Habitat Impact W13 - Habitat for Humanity

WINTER
2013
IMPACT
CHANGING LIVES ...
CHANGING COMMUNITIES
F O R F R I E N D S A N D S U P P O R T E R S O F H A B I TAT F O R H U M A N I T Y O F O R A N G E C O U N T Y
20 YEARS IN RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA:
Elvia’s journey with Habitat for Humanity of Orange County began 20 years ago, during a particularly
painful time in her life. She had just divorced, leaving her marriage due to domestic violence. A housewife
for many years, she didn’t have many job skills, and had to start supporting herself by taking on an entrylevel job.
“While I had a job, I had to choose between paying rent and eating, and paying for gas to get to work,”
explains Elvia. “I would stay at people’s homes, but would also sleep in my van. One night, when I was
sleeping in my van, it dawned on me: I was homeless!”
Fortunately, an acquaintance told Elvia about Habitat’s homes
in Rancho Santa Margarita. Elvia followed up, got an application
and started communicating with Habitat. “One of my first
questions was, ‘Where is Rancho Santa Margarita?’” says Elvia.
“I lived in the ghetto in Anaheim – NOT the happiest place on
earth! – and had no idea where Rancho Santa Margarita was.”
Photographer: Greg Andersen
“Habitat helps create ‘chain reactions.’
By helping one person or family, Habitat
helps many others in turn. For example,
because of Habitat, I was able to help my
granddaughter become an RN.” ELVIA
Photographer: Gr
eg Andersen
Mortgage Paid, Lives Changed Grateful for Habitat’s “Chain Reaction”
A WORD FROM SH
ARON
2013 promises great
things for Habitat!
We’ve started buildin
g 17 homes in
Santa Ana, and will
soon begin a 15townhome developm
ent in Cypress.
To learn more abou
t our future plans –
and how you can he
lp – simply turn
the page. But first, rea
d about how
your gifts have chan
ged the lives
of two homeowners
– Elvia and
Chrishelle. Their sto
ries will truly
touch and inspire yo
u!
Blessings,
Sharon Ellis, Preside
nt/CEO
During this time, Elvia also started working as a counselor
for battered women. When Habitat called Elvia at work to
tell her that she’d been accepted, she was so excited that her
co-workers wondered what all the ruckus was about.
Joe Perring, Habitat OC board member,
“From that point on, it was like a dream,” notes Elvia.
congratulated Elvia on paying off her
“I started going to meetings and picked out my condo. When
mortgage after 20 years of homeownership.
I moved in, I brought along a teen granddaughter who was
finishing high school. I helped put her through nursing
school – she was the first in our family to attend a fourPurchasing her condominium home in Habitat’s Rancho Santa Margarita
year university – and she is now a charge nurse for Kaiser.”
development (pictured below) gave Elvia the opportunity to create a life-changing
Over the years, Elvia continued her own education,
“chain reaction” for herself, her daughter and her granddaughter.
and was able to pull herself out of poverty step-by-step.
She also started giving back to the community by serving
as president of her homeowners association and doing
volunteer translation work. And in 2012, she paid off
her mortgage!
“Habitat helps create ‘chain reactions,’” Elvia explained.
“By helping one person or family, Habitat helps many
others in turn. For example, because of Habitat, I was
able to help my granddaughter become an RN.”
Elvia’s daughter was also inspired by Elvia’s success,
and she is now a nurse, too. We wonder how many
other people Elvia has touched as she continues what
she fondly calls the “chain reaction.”
OUR MISSION: Transforming lives and communities by helping
families in need build and purchase or renovate their own homes.
FROM 11 MOVES IN TWO YEARS,
TO THE SECURITY OF A HABITAT HOME
Chair
Mark E. Mathews, Toshiba America
Business Solutions, Inc.
Vice Chair
F. Scott Jackson, Jackson | DeMarco |
Tidus | Peckenpaugh
Secretary
Photographer: Greg Andersen
Mark Hoover, First American Title
Insurance Company
Since 1988, the Habitat OC Board of Directors
has helped the affiliate grow from one development
in Rancho Santa Margarita to 173 homes
serving families in cities throughout OC.
Dave Albert, Stanley Black & Decker
Charles Antis, Antis Roofing &
Waterproofing, Inc.
David Banducci,
Harvard Card Systems, Inc.
