The Press Democrat Editorial: A great idea: Adapting for humanity
Read the Press Democrat’s editorial on Habitat’s new Neighborhood Improvement Program!
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120119/OPINION/120119387/1043/opinion03?p=1&tc=pg
Habitat’s Launches New Neighborhood Improvement Program
Habitat’s venture into buying and rehabilitating foreclosed homes is making news! Read the Press Democrat’s article by clicking the link below.
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120114/ARTICLES/120119682
Challenge Grant from Schulz
Community Foundation Sonoma County, through the Schulz Donor-Advised Fund, has made a $10,000 Challenge Grant available to Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County (HFHSC) in support of two homes being built by Habitat volunteers and partner families in Healdsburg.
Community activist Jean Schulz, through her fund at the Community Foundation, will match each dollar donated to the Challenge Grant up to $10,000.
HFHSC is currently building the two homes for two low-income families who must contribute 500 hours of sweat equity in the construction of the homes. The construction is done by volunteers and members of the families. The tools and materials required to build the homes must be purchased with funds raised through grants and donations.
The donations toward the Challenge Grant will help to purchase the sheetrock, flooring and other materials needed for the final construction phase of these two energy-efficient homes. Both homes are registered for LEED green building certification at the platinum level.
The families who will purchase these homes include the Martinez family with five children and the Blosser family also with five children. Mr. Martinez works for a winery, and Mr. Blosser is a National Guard leader and Iraq War veteran. Habitat is not only building homes for these families, but is also building hope. Children who live in safe, decent environments do better in school and families become contributing members of the community.
Habitat for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible. To donate to the Challenge Grant, you may go online at www.sonomacountyhabitat.org, or please send your donation marked “Challenge Grant” to:
Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County
3273 Airway Drive, Suite E
Santa Rosa, CA 95403-2080
For more information, contact Kathy Fong at (707) 578-7707, ext. 110.
Citibank Donates $5,000
Healdsburg, CA – Citibank recently contributed $5,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County to support the construction of two houses in Healdsburg to help families in need.
Construction of the two homes, located on University Street, involves a partnership between community volunteers and members of the two recipient families, who Habitat requires put 500 hours of “sweat equity” into their homes during the building process. Both recipient families have five children.
“Citibank is proud to support Habitat for Humanity and help these two families find a place to call home,” said Mary Hogarty, Community Officer with Citibank. “At Citibank, we are committed to making communities better where we work and live, and our work with Habitat for Humanity makes a real impact on the lives many individuals and families in Northern California.”
About the families
Brice Blosser is an Iraq war veteran and a member of the National Guard. In addition to his job in Healdsburg, every weekend he works at the Habitat build site to help in the construction of the home for his family. Brice, a platoon leader, is on temporary duty while the home is being completed, but he says he is happy that his family, including wife Nikki and five daughters, will move into a safe, decent home while he is away.
Javier Martinez works full time at a local winery as a cellarman. Javier and his wife Maria Elena spend their weekends working with the volunteers who are building their home. Daughters Yaneth and Maria care for their three younger siblings while their parents work at the Habitat build site.
The mission of Habitat for Humanity is to build decent, affordable housing for families to build not only homes, but also building hope.
Students’ Donations & Creative Roofing Provide Roofs for Habitat Families
Santa Rosa, CA – Two years ago, math teacher Patricia Sabo participated in a meeting with Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County volunteers as they discussed ways to raise funds for materials to build two Habitat homes for two Healdsburg families.
Pat decided to bring the challenge to her students at Healdsburg Middle and High School. Through their own unselfish giving, collecting coins and allowances, these children raised $2,500 to help pay for the roofing materials for the two homes being built by Habitat volunteers and participant families on University Street.
For the past two weeks between rain storms, Gabe Diaz, owner of Creative Roofing of Northern California, and his staff have been volunteering their labor to install the roofs on the two homes on University Street. The Creative Roofing team has volunteered to put roofs on Habitat for Humanity’s last 7 houses:
• 3 at the Kali subdivision in Santa Rosa
• 2 on Johnson Street in Sebastopol, and
• 2 on University Street in Healdsburg
Not only does owner Gabe Diaz and his staff volunteer to install the roofs, but Gabe also reaches out to other businesses to have some of the supplies for the roofs donated. This year, for the Healdsburg homes, Gabe secured some donated materials from the following companies:
• Pacific Supplies
• O’Hagin’s
• AAA Energy Systems
• ABC Supply & Roof Top Metals
The funds raised by the children from Healdsburg Middle School and Healdsburg High School help cover the remaining costs of the roofing materials. The children of the Healdsburg community have been great examples of how their philanthropic efforts can literally put roofs over the heads of families in need.
Children Raise Funds for Doors
Healdsburg, CA – Children from The Healdsburg School have a great deal to be proud of as their fundraising efforts are revealed this week.
The children raised the funds needed to purchase the doors for the two Habitat for Humanity homes that are being built on University Street by volunteers and the families that will occupy the homes. According to Habitat Outreach Coordinator, Isabelle Accornero, the children raised over $400 for the doors.
The doors will be installed this coming Wednesday, October 27, 2010, and the children from The Healdsburg School and parents are invited to attend the installation, tentatively scheduled for 11:30 a.m. depending on the weather.
Brice Blosser, the father of the family that includes five children that will occupy one of the homes, is very grateful for the support from the Healdsburg community. Brice, who works fulltime at his day job in Healdsburg, is also an active member of the National Guard and has served a tour of duty in Iraq. Brice, his wife Nicole and oldest daughter Ashlee have all been working on the construction as required for their 500 hours of sweat equity in their home. Brice is happy that he is able to help build the modest 3-bedroom home for his family, but he expects to be on active duty with his unit in February when the homes are scheduled to be completed and ready for move in. Brice is a platoon leader and welcomes the opportunity to serve his country knowing that his family has a decent, safe place to call home.
Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Kathy Fong hopes that the example of The Healdsburg School children’s philanthropy will resonate with adults in the community. Habitat has raised over $340,000 for the two-home project and $60,000 is needed to complete the construction of the two homes.
Habitat for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible. To support the completion of the two homes under construction, volunteers and donors can contact Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County at (707) 578-7707.
