The fundraising goal for Desiderio is closer thanks to the successful 2013 Small Bites for Big Dreams Fundraiser! On Sunday, May 19th, over 300 generous supporters gathered at the University Club in Pasadena to celebrate the work of San Gabriel Valley Habitat. The event generated over $33,000, all of which is designated for the highly anticipated Desiderio Build in Pasadena.

Attendees sampled a wide variety of delectable food and drink while listening to live musical entertainment provided by Jennifer Dyer and Friends. Special thanks go to Jim Babcock and Denise Villalovos. Jim, the event MC, did an excellent job in engaging guests throughout the event with his humor and vivaciousness. Denise, Small Bites auction chair, organized the smoothly run silent and live auctions that produced strong results for the Desiderio cause.

In addition to the food, entertainment, and auctions, Greg and Gia Alparaz, SGV Habitat homeowners, shared their journey and experiences to homeownership with the audience. Small Bites guests listened as this couple shared how the opportunities SGV Habitat provided them have impacted the lives of each of their family members.

SGV Habitat posthumously

recognized Charles Rouchka, an extraordinary benefactor whose contribution will enable three of the nine homes at Desiderio to be designated for veterans and

their families.

Rouchka family representative, Bill Browne, was in attendance to receive a

A Publication of San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity | Issue 6.6 June 2013

INSIDE

Connect with Us!

PAGE 2Message from Board PresidentSmall Bites for Big Dreams RaisesOver $33,000 (Cover story continued)

PAGE 3Youth in ActionA Brush with Kindness, Temple CityNew Employees

PAGE 4Congratulations, Jon!

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(L-R) SGV Habitat Executive Director Sonja Yates, Rouchka Family Representative Bill Browne and Assemblymember Ed Chau

Thanks to long-time supporter, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Pasadena, CA.

Small Bites for Big Dreams Raises Over $33,000!

To support our cause visit SGVHabitat.org and click

Dear Friends of San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, We continue to be so blessed at San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity! On Sunday, May 19, 2013, we were fortunate to have over 300 supporters attending the Small Bites for Big Dreams event at the University Club in Pasadena. The venue was perfect, the food and drink donated by our sponsors was fantastic, and we enjoyed live music and lively bidding on the silent and live auctions. What a wonderful event! We raised over $33,000 for the Desiderio Homes. I want to thank our event chair, Diana Rafeedie-Nofal, and her committee for all their dedication and hard work to make this event a great success! At the event, we were able to recognize posthumously one of our generous benefactors—Mr. Charles Rouchka, who donated his home to our affiliate to be used for the benefit of veterans. Mr. Rouchka was represented by his nephew, who accepted the

plaque inducting him into our Legacy Society. We also are in escrow to sell an apartment

building which was acquired by JP Morgan Chase Bank in foreclosure and was generously donated to our affiliate. This sale is expected to generate $640,000 towards one of our next builds.

Stay tuned for more great news that will allow us to expeditiously pursue a three-home build in Glendale that can be started prior to beginning the build at Desiderio.

There is such a need for affordable housing in our area, and our goal is to be constantly building. With the generous support we have been receiving, that goal is soon to be a reality!

Very truly yours,

Don GoodmanBoard President

Board of DirectorsNicolas Alparaz, Gregory Barsamian, Thomas S. Bunn III, Ann Dougherty, Donald W. Goodman, George Hernandez, John Mac Lean, Paul McAnnally-Linz, Andrew Pittroff, David Reaume, Herb Rim, Elaine Wilkerson

StaffSonja L. Yates, Executive Director Damien Allen, Director of ConstructionSayaka Ota, Accountant Catalina Velez, Office ManagerElizabeth Ramirez, Fund Development CoordinatorMarty McBride, Volunteer & Family Services CoordinatorLinda Bermudez, Faith Relations and Youth CoordinatorSteve Solis, Marketing & Social Media CoordinatorReStoresBill Anderson, Director of ReStoresEric Bridges, Azusa ReStore ManagerMicah Hillis, Pasadena ReStore ManagerMatt Vincent, Azusa Restore Assistant ManagerBrittné Anderson, Restore Admin Assistant Walter Rea Jr., DriverCraig Chew, Sales AssociateManny Flores, Sales AssociateErik Kristiansen, Sales AssociateDon Meeker, Sales AssociatePhillip Pasos, Sales AssociateJosh Rosa, Sales AssociateMichael Springs, Sales AssociateJon Henning, Sales AssociateBrian Ewing, Sales AssociateCarlos Hernandez, Sales Associate