Robert Barker, Parker Aerospace
(retired)
Francisca Gonzalez Baxa, Law Office
of Francisca Gonzalez Baxa
Father Rick Byrum, The Covington
Frank Ferrara,
Hyundai Motor America, USA
Jeffrey C. Joy, Greenberg Traurig LLP
Linda Lang, Orange County
Association of REALTORS®
Robert LeFever, auction.com,
Luxury Homes Division
Ken Lickel, VP & GM, Alcon (retired)
James R. Light, C.J. Light Associates
Brett Mansfield,
Citibank Business Banking
Robert G. Meaux, Thrivent Financial
for Lutherans®
Donald E. Moe, Marketing Consultant
Robert Montgomery,
HOM Real Estate Group
Hugo J. Nuño, First Foundation Bank
Joseph Perring, Perring Consulting
Mark Schulein,
Crown Ace Hardware Inc.
Rev. Dr. Stanley Smith, First Christian
Church of Orange
(Disciples of Christ) (retired)
Six years ago, Chrishelle was facing two major
challenges. She had become a single mom with a
toddler daughter, Victoria. And while she had a job,
it didn’t pay enough to cover rent.
To keep a roof over their heads, Chrishelle and
Victoria “couch surfed” on friends’ couches, or found
other temporary living arrangements. They moved 11
times in two years. On her days off, Chrishelle spent
hours on the phone, trying to find affordable housing –
but was consistently told there was a ten-year wait.
“Then, I found out about Habitat for Humanity of
Orange County,” explains Chrishelle. “I was familiar with
Chrishelle was thrilled to meet Thomas Cox (left) and Aram Chahbazian
Habitat – I’d even done some volunteer work for the
(right), the architects who designed her home.
organization – and I thought, ‘Why not? Let’s try this.’”
At first, Chrishelle didn’t qualify – but she kept trying. She finally got a call for an interview, which led to subsequent
interviews. Within a few months, someone from Habitat OC asked to stop by where Chrishelle and Victoria were living
at the time. “They arrived with tiaras and balloons – and I started to cry!” says Chrishelle.
“As soon as I found out I’d be a homeowner, my life changed,” explains Chrishelle. “Although my home is in Costa Mesa,
I spent 250 hours building homes in San Juan Capistrano – sweat equity MEANS sweat equity! It was the most amazing
experience of my life! I have lasting friendships from that time.”
“Just months after we moved to our Habitat home, my daughter asked if she needed to put her toys back in a box and
get ready for our next move,” continues Chrishelle. “When I was able to tell her ‘no,’ I started to cry. My daughter is nine
now and has so much more stability in her life. I’ve also gone back to school, and am a student at Orange Coast College.
I plan to transfer to a four year university and pursue a degree in art.”
“I am so truly thankful not only to Habitat, but to the many donors who make homes like mine possible,” concludes
Chrishelle. “I am so thankful for everyone’s generosity – their donations have truly changed my life.”
MEET ONE OF OUR CORPORATE DONORS:
BANK OF AMERICA
Building strong communities that make dreams come true for local families
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County’s
relationship with Bank of America started
12 years ago. Gifts from Bank of America to
Habitat OC (made through both the company
and the Bank of America Foundation) now
total more than $800,000!
Bank of America’s most recent gift of
$50,000, made through its Foundation, will
help build a new neighborhood in Cypress.
“We have partnered with Habitat locally,
nationally and internationally for more
than 25 years,” explains Allen Staff, Bank
of America’s Market President for Orange
County. “We estimate that B of A has donated
Bank of America employees built a home in San Juan Capistrano’s Homes for Heroes and
tens of millions of dollars to various Habitat
Foundations for Families® development for local civilian, military and veterans’ families.
projects through the bank, its Foundation,
associate giving and matching gifts. Bank of America employees also volunteer about 30,000 hours a year to Habitat
projects around the country.”
Since 2000, Bank of America has helped build Habitat OC homes in Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Fullerton,
San Juan Capistrano and Westminster. The company sponsored an entire home in the San Juan Capistrano development
through the Habitat for Heroes and Foundations for Families® program, in which 11 active duty military members
and veterans and their families purchased homes.
“Bank of America believes it’s important to give back to the communities in which we do business,” concluded
Mr. Staff. “Strong communities are really the backbone of everything we do. The stronger our communities are, the
better it is for our business. Bank of America also shares common goals with Habitat, such as the importance of
revitalizing communities and providing affordable housing.”
R.B. Wedel, Brown-Forman
Board Emeritus
J.P. “Pat” Kapp, J.P. Kapp Civil Engineers
www.habitatoc.org
Bank of America is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving
individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses, and large corporations
with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial products and services.
Impact designed and printed by Noelle Marketing Group. Partially underwritten by Kris and Linda Elftmann.
