San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, Inc. 400 South Irwindale Avenue Azusa, CA 91702
JUNE 2016 NEWSLETTER
A Publication of San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity | Issue 9.0
A world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Desiderio Groundbreaking for Nine Habitat Homes
Habitat Builder is published by San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity Periodicals Postage Paid in Pasadena, CA. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, 400 South Irwindale Avenue, Azusa, CA 91702
A
lthough sporadic downpours accompanied excitement and smiles, close to 400 people entered the large tent on April 9, 2016, to celebrate the long-awaited Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Desiderio Homes.
P
Future Desiderio Homeowners
Room to Grow in Pasadena
W
hile backpacking across Germany after his deployment to Iraq, United States Army Veteran, Omar Leyva, met, fell in love with, and married his Ukrainian wife, Nataliya.
W
hen they returned to his home state of California they chose the city of Pasadena to start their life together. They believed that Pasadena was the ideal community for them to build a life together and raise a family. Unfortunately, the Leyvas could afford only a cramped, one-bedroom apartment in an older building that continuously needed repairs. Their toddler daughter shared a room with them, and they were quickly running out of space as she became older and more active. Omar and Nataliya deeply desired another
Omar, Nataliya, and Sofiya
June 2016
child but had to postpone this desire because their apartment was too small, and they could not afford a larger one.
T
hey were recently accepted into SGV Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership program and are now eagerly awaiting the birth of their second daughter! Omar and Nataliya are ecstatic and thankful for the opportunity to be homeowners and start building their own home in the community they love. They are convinced they never would have been able to purchase a home in Pasadena if they hadn’t been selected for the Habitat program.
will provide us shelter, help us nurture our children and educate them. This opportunity is life changing, and we are hopeful for the future!”
“Being future Habitat home-
owners is a lifelong commitment for our family. We are dedicated to making a difference in our community. We look forward to growing and blooming with the other future homeowners.”
“The Leyvas and their growing family are just one of many heartwarming examples of those who are benefitting from the Habitat for Humanity home ownership program,” said Sonja Yates, Executive Director at “We are so grateful for the SGV Habitat for Humanity. blessing and the opportunity to purchase a home through SGV - Lindy Neubauer Habitat for Humanity,” Omar Kreative Haus Marketing Leyva shared. “This home Communications
asadena High School’s “Pride of Pasadena” marching band escorted the future homebuyers and their children to the ceremony, and Pasadena Police Department’s Explorer Post 19 presented the colors and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Dignitaries who have supported San Gabriel Valley Habitat’s affordable housing development from 2007 when the Pasadena Council approved the Reuse Plan through completion of the Public Benefit Conveyance of the land in August 2015, congratulated all who persevered to make the new affordable homeownership development a reality. Remarks were made by Congressman Adam Schiff, State Senator Carol Liu, Mayor Terry
Jerry and Betty Rouchka, Trustees for the Charles J. Rouchka Trust, explained their uncle’s desire to donate his Arcadia home to help veterans and their families
Tornek and Councilmember Steve Madison. State Assemblymember Chris Holden and Councilmembers McAustin and Hampton were also in attendance.
S
an Gabriel Valley Habitat has been raising money to construct the Desiderio Homes since 2005 when the Pasadena-Foothills Association of Realtors (PFAR) held an event which raised $50,000 to start the Campaign. The ceremony provided an opportunity to acknowledge and thank the hundreds of partners—individuals, corporations, businesses, foundations, community organizations and places of worship--that have financially supported the Desiderio development.
A
ll of the future Desiderio home buyers were introduced, and nine family representatives expressed their gratitude to be able to help build their own homes and to
Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek described the new Desiderio Planned Development as a “homerun” for the City
eventually live in west Pasadena adjacent to the new Desiderio Park which will be developed by City of Pasadena. Dian Prado, daughter of future homebuyers Israel and Esther Prado, was celebrating her 11th birthday on April 9th. She spoke for her family and concluded her remarks with, “How many eleven-yearolds get a house for their birthday!”
A
t the close of the ceremony, all family members and many attendees put on hard hats and picked up golden shovels to symbolically break ground for the nine new craftsman-style bungalows. Each family will contribute a total of 500 hours of Sweat Equity in building their homes and those of their future neighbors and in completing Homeownership Education classes to prepare for successful transitions from renting to homeownership.
Erica Tejada presented Wells Fargo’s Priority Markets “check” for $100,000 to Board President Elaine Wilkerson