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Dear Habitat Supporter,
Welcome to the Novmber edition of the Habitat Update!
The Habitat Update functions as a way to improve intra-organizational
communication, and will be sent once a month. If you have any
questions, please feel free to contact me!
As committee members, board members and other important volunteers,
it helps to know what is going on throughout the organization.
If you have information to send to others as part of the update,
or would like to make a suggestion in regard to the content or
style of the update, please contact me. If you prefer to have
a hard copy version sent to you or would not like to be included
on the list, please respond, stating your preference.
Take Care!
Mikaela
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NOVEMBER 2005 UPDATE
CONSTRUCTION VOLUNTEER OF
THE MONTH: Elaine Garity
GROUPS ON SITE: Janssen
Pharmaceutical, Davisville Church, Central Bucks Newcomer’s
Club, GMAC Mortgage, Doylestown United Methodist Church, GE Betz,
Delaware Valley College, The Gap
GROUPS PROVIDING LUNCHES: Girl
Scout Troop 793, Applebee’s, GMAC Mortgage, St. Paul’s
United Church of Christ, GE Betz, Blooming Glen Mennonite Church
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS LOGGED
AT EMERALD HOLLOW TO DATE: 73,475
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AT HABITAT
BUCKS IN 2005: 920
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WELCOMING…
The Family Selection Committee
accepted Jessica Pfeffer of Penndel, who will quickly be achieving
her sweat equity hours to purchase the remaining end unit in Cluster
14, which will be done by the end of this year! Jessica is mom
to Gregory, Paiten and Jennifer. Debra Alexander of Quakertown
was also accepted for an EH2 home. Debra is mom to 11-year-old
twins, Nicolas and Ryan. Conditional acceptance is being offered
to Mary Kniele, also of Quakertown. Once she achieves the goals
of the conditional acceptance, she and her 19-year-old son, Joseph,
will begin their sweat equity hours. Congratulations and Welcome!
Welcome to Happily Ever After, Dan and Nancy! Community Relations
Manager, Dan, and former Habitat Bucks AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer,
Nancy, were married on 19 November. Congratulations and celebrations,
you two!
IN PARTNERSHIP…
Local car enthusiast group the Delaware Valley Triumphs, decided
to conduct a first-ever Regularity Run to benefit Habitat for
Humanity. What started off as a small gathering of friends quickly
mushroomed into a major event, with prizes, and banners, and plaques
galore! In the end, this run around Lake Nockamixon on 13 November
raised over $4,000 to benefit Habitat, and was such a success
that the group decided to do it again next year! Special thanks
to race organizer Dave Hutchinson, who did a superb job of promoting
the event and handling all the details. We look forward to a long
and mutually beneficial relationship for years to come.
Habitat Bucks is once again participating in the Christmas Carnival
hosted by the Quakertown Ministerium, Toys for Tots and HUBBUB
(Helping Upper Bucks Be Universally Better—a group of social
service and religious organizations in upper Bucks County). Our
“fun station” is making “gingerbread houses”
out of milk cartons, graham crackers and lots of fun candies and
treats! The event is being held at Quakertown United Methodist
Church on Saturday, 10 December from 12 – 2pm. Families
should call Sharon at the Salvation Army to register: 215.529.6547.
Community Relations Manager, Dan, spoke to Bucks County Community
College administrators on 11 November. Habitat was invited to
speak as a member agency for the United Way campaign.
Habitat plans to hold a Birdhouse Blitz Build at Doylestown United
Methodist Church and host a tour of the construction site in conjunction
with the Central Bucks Healthier Community Team’s annual
Martin Luther King Day of Service on 16 January 2006.
OUT + ABOUT…
Over 190 people attended this year's Harvest Hoedown, and participated
in the various activities including square dancing, old time photograph,
pony rides, a live auction, and a plethora of children's activities
and games. The event, catered by Duck Deli, featured music by
The Blue Mountain Gang, a bonfire with hot chocolate, a moon-bouce
for the kiddies, and rose over $18,000 for Habitat Bucks! Everyone
who attended had a great time, even the newspaper reporters and
photographers who showed up to cover the event. Our thanks go
out to the event committee, and to all the Habitat staff who pitched
in to make things run smoothly all evening. Special thanks go
to professional auctioneer Amy Grimly, who volunteered her services
to conduct the live auction and did a great job of coaxing money
from the wallets of attendees. If you attended -thank you. If
you did not, we're sorry you missed a great time!
