A publication of the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity
June 2011
CELEBRATING GENEVA PROGRESS
As this issue of the Habitat Builder goes Our hats are off to the following truly to press, we are pouring foundations at fantastic volunteer groups that helped accomplish this early construction the Geneva site. work: Booth Grading and Excavating, one of • The Walt Disney Company made our longtime partners and pro bono service donors, did the over-excavation a corporate sponsorship of $100,000 work which resulted in more excavation for the Geneva Build and is providing than had been expected. A spot boring hands-on support through their revealed an old brick seepage pit about dedicated Disney VoluntEARS. 25’ deep. The pit had to be completely • Collins, Collins, Muir + Stewart, removed. We were able to perform LLP donated $3,000 and participated this task to meet City of Glendale’s in a Corporate Team Build with specifications. 30 team members on our first full weekend of building.
ethic by laboring diligently at the site. All are eager to learn more about the building process. Jamie Keyser, Senior Representative of the Los Angeles Community Engagement & Disney VoluntEARS says, “Disney has had a long-standing relationship with Habitat for Humanity of the San Gabriel Valley, providing hundreds of Disney VoluntEARS over the past 8 years. When the keys were handed over to the families of the Kenwood project, our VoluntEARS were eagerly awaiting the next build. Once
• Board member Nick Alparaz led a group of his colleagues from Ernst & Young in a Corporate Team Day on 5/4. • Iris International Inc. participated in a Corporate Team Build, donated $5,000, and volunteered at our site. • Places of worship have also pitched in, with All Saints Church in Pasadena raising $1000 for a Faith Build day in June. We next worked on footings, water lines, and forms for concrete slabs and conduits. We expect to be ready to start framing by mid-June.
All five Geneva homebuyer families began work on their Sweat Equity hours in May and continue to come out each week with smiles and enthusiasm! These families have shown their dedication and work
the Geneva project broke ground, our VoluntEARS signed up immediately and are at the site every other weekend.. In addition to weekend projects, we coordinate Team Building opportunities for our departments during the work week. Disney is proud to join Habitat in their important work in our community.” continued on page 2
1
President’s Message Board of Directors
Donald W. Goodman, Claus Agger-Nielsen, Nick Alparaz, Tom Bunn, Michael T. Davitt, Ann Dougherty, Tom Doud, George Garfield, Jay Harvill, Cynthia Heydt, John Mac Lean, Deborah A. Loveland, Paul McAnnally-Linz, Judd Reas
Staff Sonja L. Yates Executive Director Damien Allen Construction Manager Malcolm Banks Construction Site Supervisor Sayaka Ota Accountant Catalina Velez Office Manager Amy Borton Volunteer Coordinator Mike McGowan Coordinator of Support Services & Marketing James Burke Coordinator of Youth Programs & Fund Development Support
ReStore Bill Anderson Manager Michael Krecker Assistant Manager Eric Bridges Assistant Manager Aaron Henrichs Driver Erik Kristiansen Sales Associate Craig Chew Sales Associate David Hill Sales Associate Matt Vincent Sales Associate Phillip Pasos Sales Associate Don Meeker Sales Associate Georgios Frangeskou Sales Associate Sara Timberlake ReStore Services Development AmeriCorps VISTA Llijanna Grozdanic Guest Columnist Lianna Cardenas Guest Reporter
San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity 400 South Irwindale, Azusa CA 91702 Tel: 626-387-6899 Fax: 626-387-6890
Need for
I feel so fortunate to be taking over as Board President at such an exciting time in our affiliate’s life. The Geneva build is off and running—be sure to stop by or go to sgvhabitat.org to volunteer on site. We are well into our first year of Brush with Kindness projects in Temple City and Azusa. We expect that this exterior home renovation program will greatly extend our reach into our 31-community trade area. Our ReStores in Pasadena and Azusa continue to do brisk sales—this helps us so much because the ReStores fund the largest share of our operating costs. That way every donation we receive goes straight to building safe, affordable housing for deserving San Gabriel Valley families. All of this allows us to keep our top Charity Navigator rating for fiscal responsibility. We have so much to be proud of! But we aren’t resting on our laurels. We want to provide more opportunities for lower-income families to live in decent continued from page 1
