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Habichat: A Newsletter from
Growing Communities for 20 Years...
August, 2009 | |
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
September 5, 6, 7: Habitat Office Closed for the Labor Day Holiday
Saturday, September 12, 9:30AM: Love in Action Tour, 848 Cherry Street, Norristown.
Sunday, September 13, 1:00PM: Youth Day! Linden Avenue (across from 3104 Summit Avenue at the Baseball Field). See below for details.
Saturday, September 19, 9:30AM: Love in Action Tour, Glenside, PA
Saturday, October 10, 9:30AM: Love in Action Tour, First Baptist Church, 301 King Street, Pottstown.
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Standing in Our Own Truths
On October 3, Habitat was to host a celebration in our new home for our offices, ReStore and warehouse. It was going to be a fantastic party, complete with a building competition, great food and games for party-goers. But then, life got in the way. Our Development Director, the main planner for the event, broke her knee cap. Our Assistant Construction Manager, who was helping prepare the space, is currently hospitalized for a very serious matter and our Community Outreach Coordinator got in a very scary car accident. I just thank God that each of them will be alright and returning to work as they are able.
Through all of that, we still intended to host this party to celebrate our future. This week, we found out that the building won't be ready, due to circumstances beyond our control.
With all that is going on around us, we made the very difficult decision to postpone the event. In reaching this conclusion today, I had feelings of frustration and disappointment, until I was reminded of what we do.
We are not party planners or commercial real estate experts, or even slick talking fundraisers. We are a group of caring people committed to building homes for families who need them. Throughout our trials this summer, we have continued doing just that, working in three communities, short-staffed, because there are families waiting to move in. Through the rain and the mud, the heat and the unrelenting sun, we have continued to stand in our own truths, working with volunteers, swinging hammers and getting dirty because it is unacceptable for anyone to live in sub-standard conditions.
We apologize to those of you who are also frustrated and disappointed about the postponing of this event. With our economy still in financial stress, we invite you on October 3rd, to a "non-event". Think of us on that day, when you might have been attending the event and support our work anyhow. Help us reach our goal for the event, which was to build our 50th home. Even though there won't be a party, we still have the family, and the land, but we need you to make it a reality.
Brenda Egolf-FoxExecutive Director |
We are Now Part of Recycle Bank!
Click on the ALL REWARDS tab and then go to H - it comes up with 2 other Habitat affiliates (Bucks and Anderson) so be sure to click on the one for Montgomery County.
After you donate, go to your checkout basket where you can up the quantity if you like.
1025 points per $10 donation.
Check out the work we are doing in Montgomery County at the website http://www.habitatmontco.org/Please help get the word out by forwarding this to everyone you know who uses recycle bank! |
Youth Day 2009
1:00-3:00 pm
Sunday, September 13
Youth Day will be held across the steret from our newest building project in North Hills! We will teach kids aged 5-14 about local substandard housing issues and their ability to impact their own communities.
- hot dogs & drinks
- fun & games
- special construction projects
- a walking tour of the neighborhood, highlighing the Habitat homes
To sign up, please contact Linley at linley@habitatmontco.org. We are imited to 50 kids and for group sign ups, we request a 4:1 kid to adult ratio. |
Thank you State Farm Insurance®!
 The Villanova University Campus Chapter was one of 28 campus chapters to be awarded a matching grant from State Farm, the national corporate sponsor of Habitat for Humanity Youth Programs. Villanova's Campus Chapter was selected to receive a $10,000 matching grant from State Farm for its outstanding work in building safe, decent and affordable homes.
A campus chapter is a student-led, student-initiated organization on a high school or college campus that partners with the local Habitat affiliate to build, fundraise, advocate and educate to support the work of Habitat for Humanity.
When complete, 822 Cherry Street will be revitalized to become a LEED certified, energy-efficient dwelling for a family of three.
Through this partnership with Villanova and the Patrick Monaghan Foundation, more than 330 volunteers have helped build this home. An average of 4,000 hours will have been contributed by volunteers when the home is finally dedicated next spring.
