Although sporadic downpours accompanied excitement and smiles, close to 400 people

entered the large tent on April 9, 2016, to celebrate the long-awaited Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Desiderio Homes.

Pasadena High School’s “Pride of Pasadena” marching band escorted the

future homebuyers and their children to the ceremony, and Pasadena Police Department’s Explorer Post 19 presented the colors and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Dignitaries who have supported San Gabriel Valley Habitat’s affordable housing development from 2007 when the Pasadena Council approved the Reuse Plan through completion of the Public Benefit Conveyance of the land in August 2015, congratulated all who persevered to make the new affordable homeownership development a reality. Remarks were made by Congressman Adam Schiff, State Senator Carol Liu, Mayor Terry

Tornek and Councilmember Steve Madison. State Assemblymember Chris Holden and Councilmembers McAustin and Hampton were also in attendance.

San Gabriel Valley Habitat has been raising money to construct the Desiderio Homes

since 2005 when the Pasadena-Foothills Association of Realtors (PFAR) held an event which raised $50,000 to start the Campaign. The ceremony provided an opportunity to acknowledge and thank the hundreds of partners—individuals, corporations, businesses, foundations, community organizations and places of worship--that have financially supported the Desiderio development.

All of the future Desiderio home buyers were introduced, and nine family

representatives expressed their gratitude to be able to help build their own homes and to

eventually live in west Pasadena adjacent to the new Desiderio Park which will be developed by City of Pasadena. Dian Prado, daughter of future homebuyers Israel and Esther Prado, was celebrating her 11th birthday on April 9th. She spoke for her family and concluded her remarks with, “How many eleven-year-olds get a house for their birthday!”

At the close of the ceremony, all family members and many attendees put on hard hats and picked up golden

shovels to symbolically break ground for the nine new craftsman-style bungalows. Each family will contribute a total of 500 hours of Sweat Equity in building their homes and those of their future neighbors and in completing Homeownership Education classes to prepare for successful transitions from renting to homeownership.

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

Habitat Builder is published by San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity Periodicals Postage Paid in Pasadena, CA. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, 400 South Irwindale Avenue, Azusa, CA 91702

JUNE 2016 NEWSLETTERA world where everyone has a decent place to live. A Publication of San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity | Issue 9.0 June 2016

Omar, Nataliya, and Sofiya Jerry and Betty Rouchka, Trustees for the Charles J. Rouchka Trust, explained their uncle’s desire to donate

his Arcadia home to help veterans and their families

Erica Tejada presented Wells Fargo’s Priority Markets “check” for $100,000

to Board President Elaine Wilkerson

Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek described the new Desiderio Planned Development as a “homerun” for the City

Future Desiderio HomeownersRoom to Grow in Pasadena

Desiderio Groundbreaking for Nine Habitat Homes

While backpacking across Germany after his

deployment to Iraq, United States Army Veteran, Omar Leyva, met, fell in love with, and married his Ukrainian wife, Nataliya.

When they returned to his home state of California

they chose the city of Pasadena to start their life together. They believed that Pasadena was the ideal community for them to build a life together and raise a family. Unfortunately, the Leyvas could afford only a cramped, one-bedroom apartment in an older building that continuously needed repairs. Their toddler daughter shared a room with them, and they were quickly running out of space as she became older and more active. Omar and Nataliya deeply desired another

child but had to postpone this desire because their apartment was too small, and they could not afford a larger one.

They were recently accepted into SGV Habitat for

Humanity’s homeownership program and are now eagerly awaiting the birth of their second daughter! Omar and Nataliya are ecstatic and thankful for the opportunity to be homeowners and start building their own home in the community they love. They are convinced they never would have been able to purchase a home in Pasadena if they hadn’t been selected for the Habitat program.

“We are so grateful for the blessing and the opportunity to purchase a home through SGV Habitat for Humanity,” Omar Leyva shared. “This home

will provide us shelter, help us nurture our children and educate them. This opportunity is life changing, and we are hopeful for the future!”

“Being future Habitat home-owners is a lifelong commitment for our family. We are dedicated to making a difference in our community. We look forward to growing and blooming with the other future homeowners.”“The Leyvas and their growing family are just one of many heartwarming examples of those who are benefitting from the Habitat for Humanity home ownership program,” said Sonja Yates, Executive Director at SGV Habitat for Humanity.

- Lindy Neubauer Kreative Haus Marketing Communications

Board of DirectorsElaine Wilkerson, PresidentGreg Barsamian, Vice President ReStores & Site DevelopmentGlen Dawes, Vice President Fund Development & MarketingNicolas (Nick) Alparaz, TreasurerAndrew Pittroff, SecretaryDavid Battany Nimrod JohnsonChristine Bogharian Robert LawThomas S. Bunn III Otis MarstonScott Carpenter David Van WykGeorge Hernandez Emery Younes

StaffSonja Yates, Executive DirectorDamien Allen, Director of ConstructionLindsey Lesher, Construction SuperintendentHaydee Garcia, Construction AssistantJohn Udell, Construction AssistantBlue Gehres, Director of ReStoresMerrick Drake, Atwater Village ManagerMichael Springs, Atwater Village Assistant ManagerMatt Vincent, Azusa ManagerCesar Baltazar, Azusa Assistant ManagerChristopher Kahl, Procurement &