Thank you to LifeSource for not only donating water for the Geneva Groundbreaking Ceremony, but also for supplying purified drinking water for the volunteers throughout the build. For more information, contact Lesley Smith LifeSource Factory Representative 626.737.9182
2
Hooray for the special and valuable partnerships with Charles Pankow Builders, Ltd., Specialized and Laing Construction, and Rebar Engineering, Inc. These companies have supplied volunteers and material discounts and donations. They have really demonstrated the “Habitat spirit” and have worked with their contacts to secure additional discounts, donations of needed material, and financial gifts. Amy Borton, Volunteer Coordinator To see more photographs, go to sgvhabitat.org
and safe homes in communities where they can live, work and thrive. The need is huge, and the limiting factors are money and volunteers. We are preparing for our next build in Pasadena which will be our largest fundraising effort yet. We are just getting ready to embark on a new strategic planning effort to make sure our organization is ready for this important next step. It’s an incredibly exciting journey, and every time we seem to encounter an obstacle, God always presents a solution! Please join us, by going on the web site to volunteer or to make a donation. Our fiscal year end is in June, so being able to show a growing donor base is really important, especially when we talk to foundations about supporting SGV Habitat with grants. We have a wonderful cause—everyone knows about Habitat for Humanity and supports our mission. Be a catalyst for positive change—get involved! I promise you it will be the most rewarding thing you ever did!
Don Goodman
HARVEST FOR HABITAT
For many years I have been an enthusiastic supporter of the work of San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity. Their work is unique, offering the very best support to our communities. This year, to benefit the affordable housing mission of San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, I am chairing another fund raiser, “Harvest for Habitat,” to be held on September 10, 2011 at 664 Alameda Street, Altadena, CA. I am sending this letter to invite you to participate in this event. Please review the enclosed information and let me know if you will . . . • Host of a table of 10 or share hosting. We supply: table, chairs & tablecloth. Host supplies: table settings & napkins, centerpiece, drinks and food. As a Table Host you may prepare all of the food for your table; “go dutch” with other guests; or have food for your table guests
catered. There is no place for food preparation at the event.
• Attend this event by making a reservation for $50. (If this is your choice, please let us know the number of reservations you want). This is a great opportunity to treat your clients, friends or family! Please e-mail names, addresses & contact information along with your request to host a table or to purchase individual tickets to: James Burke youthprograms@sgvhabitat.org or call (626)387-6899 x24. If you are unable to attend, we would appreciate your monetary donation to support Habitat for Humanity. Or, an item for the silent and/or live auction. Your donation of a bottle of wine valued at around $20.00 will make the “Wine Cellar” a fantastic auction item. With other donated bottles of
good quality wine (20, 40 or more) the “Wine Cellar” will be enjoyed for months by the lucky bidder who takes it home. If you donate a more expensive bottle that is rated 90 plus, it will be featured as an album offering that will include the history of that wine and winery, and on the opposite page the picture of the bottle and donor’s name. This gift will make another great live auction item! Should you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 626-644-4432, or e-mail me at TheLjiljana@gmail.com . Thank you in advance for your consideration. I truly hope you will join us in this endeavor! Sincerely, Ljiljana Grozdanic Event Chair TheLjiljana@gmail.com 626-644-4432
Your contribution is deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Consult your tax accountant for eligible deductions. San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity’s Tax ID Number is 95-4244947. For donation inquiries, please call Sayaka Ota, Accountant Tel. 626-387-6899 x14 Fax 626-387-6890
CHARITY NAVIGATOR RANKS SGV HABITAT IN TOP 8% FOR SOUND FISCAL MANAGEMENT For the fourth year in a row San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity has earned Charity Navigator’s 4-star rating for sound fiscal management (2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010). This places our affiliate in the top 8% of all non-profits rated by Charity Navigator.