A Message from the President

(Cover Story Continued)

To view more photos from our event, visit our “Events: Small Bites for Big Dreams” photo album on Facebook at

Facebook.com/sgvhabitat

plaque honoring the gift of their uncle’s home and celebrating his induction into the affiliate’s Legacy Society. The Rouchka family presented SGV Habitat with photos commemorating their uncle’s 22-year naval career and his burial flag.

Diana Rafeedie-Nofal, Chairwoman for the second year of Small Bites for Big

Dreams, is a staunch and able ambassador for SGV Habitat’s

affordable housing cause. Her enthusiasm, commitment,

organization and hard work, together with tireless efforts from the Small Bites Committee, truly paid off. The event was lauded by attendees and the Board of Directors. SGV Habitat sends a big THANK YOU to Diana and her committee for all of the time they invested to make this event a huge success!

(City of Pasadena) Mayor Bill Bogaard, Diana Rafeedie-Nofal (Event Chair) and Sonja Yates (SGV Habitat Executive Director)

Great Music provided by Jennifer Dyer and Friends

Angel and Jeff ThroopDelicious food! Special thanks to StoneFire Grill

SGV Habitat is happy to announce the second Brush With Kindness (BWK) project jointly sponsored by Temple City and SGV Habitat.

About the Program: Habitat for Humanity’s Brush With Kindness

(BWK) is a locally-operated program serving low-income homeowners who struggle to maintain the exterior of their homes. The program assists communities as well as families and neighborhoods.

How We Do It: •Groupsofvolunteershelphomeownerswith

exterior maintenance. This typically includes painting, minor exterior repairs, landscaping, weatherization and exterior clean-up•Habitatselectspartnerfamiliesbasedon

income, need and willingness to partner•Inadditiontovolunteers,Habitatuses

donated materials and makes no profit•TempleCityhasapprovedfundingtobe

used to help six (6) qualified, low income homeowners to improve the exteriors of their homes

Eligibility•Applicantsmustbelow-incomehomeowners

in Temple City•Householdincomemustbenomorethan

80% of Area Median Income per HUD 2013 guidelines •Homesmustbeowner-occupied•Applicantsmustcompleteandsubmitthe

Repair Program Application •Scopeofworkmustmatchproject&program

resources (up to $6,000 per BWK project)

•Allable-bodiedhomeownersandresidentsof the home are required to work alongside volunteers •Homeownersareexpectedtobecooperative

partners with San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity staff and volunteers

Applications are available at www.sgvhabitat.org and www.templecity.us.

Eligible families must apply by June 30, 2013

Income Limits:1 person household ........................... $46,4002 person household ........................... $53,0003 person household ........................... $59,6504 person household ........................... $66,2505 person household ........................... $71,5506 person household ........................... $76,8507 person household ........................... $82,1508 person household ........................... $87,450Results:•Helpsfamiliestoliveinsafeandwell-

maintained homes•Keepshomeownersintheirhomesand

protects their financial investments•Restoresthehomeownersdignityandpride

of homeownership

Why It Matters:The program is designed to revitalize the

appearance of the neighborhood, encourage connections within the community, and most importantly, help preserve affordable housing stock. For more information, email Damien Allen at construction@sgvhabitat.org or call 626-387-6899.

Youth United will kick off the summer and welcome new members with a Cars for Homes door hanger campaign in La Cañada. Cars for Homes is a nationwide initiative to transform vehicles that are idle or no longer needed into dollars to build and repair affordable homes.

From September through October, Youth United will lead a Houses for Hope campaign.

Participating schools will compete in a loose change drive for the chance to star in the next SGV Youth United YouTube Video.

