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
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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.
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Future Desiderio Homeowners
Room to Grow in Pasadena
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!”
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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
Chestnut Homes Dedication
Celebration Marks Completion of Three Affordable Homes
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he Los Angeles Association of Architects and American Society of Interior Designers sponsored a “Shop & Mingle” event at the Atwater Village ReStore. The event, to support
SGV HABITAT LEADERS Board of Directors
Elaine Wilkerson, President Greg Barsamian, Vice President ReStores & Site Development Glen Dawes, Vice President Fund Development & Marketing Nicolas (Nick) Alparaz, Treasurer Andrew Pittroff, Secretary David Battany Nimrod Johnson Christine Bogharian Robert Law Thomas S. Bunn III Otis Marston Scott Carpenter David Van Wyk George Hernandez Emery Younes
Staff
Sonja Yates, Executive Director Damien Allen, Director of Construction Lindsey Lesher, Construction Superintendent Haydee Garcia, Construction Assistant John Udell, Construction Assistant 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 Manager Audrey Booth-Edwards, Grants & Partnerships Manager Kathy Karimi, Volunteer & Youth Programs Manager Lindsey Lottie, Marketing & PR Manager Sayaka Ota, Accountant Sherri Cubangbang, Accounting Assistant Catalina Velez, Office Manager Marty McBride, Family Services Coordinator Darla Kim, Faith Relations Coordinator
Tim Peters, Door of Hope
M E E T T H E S TA F F
KATHY KARIMI
Volunteer & Youth Programs Manager “Working with Habitat gives me the chance to make a real difference by helping the people who need it the most. Thank you for making me feel right at Home!”
Phone: (626) 387-6899 Fax: (626) 387-6890 Website: sgvhabitat.org
Millie Yamaki, Bank of America, presenting keys to the Zakarian-Bazikian Family
Nina Perry, Family Committee Chair, helping Chestnut children with Ribbon Cutting
n March 12th, San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity and the City of Glendale joined the new home buyers and community members for the Dedication Ceremony at the Chestnut Homes.
Steve Young, Vice President/Branch Manager for Union Bank in San Gabriel; Nancy Spring, President of CARING Housing Ministries; Millie Yamaki, Vice President & Community Relations Manager for Bank of America; Amanda Gallagher, Charles Pankow Builders; Lindsey Lesher, Construction Superintendent and Construction Assistants Haydee Garcia and John Udell. Words of appreciation were given by home buyers Alberto Castaneda, George Samuel and Robert Zakarian.
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reetings were brought by Vartan Gharapetian, Housing Chair of the Housing Authority, and by Paula Devine, Vice-Chair. SGV Habitat’s Board President, Elaine Wilkerson, expressed thanks to all who contributed monetary gifts and volunteer hours to construct the three new affordable units. ollowing the Ribbon Cutting ceremony, Travis Chen, President of Arcadia High School’s the new homeowners welcomed guests and Habitat for Humanity Club, recognized donors conducted tours of their homes. of house warming gifts for the new homeowners. Keys were presented by Joan McCarthy, Senior Want to see more photos of the Dedication? Visit and follow Manager for Disney Community Engagement; our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sgvhabitat
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Playhouse Project
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Pankow Builders Partner with Habitat for Humanity
ankow Builders held its company-wide meeting for over 200 employees at the Westin Hotel in Pasadena on April 29th. In addition to workshops and development of leadership skills, attendees participated in a team-building activity to construct and decorate ten playhouses in collaboration with two Los Angeles County affiliates of Habitat for Humanity. Completed playhouses were donated to San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity to benefit the local community.
ws!
Good Ne
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oor of Hope in Pasadena was one of the recipients of a playhouse. Tim Peters is pictured with the charming playhouse that will provide encouragement to children who are part of Door of Hope’s transitional housing mission for local homeless families. Other playhouses are available at San Gabriel Valley Habitat’s ReStores.
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an Gabriel Valley Habitat thanks Pankow Builders for sharing the time and talent of key employees throughout many local builds and projects.
Habitat for Humanity named brand of the year 2016
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e’re so honored to be named the 2016 Social Services Nonprofit “Brand of the Year” by Harris Poll EquiTrend. This is the second year in a row Habitat has received this recognition. To learn more about the Harris Poll EquiTrend® Study, visit http://www.theharrispoll.com
local affordable housing, was organized by Mitch and Susan Sawasy to introduce local designers, architects, and builders to SGV Habitat’s ReStores. Thank you, Mitch and Susan!
every child
deserves a stable start in a safe and secure home. Through monthly donations, HopeBuilders provide a consistent and reliable source of funding that allows Habitat to reach more families in need of decent shelter. Sign up today!
sgvhabitat.org/donate/monthlygiving
Loyola High School Students Volunteer at Desiderio
A Model for Community Service
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n Saturday, April 16, 2016, twentyfive students, twenty-five fathers, and the principal from Loyola High School in Los Angeles participated in a day of service working alongside future Habitat homeowners. The students installed erosion control, cleaned up the neighborhood, and took part in digging trenches in preparation for water lines.
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he Loyola Community Service Program is committed to providing service opportunities that help foster compassion and a spirit of generosity in each of their students. It is their hope that these service experiences will help students view the world with open hearts, challenging them to be “Men for and with others.” Former Director and two-term President of SGV Habitat’s
Board of Directors, Tom Doud, and his son Michael were part of the Loyola Community Service group.
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hank you volunteers for your time, hard work and support of San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity!
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ho does it take to build a Habitat house? It takes everyone, and that starts with YOU! Find out how to get involved on our website: http://sgvhabitat.org/getinvolved/