• Board members have been instrumental in securing major gifts that support our builds. • Our affiliate operates two successful ReStores. • In 2010, we launched a new Brush With Kindness (BWK) exterior renovation program that is helping low-income homeowners throughout the San Gabriel Valley.
because they believe in the work of Habitat for Humanity. Thank you for your gifts to SGV Habitat for Humanity. We hope you will share our track record with your friends, family and business associates. You and they can be confident that your gifts will always be used for the purpose you specify.
Find SGV Habitat Online www.sgvhabitat.org These key factors continue to earn our affiliate this prestigious recognition: Our Habitat families deserve much of • Our affiliate has never had a the credit for our Charity Navigator Facebook—www.facebook.com/sgvhabitat default, foreclosure or resale recognition. They faithfully attended Myspace—www.myspace.com/sgvhabitat of any of its Habitat homes in Homebuyer Education classes while their Flickr—www.flickr.com/photos/sgvhabitat the 21 years of its existence. homes were under construction, and they Blogspot—sangabrielvalleyhabitat.blogspot.com Twitter—twitter.com/sgvhabitat • Our net assets have are diligent in making their Habitat quadrupled since 2005. mortgage payment on time each month. • Our affiliate has no debt. Our hard-working staff members also Make sure to take a look, or request a • Our administrative expenses have contributed to this achievement. are very low, so funds donated They could earn more in other job sectors, physical copy from Mike McGowan at marketing@sgvhabitat.org. go directly to our affordable but they have chosen non-profit service housing mission. 3
Our Annual Report is online!
"green" community. 12731 Ramona Blvd, Suite 208 Irwindale, CA 91706 Tel: 626-851-0008 Fax: 626-851-0001 www.sungreensystems.com
In the coming weeks and months the Naccaratis will see their older son Marcos graduate from high school, start his first day of college, and watch him play on a Division 1 soccer team at UC Riverside! With many new and exciting possibilities ahead, Marcos is considering a major in computer engineering or anesthesiology. He hopes to play soccer professionally like his favorite player, Kaká, who is from Marcos’ native country of Brazil.
Thank You . . .
John Fairbanks for opening your home for our Harvest for Humanity event this coming September. Your generosity and warm welcoming of our organization exemplifies your kind, generous and supportive nature.
When the Naccaratis moved into their new Habitat for Humanity home on Sherman Avenue in March 2010, they were blessed with not only homeownership, but with the many opportunities that surrounded it as well. With this new address, the Naccarati family was able to provide their children with the opportunity to attend excellent schools in the Monrovia Unified School District. Marcos recalls his Dad encouraging him to transfer from El Monte. Just a week before school started, Marcos enrolled as a senior at Monrovia High School. While leaving his friends from El Monte was not easy, the switch proved to be a wonderful investment in Marcos’ future. Continuing with his love of soccer, Marcos joined the varsity soccer team at Monrovia High School where he excelled as an athlete. Playing forward on the varsity team, Marcos went on to win 1st Team All-CIF, 1st Team All-League, and All-Star Game MVP. With the encouragement and guidance of his family, and the mentorship of his coach, Michael Williams, Marcos was scouted by several top universities, getting offers from UC Riverside, Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine. In the end, Marcos was offered his first choice—UC Riverside— where he will be attending school in the fall on a soccer scholarship.
Mark Torecelli for your outstanding work on a new driveway at our BWK site on LiveOak, and for the foundational work at our Geneva site in Glendale.
Whatever his future may hold, everyone at SGV Habitat for Humanity is exceedingly proud of Marcos, and we can’t wait to see what the future has in store for him. We’ll be keeping an eye out on the soccer scene—World Cup 2014 is just around the corner!
Xerox, for allowing Paul McAnnally-Linz to play pivotal roles at our BWK, Elmira, and Geneva sites.
Lianna Cardenas, Guest Writer
Please email us so we can update your e-mail on our mailing list: info@sgvhabitat.org
Inside
4
Success Story: Marcos Nacarrati
3
Charity Navigator 4-Star Rating
3
Harvest for Habitat
2
President’s Message Celebrating Geneva Progress
1-2
San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity 400 South Irwindale Avenue Azusa, CA 91702
NONPROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID PASADENA, CA PERMIT NO. 224