A publication of San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity December 2008

n We are building 11 new homes on Kenwood Street in Glendale

n With your donations, we raised enough to break ground for four new homes on Sherman Avenue in Monrovia

n With your attendance, we held a very successful fundraising gala on the grounds of the Ambassador Auditorium

n With your hard work, we began the move to our new location in Azusa.

Thank you for joining with the SGV Habitat for Humanity affiliate to provide decent, affordable housing to hard-working, low-income home buyers. We look forward to your continued support in 2009.

Happy Holidays and Thank You for Your Support in 2008!Thanks to you, the wonderful supporters of SGV Habitat for Humanity, 2008 was a very successful year!

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A Milestone to CelebrateSan Gabriel Valley Habitat for

Humanity joins the worldwide celebration of the building of homes #300,000 and #300,001. Worldwide more than 1.5 billion people have benefited through Habitat homeownership. Construction began in November on Habitat’s 300,000th house in Naples, Fla., U.S.A., and the 300,001st house in Zacapa, Guatemala. San Gabriel Valley Habitat is among the more than 2,300 Habitat affiliates that have made this milestone possible, having built 39 homes since its founding in 1990. Those homes provide 204 men, women and children with safe, clean, affordable housing. SGV Habitat currently has 15 homes under construction in Glendale and Monrovia.

President’s Column

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Gift Annuities

There has not been

a more crucial time for the work we do at Habitat for Humanity, than the

present. For those of you who joined us for the Monrovia groundbreaking, you were able to see first-hand the glimmer of light in our greater community during this crippled economy. As people walk away from their homes because they can no longer afford to pay for them, SGV Habitat for Humanity is building new homes and bringing smiles and hope to four hard working, but low-income families in Monrovia and 11 in Glendale. This work we do puts things in perspective. Little by little, together we can make a difference in

our communities.News of the growing rates of

foreclosures has affected us all. A few weeks ago in my wife Michele’s 4th Grade Sunday School class, they were discussing saints, in particular Mother Teresa. If God was trying to tell us something through her work, what was he trying to tell us? To take care of the extreme poor? To be compassionate to the helpless? Mother Teresa spoke to so many people through her persona and the work she accomplished in her life. Michele asked the children to think of a saint that the world needs today. One of her students answered that God would want a saint who would build homes for people who could not afford them. And you do not think our children know what is going on in the world today?

SGV Habitat for Humanity is pleased to offer our donors a new way to

give – through charitable gift annuities. Here are five reasons you may want to consider making a donation in this way:

Increase your income now .One of the more important benefits

of a gift annuity are the attractive rates we are able to offer, especially for our older donors. For example, an 80-year-old person qualifies for an annuity rate of eight percent. Therefore, establishing an annuity with $10,000 would provide $760.00 every year for the remainder of your life. Payments may be taken annually, semi-annually, quarterly or monthly.

Reduce your taxes now .The IRS provides a charitable income

tax deduction for a portion of your gift. In addition, a portion of your lifetime income stream from the gift annuity is tax-free.

Stabilize your retirement now .Gift annuity payments are fixed.

Once the payment dates are established (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually) you will receive the identical amount every time. There is no need to guess or worry about the ups and downs of the financial markets. Also a gift annuity can help our donors diversify and stabilize their retirement income.

A Different Kind of Gift

A Saint for Today

(continued on page 3)

A Different Kind of Gift

New Board Member

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Claus Agger-NielsenJan C. BerentsenMichael T. DavittTom DoudAnn DoughertyGeorge GarfieldDonald W. GoodmanJay Harvill

Cindy HeydtDaric LeeDeborah A. LovelandJohn Mac LeanCarol MartinJudd ReasJanelle WilliamsHoward Woo

Executive Director Sonja L. Yates Accountant Sayaka OtaOffice Manager Catalina Velez

Volunteer Coordinator Jan Robinson Special Projects Coordinator Linda Hammes

Manager Bill Anderson Assistant Manager Michael Krecker Driver Ricky Brownlee

Sales David Hill Cashier Jessica Perez

Newsletter Editor Michael Schutz

San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity770 N. Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103 Phone: (626) 792-3838 Fax: (626) 792-7006www.sgvhabitat.org

Board of Directors

Staff

ReStore Staff

A Different Kind of Gift

Meet the newest addition to the Board of Directors of SGV

Habitat for Humanity—Jay Harvill. Jay is the Director of Planned Giving for the Methodist Hospital Foundation in Arcadia and brings a wealth of fund raising experience to our Board. When asked what drew him

to volunteer with SGV Habitat, Jay replied, “I want to make a difference in my community. I am fortunate to have a home for my family and helping other families settle into their own home gives me great satisfaction.”

Jay plans to work on the build sites, as well. “I like bringing my professional skills to the Board, but I also enjoy being part of the ‘hands-on’ experience. Working side-by-side with our families gives me an opportunity to meet new people and to draw inspiration from their stories.”

Jay also shared that he wants his young son to learn at an early age about giving back, and the best way to teach him is by example. Although his toddler is too young to work on the site now, Jay looks forward to the day father and son will work side-by-side, helping another family build a home.

Enjoy a guaranteed income stream for life .

Payments to donors from charitable gift annuities are guaranteed by all of the assets of the issuing organization. Gift annuities for San Gabriel Valley Habitat donors are written by Habitat for Humanity International and are regulated in California by the State Department of Insurance.

Enjoy your giving now .When you establish a gift annuity, you

will experience the satisfaction of making your gift. Furthermore, you will give SGV Habitat for Humanity the opportunity to express its gratitude to you.

Don’t miss out on the joy of giving.

Feel free to contact us to receive more information at 626-792-3838. One of our Board members will explain in further detail how a charitable gift annuity might benefit you.

A Different Kind of Gift

Meet Jay HarvillHabitat for Humanity works

like one of Mother Teresa’s nuns in its communities. As she said, “We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” It takes all the small things we do together with great love, to accomplish what we do in Habitat for Humanity – from the daily volunteer construction worker to the kitchen help on the pancake breakfast fundraiser. Everyone’s effort is important and contributes to achieving our goal – decent, affordable homes for hard working, but low-income families. Thank you for your continued support and great love for SGV Habitat. Let’s continue to be the shining light in our communities!

– Tom Doud

A Saint for Today(continued from page 2)

San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity770 North Fair Oaks AvenuePasadena, California 91103

NONPROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE PAID

PASADENA, CAPERMIT NO. 224

Thank You for Your Support in 2008 . . . . . . .1

President’s Column . . . .2

A DifferentKind of Gift . . . . . . . . . . .2

Our Additonal Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Inside:

Art Drawn by Jose Luis Zendejas

www.sgvhabitat.org

Artist Jose Luis Zendejas moved into his new San Gabriel Valley Habitat home on November 17, 2005. Jose Luis is now 20 years old. He is attending California State University, Long Beach. He is majoring in Philosophy and Art.

Jose Luis wrote: “First I want to thank Habitat for Humanity. Most importantly, I thank every person who has helped and continues to help

however they can, and wherever they can. It is because of you we live a better life. Thank you!“

Think green! Reduce, reuse, recycle at our new ReStore in Azusa!

Building Homes! Building Hope!

San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity builds affordable homes with and for deserving low-income families in 31 foothill communities along the San Gabriel Mountains.

Great N

ews

for Pasadena and

W

est End Shoppers!

O

ur ReStore at 7

70 N . Fair Oaks

will r

emain open in 2009 . Now you

can donate and shop at b

oth of our lo

cations!