Related articles:
· Bucks County Herald, Thursday 17 November, headline,
with three color photos: Lively music and dancing highlight Habitat
Hoedown
· The Intelligencer, Sunday 6 November, two event photographs
· Morning Call, Tuesday 1 November, Community Buzz headline:
Habitat for Humanity
· Morning Call, Wednesday 2 November, In Your Town headline:
Habitat for Humanity’s Harvest Hoedown
· Greater Philadelphia House + Home Magazine, November,
Upcoming Events headline: Habitat for Humanity Harvest Hoedown
· The Communicator, November, Kudos headline, with photo:
The Quakertown National Bank recently donated $5,000 as a primary
sponsor of Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County’s Harvest
Hoedown
Community Relations Manager, Dan, spoke at the Doylestown Rotary
Club on 2 November. John Brown invited Dan as his guest to the
meeting.
Dan also preached a sermon and talked with parishioners at St.
Paul’s Episcopal Church in Doylestown on 13 November at
their three Sunday services. His message was that each person
has special talents that God calls us to use to help in his work
on earth. He connected this sharing of talents to helping with
Habitat.
GIVING THANKS…
The anonymous law firm strikes
again! This year, their overfilled Santa’s sleigh will be
delivering a dream-come-true Christmas to the Remick family of
Emerald Hollow. Kile and Betty are parents to Angela, Elizabeth,
Kilie and Kelly—four girls aged 6 and under! Thank you,
Anonymous Angels!
Thank you to the Central Bucks East Key Club, the Central Bucks
South Interact Club, Pennsylvania National Teenager, and the Youth
Services Agency for volunteering at Habitat’s second annual
Harvest Hoedown on 5 November. Volunteers assisted with supervising
children’s activities, the live auction, serving food and
much more. Their assistance was vital to making the event a success.
The Youth Group of the New Goshenhoppen United Church of Christ
in East Greenville is sharing their holiday joy with the Emerald
Hollow children on Sunday, 4 December. This is their second annual
Christmas celebration for these kids. Thank you for sharing your
Christmas love with so many!
Our thanks go out to the following recent major donors who are
important partners in fulfilling our mission:
Women Build: HBA ($5,000),
General Support: Bob and Joyce Byers ($2,500),Cowan Associates
($1,350), GE Infrastructure ($4,000), Joe and Maggie Robinson
($2,500), First Federal of Bucks County (7,500),
Without support from friends like you, we would be unable to do
what we do. Thank you kindly!
SPECIAL HABITAT 5K RECAP!
Dean Dimmig became the first two-time winner at the 2005 Habitat
5K on 26 November. Dimmig, 42, won the inaugural race in 2002
and repeated his triumph in a time of 17:33. Andrea Luebbe, a
22 year old student at Lehigh University, finished fourth overall
and won the women's title in 18:14. Luebbe's time shattered the
previous women's course record by a full two minutes.
A total of 144 runners took part, including Habitat staffer Stefanie
Clark, husband Anthony and son Anthony Jr. Anthony Sr. finished
tenth overall and won his age group with a time of 19:44. Emerald
Hollow homeowner Rich Cole and Advisory Board member Hal Margolit
were among the participants. The race, organized by the Quakertown
Rotary Club with support from the Quakertown United Methodist
Church, raised over 4,700 to support Habitat's mission. The Ngorimo,
Horst, Kaufman and Policastro families helped on race day. Susan
Policastro's son Robert served as the honorary starter.
Race sponsors were Visionetics; Fischers Tuxedo; Quakertown National
Bank; Farm & Home Oil; Diversified Refrigeration; John M.
Heley, Attorney at Law; Alpine International; Hutchinson, Gorman
& Freeh, PC; R. G. Moffett, Attorney at Law; Spinnerstown
Hotel; White Eagle Group; Ivanhoe Industries; Spinnerstown Hotel;
Eagles Peak Spring Water; Quakertown St. Luke's Hospital; Sal's
Pizza Randa; Born-2-Run; The Chocolate Factory; Power Bounce Shoes;
Manhattan Bagel; Boyer's Food Market; Road ID.
Our special thanks to board member Bill Tuszynski who –
as always - ran the event with the precision of a clockmaker,
and who handled even the toughest decisions that day with ease
and decorum. We salute you, Bill!
Related articles:
The Intelligencer, Tuesday 15 November, headline: Habitat for
Humanity to receive proceeds from Quakertown race
MAKING NOTE…
Late congratulations to the newly married Heather and Brandon
Galluppi! The happy couple was married on 16 July! Heather is
the daughter of Emerald Hollow homeowner, Robin Croman.
Bucks County artist, Kristy Krajnenko, is the winner of this
year’s Holiday Card Design Contest! Krajnenko will have
her artwork featured on Habitat’s holiday card to be sold
via local merchants and at http://habitatbucks.org/shopProducts.asp.
