IN MEMORIAM DR. ROBERT MACY
MARCOS NACARRATI
shares thoughts about life in his new Monrovia home . . . has had is to bring personal freedom into his life. He can sleep peacefully and go out the door with no fear. Marcos is motivated to have a better life from what he observed living in El Monte. He appreciates everything that’s come his way and all the opportunities presented to him.
On retiring from his medical practice, Dr. Bob looked in the ‘yellow pages’ to locate the nearest Habitat affiliate. He found SGV Habitat for Humanity, then located on Altadena Drive in Pasadena. “If Jimmy Carter can get involved after his retirement, so can I,” he said. One of the first drop-in volunteers, Bob would stuff envelopes, answer phones and do whatever was needed and more, including joining the Habitat Board, fundraising, and being Co-President. As the Duarte Build began taking shape, he and his wife, Mary Jane, chaired and developed the Family Selection Committee, working together to select 16 wonderful, deserving families. Then, he worked tirelessly on the construction with the families, including a Buildathon of 4 homes in 9 days. Quoting Janelle Williams, co-chair of the current Family Selection Committee, “They were my mentors. I can’t believe he is gone! Bob had a Heart of Gold.” Our affiliate has truly been blessed with Bob’s presence. We will always have his legacy with us. Our tribute to him is to carry on with the Habitat Spirit building lives, families, homes and hope! Barbara Hudson
Eleven year-old Marcos bolted into the house after taking out the trash. His old neighborhood in El Monte was plagued with drug dealers and people arguing and screaming into the night. There was fear and daily pressure to survive. Every day Marcos felt unsafe and unsure as to what was going to happen next in the neighborhood. His parents worked hard to protect him and his younger brother from this stressful environment that was part of their every day life. Now Marcos is seventeen and will be a senior at El Monte High school this fall. Living in a Habitat home in Monrovia, he now feels safe and secure. The greatest impact his new home
A publication of the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity
June 2010
WHAT’S NEXT? THE ROAD TO THE GENEVA HOMES
When his family was notified in March of 2008 that they qualified for a Habitat home, Marcos’ heart was pounding. He was speechless, shocked and numb. On March 6th of this year, as the family was given the keys to open the door to their new home, Marcos had uncontrollable tears. This is a precious moment etched in his memory forever. Marcos is looking forward to his senior year and playing varsity soccer. He hopes to receive a scholarship from UCSB or UCLA, so he may continue his passion. His goals are to play professional soccer or work in the medical field. Marcos says he’s 100% sure of his direction to build a successful life now that his future is secure in the family’s new home. Marcos knows in his heart that God has blessed his family and is watching over all of them. Words cannot express how grateful Marcos feels for the life he is now living. Linda Margarian, Reporter
As you read this, eleven hard-working families are moving into their new homes on Kenwood Street in Glendale. They’ve signed the mortgage documents, received their keys and a Bible, their first housewarming gift. After nearly three long years, San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity volunteers and staff have completed the most ambitious build in the history of the organization. You might expect them to sit back, relax, bask in the glow of their success—just for a little while. But no! The question for the SGV Habitat community is always, “What’s next?” The need for safe, clean, affordable housing is always greater than our ability to provide it, especially in Southern California. “What’s next” is an exciting new adventure! Five new homes on Geneva in Glendale. “What’s next” is a new challenge—attempting our first “green” build. Even though we strive to re-use and recycle on all our builds, SGV Habitat is, for the first time, building to “green” rated standards for the Geneva Homes. We
have already received a donation of solar panels to generate some of the electricity the residents will use. Volunteers will learn about new types of construction materials and installations that will make the homes more environmentally friendly than traditional buildings. After 20 years of building affordable housing, the SGV Habitat community draws energy for “what’s next” from the generosity of the communities we serve. As we look to the Geneva build, we are grateful for our partnership with the City of Glendale that provides us with the land on which we build. We are grateful for the gifts-in-kind that have already been offered—solar panels, paint, nails, scaffolding, grading of the lot and legal services. We are grateful for the financial gifts that have come in—from our staff, from our Board of Directors, from foundations and corporations, and from donors like you. “What’s next” really now depends on you. We are a little more than halfway toward our fund-raising goal
of $400,000 that will allow us to break ground. Instead of resting on our laurels following the Kenwood build, we’re out in the communities we serve, telling the Habitat story, offering programs to civic organizations and church groups, knocking on doors—all in an effort to raise the rest of the money needed to provide homes for five more hard-working, deserving families. What’s next for you? Does your vision for a better future include putting a financial gift in the envelope included with this newsletter. Are you a potential partner for San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity? Would you be willing to ask a friend or your bridge club or your Bible study group to join you in making a gift? Somewhere in Southern California, there are five families who are asking “What’s next?” Are you eager to help them answer that question?
Jan C. Berensten, Board President Executive Director: California Pacific United Methodist Foundation, Inc. 1
Please e-mail us so we can update your e-mail for our mailing list: info@sgvhabitat.org 4
Marcos Nacarrati
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Bob Macy-In Memoriam Kenwood Dedication Ceremony Executive Director’s Message
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Geneva Homes - What’s Next? 1
Inside: San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity 400 South Irwindale Avenue Azusa, CA 91702
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