Youth United leaders ambitiously set the goal to have 25 participating schools at the next Shantytown event. Planned for March 2014, the students envision an event overflowing with participants and excitement. They hope that their combined experiences at previous Shantytown events will help make the 2014 Shantytown even more successful. Another goal of the Youth United committee is to diversify its leadership board with representation from youth throughout the affiliate’s 31-community service area.

At the recent planning session, Youth United gave a warm welcome their new Youth Programs Coordinator Linda Bermudez, reflected upon past activities and created goals for the remainder of 2013. Youth United grows Habitat for Humanity’s future leaders!

Youth in Action at SGV Habitat

Temple City Brush With Kindness

Elizabeth Ramirez Liz, part-time Fund Development Coordinator & Grant Writer, joined our team in February. A native

to the San Gabriel Valley, she has been involved with many civic organizations, with responsibilities for fundraising and planning and implementing community events. Liz currently works part-time at a masonry construction company and brings to Habitat a rich background in project management and community relations. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Whittier College and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of La Verne. She has always had a passion for volunteering in the community and is an avid believer that everyone has a responsibility to help shape strong communities. A huge fan of outdoor activities, Liz can be found scuba diving near Catalina Island or hiking in our local mountains when she has free time.

Linda BermudezLinda, part-time Faith Relations and Youth Programs Coordinator, joined our team in April. She is a graduate of

UCLA and is currently enrolled at USC as a graduate student, studying for her Master’s in Public Administration. Linda is excited to use her skills here at San Gabriel Valley Habitat to strengthen relationships with our current faith-based partners as well creating new ones. She is already building a core of students for next year’s Youth United Leadership Committee. Linda is actively involved in the political community in her hometown of Azusa. She aspires to “Be the Change,” is passionate about educational issues and loves to motivate youth to become civically engaged. Aside from her social work and community involvement, Linda enjoys the life of fitness—running, hiking and spending time enjoying nature.

Welcome to New Employees

support of community living at her former apartment complex. All of that changed when she and her family moved into their new Habitat home. “Jon was able to have his own bedroom!” Saundra said excitedly. “That was a huge positive change in Jon’s life since he lived with two women, his little sister and me.”

Back during the construction of their new home, Saundra and her family made friends with many amazing volunteers that she and her family still keep in touch with today. During that time, Saundra and Jon also got to meet their new neighbors. “They’ve been a real blessing,” Saundra shared. This sense of community gave Saundra and Jon and the rest of their family support for personal, educational and career goals.

New graduate Jon still has some testing and interviews to complete before he enters military service. He is keeping in touch with his recruiter and is ready to serve our country.

Please keep Jon in your thoughts and prayers as he takes these significant new steps into adulthood.

Congratulations to Jon Arnold, son of Saundra Crockett who purchased her Habitat home in 2010. Jon graduated from Glendale High School on June 4, 2013. Pictured above in his cap and gown, Jon is proudly wearing a medal that he earned for completion of Glendale High School’s “Construction Academy,” a construction training program designed for young people who like to use their hands to create projects.

Jon plans are to serve our country by

enlisting in the Air Force and joining the Security Forces Pararescue Trainee Program. Jon’s mother acknowledges that San Gabriel Valley Habitat played a big role in supporting her son, “Moving into a Habitat home was a huge transition in a positive way. We were living in a cramped apartment and Jon had little space to do homework and read. We didn’t even have a dining area where we could have dinner together.” A single mom of four kids, Saundra also didn’t have the

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San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, Inc. 400 South Irwindale AvenueAzusa, CA 91702

Habitat Builder is published bi-monthly by San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity Inc. 400 S Irwindale Ave., Azusa, CA 91702. Periodicals Postage Paid at Pasadena, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to SGV Habitat for Humanity, 400 S Irwindale Ave., Azusa, CA 91702. Tel: 626-387-6899 Fax: 626-387-6890

2013 June NewsletterYour donation today will help a Habitat family tomorrow!

Photos: (L) Proud Habitat homeowner, Saundra Crockett celebrates with her son, Jon. (R) Saundra and Jon pictured with his family following graduation ceremonies

Congratulations, Jon!