tom Doud Ann R. Dougherty
David Lazier Carol Liu Joan H. McCarthy Robert Picardo Jeff Throop
Staff
Lomita Homes Groundbreaking Saturday - August 26, 2017 at 11:00 a.m.
Meet the six homebuyer families and join in the groundbreaking for the Lomita Homes! 700 E. Lomita Ave. Glendale, CA 91205 Please arrive early to find street parking designated for the event. Place this invitation card on your dashboard. This is a new construction site - please wear flat shoes. Thank you for supporting affordable housing!
Please R.S.V.P. by August 19, 2017
Phone: (626) 387-6899 Email: rsvp@sgvhabitat.org (include names of all people attending) Website: http://sgvHabitat.org/lomita-groundbreaking
Boxing Legend Sugar Ray Leonard Surprises Volunteers and Future Residents: Packs A Different Kind of Punch
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hen Tom Doud began as a volunteer, he had no idea that one day he would serve as President of the Board of Directors. Serving for a two-year term as Board President, he was instrumental in helping SGV Habitat garner the opportunity to build nine affordable bungalows in west Pasadena for qualified low-income families including families of three veterans. Even as he stepped down from this position, he continues to work closely as a partner with SGV Habitat for Humanity. Collaborating with Sonja Yates, Doud worked to set up a series of Father-Son build days with students from Loyola High Prep School, a Jesuit private high school and one of the oldest in the state. This collaboration began in 2016 and is ongoing. These young men and their fathers are helping to build homes for families who struggle to find
affordable housing in our high-cost region. During a recent build day on April 8th, the volunteers and future residents were in for a surprise. None other than Sugar Ray Leonard, a father of a Loyola High Prep student, was in attendance! With a little persistence from Staff, he gave an impromptu speech, expressing respect and support towards the work volunteers do every day to support SGV Habitat’s partner families. Families like Macha and Melissa’s and Raul and Carolina’s will forever be grateful to all of the thousands of volunteers who are helping to build their homes. Without the Habitat for Humanity model of Sweat Equity, volunteer builders, a 1% down payment and a zero percent (0%) mortgage, the Desiderio families would not be able to achieve homeownership. Thank you, Sugar Ray, and all of the Loyola H.S. fathers and sons!
Sonja L. Yates, Executive Director Mark Van Lue, Executive Director (Elect) Audrey Booth-Edwards, Grants & Partnerships Manager Catalina Velez, Office Manager Kathy Karimi, Volunteer & Youth Programs Manager Lindsey Lottie, Marketing & PR Manager Sayaka Ota, Accountant Gail Burkholder, Accounting Assistant Marty McBride, Family Services Coordinator Nancy Delira, Faith Relations Coordinator
Homebuyer Education FAMILIES SELECTED FOR SGV HABITAT’S HOMEOWNERSHIP
program learn much more than just how to build their home. Future homebuyers are required to participate in a minimum of 65 hours of Homebuyer Education and nonconstruction activities during the construction process. Homebuyer Education sessions are two-hour evening meetings that cover a wide range of topics designed to transition participants from being tenants to successful homeowners. Future homebuyers learn financial literacy skills such as budgeting, savings, learning how credit works, comparison shopping, retirement planning, and how to avoid financial threats such as scamming, predatory lending, and identity theft. Additional topics cover nutrition, healthy living, end-of-life planning, home maintenance, community
engagement and advocacy, and skills for participating in civic decision-making. Presentations are given by volunteers who are in their field. Through SGV Habitat’s Family Services, future and current homebuyers receive additional assistance, referrals, and information based on individual needs. SGV Habitat also provides a four-session Tools for Successful Living series conducted by the Stafford Life Coaching team, Bill & Irene Stafford. These workshops help homebuyers develop lifelong skills such as self-awareness, empathy, effective communication, conflict resolution, decision making, personal organization, and goal-setting. If you would like to share your homeownership knowledge and be a Homebuyer Education Guest Speaker, please contact Marty McBride, Family Services Coordinator, at 626-387-6899, extension 25.
CONSTRUCTION Shervin Dana, Director of Construction Mike Fulgenzi, Site Superintendent Steve Bridal, Repair Programs Superintendent John Udell, Construction Assistant Haydee Garcia, Construction Assistant Santana Rodelo, Construction Assistant RESTORES Merrick Drake, Director of ReStores Cesar Baltazar, Project Manager Walter Rea, Atwater Village Manager Emory Davis, Atwater Village Assistant Manager Matt Vincent, Azusa Manager Brian Ewing, Azusa Assistant Manager
Volunteer
Every hand can make a difference with Habitat for Humanity. Whatever your skill set, stage of life, or passion, there is a place for you!
Atwater Village ReStore 5201 W. San Fernando Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90039 • (818) 550-7467
Volunteer Today!
Azusa ReStore 410 S. Irwindale Ave. Azusa, CA 91702 • (626) 387-6900 Store Hours: Monday - Saturday 9am-5pm
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Tom Doud, left, showing off his Loyola pride with Future Homeowners, Ofelia and Alejandra.
TOP: Matthew, Sugar Ray, and Bethany. SECOND ROW L-R: Melissa, Sugar Ray, and Macha; Loyola Community Service group and future Habitat homeowners in front of one of the Desiderio Homes in Pasadena; Tony Latiolait and son Chris Latiolait. THIRD ROW L-R: Alex Villalpando and dad Armando Villalpando; Jacob, Scott and dad Scotty Tamkin.
(626) 387-6899 x17
volunteernow@sgvhabitat.org
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