Partnerships Manager Audrey Booth-Edwards, Grants &

Partnerships ManagerKathy Karimi, Volunteer &

Youth Programs ManagerLindsey Lottie, Marketing & PR

ManagerSayaka Ota, AccountantSherri Cubangbang, Accounting AssistantCatalina Velez, Office ManagerMarty McBride, Family Services

CoordinatorDarla Kim, Faith Relations Coordinator

Pankow Builders held its company-wide

meeting for over 200 employees at the Westin Hotel in Pasadena on

April 29th. In addition to workshops and development of

leadership skills, attendees participated in a team-building activity to construct and decorate ten playhouses in collaboration with two Los Angeles County affiliates of Habitat for Humanity. Completed playhouses were donated to San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity to benefit the local community.

Door of Hope in Pasadena was one of the recipients of a playhouse. Tim Peters is

pictured with the charming playhouse that will provide encouragement to children who are part of Door of Hope’s transitional housing mission for local homeless families. Other playhouses are available at San Gabriel Valley Habitat’s ReStores.

San Gabriel Valley Habitat thanks Pankow Builders for sharing the time and talent of

key employees throughout many local builds and projects.

W e’re so honored to be named the 2016 Social Services Nonprofit “Brand of the Year” by Harris

Poll EquiTrend. This is the second year in a row Habitat has received this recognition.

To learn more about the Harris Poll EquiTrend® Study, visit http://www.theharrispoll.com

Millie Yamaki, Bank of America, presentingkeys to the Zakarian-Bazikian Family

On March 12th, San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity and the City of Glendale

joined the new home buyers and community members for the Dedication Ceremony at the Chestnut Homes.

Greetings were brought by Vartan Gharapetian, Housing Chair of the

Housing Authority, and by Paula Devine, Vice-Chair. SGV Habitat’s Board President, Elaine Wilkerson, expressed thanks to all who contributed monetary gifts and volunteer hours to construct the three new affordable units. Travis Chen, President of Arcadia High School’s Habitat for Humanity Club, recognized donors of house warming gifts for the new homeowners. Keys were presented by Joan McCarthy, Senior Manager for Disney Community Engagement;

Steve Young, Vice President/Branch Manager for Union Bank in San Gabriel; Nancy Spring, President of CARING Housing Ministries; Millie Yamaki, Vice President & Community Relations Manager for Bank of America; Amanda Gallagher, Charles Pankow Builders; Lindsey Lesher, Construction Superintendent and Construction Assistants Haydee Garcia and John Udell. Words of appreciation were given by home buyers Alberto Castaneda, George Samuel and Robert Zakarian.

Following the Ribbon Cutting ceremony, the new homeowners welcomed guests and

conducted tours of their homes.Want to see more photos of the Dedication? Visit and follow our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sgvhabitat

Nina Perry, Family Committee Chair, helping Chestnut children with Ribbon Cutting

Loyola High School Students Volunteer at DesiderioA Model for Community Service

On Saturday, April 16, 2016, twenty-five students, twenty-five fathers,

and the principal from Loyola High School in Los Angeles participated in a day of service working alongside future Habitat homeowners. The students installed erosion control, cleaned up the neighborhood, and took part in digging trenches in preparation for water lines.

The Loyola Community Service Program is committed to providing

service opportunities that help foster compassion and a spirit of generosity in each of their students. It is their hope that these service experiences will help students view the world with open hearts, challenging them to be “Men for and with others.” Former Director and two-term President of SGV Habitat’s

Board of Directors, Tom Doud, and his son Michael were part of the Loyola Community Service group.

Thank you volunteers for your time, hard work and support of San

Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity!

Who does it take to build a Habitat house? It takes everyone, and that starts with YOU!

Find out how to get involved on our website: http://sgvhabitat.org/getinvolved/

Habitat for Humanity named brand of the year 2016

The Los Angeles Association of Architects and American Society of Interior Designers sponsored

a “Shop & Mingle” event at the Atwater Village ReStore. The event, to support

local affordable housing, was organized by Mitch and Susan Sawasy to introduce local designers, architects, and builders to SGV Habitat’s ReStores. Thank you, Mitch and Susan!

Good News!“Working with Habitat gives me the chance to make a real difference by helping the people who need it the most. Thank you for making me feel right at Home!”

KATHY KARIMI Volunteer & Youth Programs Manager

M E E T T H E S TA F F

SGV HABITAT LEADERS every childdeserves a stable start in a safe and secure home.

sgvhabitat.org/donate/monthlygiving

Through monthly donations, HopeBuilders provide a consistent and reliable source of funding that allows Habitat to reach more families in need of decent shelter. Sign up today!

Chestnut Homes Dedication Celebration Marks Completion of Three Affordable Homes

Phone: (626) 387-6899Fax: (626) 387-6890

Website: sgvhabitat.org

Playhouse ProjectPankow Builders Partner with Habitat for Humanity

Tim Peters, Door of Hope