Photographer: Alexandra Lopez
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
OF ORANGE COUNTY
Photographer: Greg Andersen
Two lives changed by local donors
WHY GIVE?
Cypress: 15 homes. Some families have already been selected, and they will begin building their homes as soon as funds are donated.
Because we can’t build homes
and change lives without you!
YOU CAN MAKE AN IMPACT!
29 HOMES ARE WAITING FOR FUNDING
Your gift will offer a hand up – not a handout – to a local family
You can make a difference in the life of a local family by making a charitable investment
today to help build 29 affordable Habitat homes in Santa Ana and Cypress. These homes are on
the drawing boards waiting for funding. Your gift could be the one to jump-start construction
for one of these homes.
FAMILIES ARE DEPENDING ON YOUR HELP!
Photographer: Dave Solt
It truly takes “all hands on deck” to build a Habitat home. Donations of time, professional
services, construction materials, and financial resources are each critical to making a Habitat
home a reality. And every gift – whatever the size – helps a family come one step closer to
homeownership in Orange County.
Individuals, organizations, faith communities, businesses and companies interested in
making a significant commitment might also consider a gift at one of the following levels:
$150,000+:
Realizing the Dream Sponsor
$100,000+:
A Brighter Tomorrow Sponsor
$50,000 to $99,999:
Gift of Hope Sponsor
$25,000 to $49,999:
From the Ground Up Sponsor
Two little boys built a “secret library” in the space under the
stairway in their San Juan Capistrano home. It’s their quiet
place to read and study and continue the life-changing process
begun by their parents’ decision to purchase a Habitat home.
If you’d like to discuss specifics about a donation you may be considering and the exciting
sponsorship benefits that would accompany your gift, or if we can answer any questions, please
contact Heather McKenzie-Densmore, CFRE, 714-434-6200 x232 or heather@habitatoc.org.
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP
It is only with your help that our families
and volunteers can build homes that offer
the opportunity of homeownership. And
homeownership creates a variety of wonderful
benefits for our community.
• Organize a Team Build Day. Have fun building a home with your employees.
Information: 714-434-6200 x233 or corporaterelations@habitatoc.org.
• Leave a Legacy. Join the Future Builders Legacy Society, whose members
provide a “legacy gift” to Habitat OC through their estate plan.
Information: Heather at 714-434-6200 x232 or heather@habitatoc.org.
•
According to the National Association
of Realtors®:
Volunteer. Work in our office, ReStore or DeConstruct, mentor a family, build a home,
and more. Contact: volunteer@habitatoc.org.
• Donate your used vehicle, RV or motorcycle through our Cars for Homes
TM
Did you know that although Habitat for
Humanity of Orange County is part of an
international organization, our work in Orange
County depends solely on local, tax-deductible
contributions from you and your neighbors?
• Children who live in homes owned by
program.
their parents do better in school. They
have higher rates of graduation and fewer
incidents of misbehavior.
Call 1-877-277-4344 or visit www.carsforhomes.org
• Participate in an event. Events planned for 2013 include the Leaders Build Day in April
(see page 4 for details), and TCA Golf Tournament in June. For additional information,
visit www.habitatoc.org, click on “get involved,” then “special events.”
• Owned homes improve neighborhoods. Pride
of ownership helps retain property values.
• Shop at our ReStore OC Discount Home Improvement Resale Outlets. Proceeds build
• Parents who purchase affordable homes make
more affordable homes in Orange County.
• Remodeling your home? Consider donating your current cabinets, fixtures, or other items
to our DeConstruct program. Information: 1-866-433-2666 or deconstruct@restoreoc.org.
To keep up with Habitat or to make a donation on our secure website, visit www.habitatoc.org.
great role models. Parents become role models
by paying for and maintaining their homes,
and engaging in their civic responsibilities.
• Habitat OC homeowners are great neighbors.
They go through a rigorous process to purchase
their homes. They are responsible, hardworking
people who are committed to the success of
their children and their communities.
Photographer: Robert Rooks
Garden Grove ReStore
Recycle. Reuse. Reduce. Rebuild.
Eddie Miller, manager of the Santa Ana ReStore, in his well-stocked store.