This home is part of a concentrated effort to revitalize the Cherry Street neighborhood in Norristown where Habitat has already reconstructed 20 homes. This fall, Habitat has plans to begin reconstruction on 830 Cherry Street, just a few doors away.
Since 2007, State Farm has served as the Official Corporate Sponsor of Habitat for Humanity Youth programs, with a sponsorship commitment of more than $1.1 million in grants each year. In addition to sponsoring youth programs, State Farm offices contribute more than $500,000 annually to Habitat affiliates across the United States. |
Giving Campaigns Give Big!
 Habitat of Montgomery County is very grateful for the support of our organization through Corporate Giving programs such as the Merck Partnership for Giving, the Give With Liberty Campaign, the Allstate Giving Campaign and so many others.
Just think, by giving five dollars a month, then having it matched by your company, its like giving $10 or $120 a year. That alone is a very meaningful gift to a grassroots organization like Habitat, but combined with hundreds of other employees and retirees around the county, you are making a huge difference.
Last year, through giving programs, Habitat Mont Co. supporters raised in excess of $70,000 - that's almost an entire home that you helped build with your 5 or 10 dollars!
As the time to renew your giving commitments with your organization approaches again this year (most occur in the month of September) we ask you to consider signing up with Habitat once again and asking your friends and colleagues to do the same. The money you give here stays right in the county, in your community, making a difference that you can see every time you are in Norristown, Upper Dublin, Pottstown and beyond. Who knows, maybe a teacher or a police officer or a minister one day was a child that grew up in a Habitat home that you helped build through your employee giving program. |
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North Hills Update!
The rain continues on and off but volunteers have managed to put the first walls up on 3104 Summit Avenue! With completion plans for next spring, members of the Faith Builders group have come out in force to get this project going.
We are grateful for the hard working volunteers from the following groups this month:
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Information Resources, Inc.
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Beth Or Congregation
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Grace Lutheran Church
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Boehm's UCC
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Abington Memorial Hospital
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Bethlehem Baptist Church
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Jarrettown United Methodist Church
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NASJRB Willow Grove
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St. John's Lutheran And the many volunteering individuals from our sponsoring organizations. Only with your help will this house become a home... |
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Welcome Aboard!
Habitat's fiscal year just began July 1 and with it, we welcomed new members to our Board of Directors.
This month, we will spotlight:
 Dr. Robert Nydick, PhD, joining us from Villanova University, is a Professor in the Management and Operations Department. Dr. Nydick has published over 25 refereed journal articles in the decision support and education of management science areas and has participated in grants funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and Aetna U.S. Healthcare. Most recently his research has focused on the application of the analytic hierarchy process in medical decision making settings.
Dr. Nydick has also won the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Teaching Excellence at Villanova University in 1992, as well as the John Tonkinson Teaching Innovation Award from Villanova University in 1999.
Each semester since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast region, Dr. Nydick has led groups of Villanova students to the area to assist in the rebuilding efforts. This initiative is tied to Dr. Nydick's Business Decision Making class. Students from this class (and any other interested Villanova students) spend two days volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and also meet with local leaders who are helping to rejuvenate the devastated areas. After returning from the trip the students from Dr. Nydick's class conduct fundraising efforts and use a decision support methodology taught in the class to make recommendations on how the money that they raise should be best allocated. It is important to note that each student pays for all expenses incurred during their trip. More than 300 students have participated in these trips and nearly $45,000 has been raised and donated to several charitable organizations, including local Habitat for Humanity chapters, the local St. Vincent DePaul Society, and several area churches. | |
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"For tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today."
- African Proverb With that final thought, thank you for preparing for the future of Habitat with us. We hope to see you at our celebration on October 3!
Sincerely,
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Raise Money for Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County just by searching the Web. You'll also keep informed about Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County news. It's FREE !! http://www.freelanthropy.com/hfhomc | |
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