This unique fundraiser is also Habitat’s longest-running,
at fifteen years. “I hope that through my art, I am able
to bring the necessary funds to aid in building dreams,”
said Krajnenko, whose entry was created especially for the benefit
of Habitat Bucks. Krajnenko is an art director and muralist by
trade, enjoys all mediums of art, “No surface is safe from
me!” and has had a passion for volunteering since childhood.
The cards are available now on our website and will become available
at local merchants throughout October (visit www.habitatbucks.org/shopProducts.asp
for a list of stores). The cards are sold in packages of ten for
$10 and all proceeds will help the efforts of Habitat for Humanity
of Bucks County. (Volunteers are needed to assist with the sale
of the /holiday cards. Volunteers can sell the cards on our behalf
at their own business or contact other businesses to display the
cards. Contact Laura at l.mclellan@habitatbucks.org or 215.348.2204
x302 if you’re interesting in volunteering!)
Related articles:
· Bucks County Herald, Thursday 13 October, Page two headline:
Local artist designs winning holiday card for Habitat for Humanity’s
contest
· Newtown Gazette, Friday 7 October, News with color photo
headline: Kristy Krajnenko is Habitat Bucks 15th Annual Holiday
Card Contest Winner! (http://timespub.com/ngazette-cg.html)
· Philadelphia Inquirer, Neighbors section with photo,
Sunday 2 October (http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/12784434.htm)
· Philadelphia Ad Club, News with photo, Wednesday 5 October
(http://www.phillyadclub.com/news_article.php?id=110)
JOIN US…
The Family Support Committee is planning a January
workshop for ALL Habitat families—those working on sweat
equity and those already in their homes. Our very own Stan Reinford
will discuss credit issues and how best to repair credit problems
and avoid future credit pitfalls. Marianne Harms will provide
an expert presentation on self-esteem goals. A central Bucks location
for the January 28 event is currently being determined.
WOMEN BUILDING A BETTER BUCKS…
Happy Fall Everyone!
Not too much to report this time. Since Women Build Week, we
have been collecting feedback from participants, both builders
and planners, in an effort to present an even better program next
year. Our follow-up meetings were very informative and I thank
everyone who was able to attend as well as those of you that have
completed Build Week surveys. Throughout December, planning will
continue, and Women Build 2006 will kick-off in January! In the
meantime, enjoy the holiday season!
kelly
Fundraising Campaign
Funds raised to date: $60,612 | Goal: $70,000
So close! As we near the end of November, we are approximately
$10,000 off of our goal. It would be wonderful to reach our goal
by the end of the year so as to begin 2006 on the right foot.
If you have any ideas on helping to make that happen, I would
love to hear from you! As always, you can keep track of our fundraising
progress on the women build webpage (www.habitatbucks.org/womenbuild.asp).
Scrapbooking Women Build:
Many of you captured your Women Build experience on film (and
I will be sending a link to our photos by the end of the year).
Perhaps you have considered creating a scrapbook to remember and
showcase your involvement? If you are so inclined, you may want
to get in touch with Alicia Wilhelm, a fellow Women Build-er.
Alicia is a rep for Stampin’ Up, a company that sells scrapbooking
materials. In particular, they have available sets of stamps called
“Power Up” and “Builder Bits”, which feature
construction tools. Between now and 15 December, contact Alicia
to make a purchase and she will donate 20% to support Women Build.
Go to the website (www.stampinup.com) and click on the online
catalog at left to see their full line. The construction sets
are on page 119. Contact Alicia at awilhelm@comcast.net.
Upcoming Dedication:
The families of Cluster 14 (who were spotlighted by Women Build
and whose homes were in the finishing stages during Women Build
Week) will receive their keys at a dedication ceremony on Saturday,
7 January at 2:30pm. All Women Build-ers are whole-heartedly invited
to attend the ceremony! Official invitations will go out in the
mail next month, but reserve that day on your calendars now!
Women Build 2006 Interest Meeting:
Speaking of reserving dates, the interest meeting to kick-off
Women Build ’06 will occur on Thursday, 26 January 26. At
this point, venue (obviously not the Habitat office!) and time
have yet to be determined, but please plan to join us for an exciting
night and learn what we’re thinking for next year. Sign-ups
for teams will also take place at that meeting.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Mikaela D. Martin
Marketing + Public Relations
Director
Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County
215 Matthews Avenue
New Britain, PA 18901
215.348.2204 x306
fax: 215.348.7988
It is the mission of Habitat for Humanity
of Bucks County to build affordable homes, better lives stronger
families and safer communities through partnerships with people
and organizations throughout Bucks County. |