Donation Hotline 714-434-6202
Follow us on www.twitter.com/ReStoresOC
Find us at www.facebook.com/HabitatOCReStore
www.ReStoreOC.org
12827 Harbor Blvd. (between Garden Grove & Lampson)
Phone: 714-590-8729
Mon–Fri: 9 am–8 pm/Sat: 9 am–6 pm/Sun: 11 am–5 pm
Santa Ana ReStore
1400 S. Village Way-McFadden Place
Phone: 714-434-6266
Mon–Sat: 9 am–6 pm/Sun: 10 am–5 pm
NETWORK, LEARN AND PLAY
Leaders Build Day – April 18, 2013
You’ll learn all about how the Habitat
program of responsible homeownership changes
the lives of families throughout Orange County.
Register today for your Building Dreams tour.
Tours are offered at Habitat OC’s corporate
offices, 2200 S. Ritchey in Santa Ana.
During the next six months, tours are
scheduled for:
• Wednesdays (11 am to 12 noon):
January 9, February 6, March 6,
April 3, May 1 and June 5
• Thursdays (8:30 am to 9:30 am):
January 24, February 28, March 21,
April 25, May 23 and June 27
Leaders Build 2012 participants take a short break from their work.
OC leaders move a wall frame into place for the home they are building.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Each participating company is asked to sponsor
the day at one of four levels: Blueprint Presenting
Sponsor ($10,000), Hatchet Sponsor ($5,000),
Hammer Sponsor ($2,500), or Tool Belt
Participant ($1,000).
Thank you to the companies who have already
committed to participate in the 2013 Leaders
Build Day at press time.
• Blueprint Presenting Sponsor:
Capital Source Bank
• Hatchet Sponsors:
Absolute Technologies, First Bank, Orange
County Association of REALTORS® (OCAR),
TOSHIBA
• Hammer Sponsors:
A total of 53 OC business leaders traded their laptops for tool belts to spend a day building a home during Leaders Build 2012.
IMPACT is published by Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, 2200 S. Ritchey St., Santa Ana, CA 92705
714-434-6200 | Editor: Joan Dolan Ziegler. Writer: Joan McBride, Greatrake, McBride & Associates, Inc.
Photography: Greg Andersen, Alexandra Lopez, Robert Rooks, Dave Solt.
We would love to hear your comments regarding our Impact newsletter.
Please contact us at: public.relations@habitatoc.org or 714-434-6200 x222.
Facebook.com/habitatoc
Twitter.com/habitatoc
www.habitatoc.org
Photographer: Robert Rooks
Antis Roofing & Weatherproofing Inc.
Together we’ve …
• Built 173 homes in OC
• Changed 860 lives
Thank you so much!
2200 South Ritchey, Santa Ana, CA 92705-5308
714-434-6200 | www.habitatoc.org
PAID
Orange, CA
Permit No. 1830
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
Please make a reservation in advance
so that we know you’re coming. To make
your reservation, please call Laurene at
714-434-6200 x207 or email her at
development@habitatoc.org.
Are you looking for a fun and unique
one-day volunteer opportunity?
A day where you can leave the confines
of your office and spend some time in the
fresh air?
Where you can network with your
peers while you build a home?
Then, we have the perfect event for you!
You’re invited to sign up now for our Fifth
Annual Leaders Build Day, scheduled for
April 18, 2013, on a Habitat OC construction site!
Co-chaired by Ralph Adamo, President
and CEO of the Institute for Family Wealth
Counseling, and Bob Barker, who recently
retired as President of Parker Aerospace,
Leaders Build Day provides business leaders an
opportunity to network with other business
leaders while building a Habitat home.
The day begins with breakfast, followed
by fun construction-themed competitions.
The majority of the day will be spent working
on a Habitat home, but will include a break
for lunch and an opportunity to hear from
a Habitat family.
“Each Leaders Build Day provides an
amazing and fun opportunity for Orange
County’s business executives to get away
from their normal routines and make a
hands-on difference by building a Habitat
home,” says Heather McKenzie-Densmore,
CFRE, Habitat for Humanity of Orange
County’s Vice President of Development.
“It’s a great way to get involved, get connected,
and give back!”
For additional information about the
2013 Leaders Build Day activities, sponsorship
levels and sponsor benefits, please contact
Jennifer Chung, 714-434-6200 x233 or
Jennifer@habitatoc.org.
Photographer: Robert Rooks
Hear success stories about Habitat families;
learn about the budgeting, home maintenance,
college prep and other classes the families attend;
and see photos of beautiful Habitat homes in OC
during a one-hour, no obligation information
session called a Building Dreams tour.
WOULDN’T IT BE FUN TO TRADE
YOUR LAPTOP FOR A TOOL BELT –
JUST FOR A DAY?
Photographer: Robert Rooks
Do you know how the Habitat program
works to serve families in Orange County?
Learn more at a Building Dreams Tour.