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Dear Habitat Supporter,
Welcome to the January edition of the Habitat Update –
happy 2007 to you! The Habitat Update functions as a way to improve
communication about the goings-on of Habitat for Humanity of Bucks
County, and will be sent once a month. 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 (m.martin@habitatbucks.org
or 215.348.2204 x306). If you prefer to have a hard copy version
sent to you or would not like to be included on this distribution
list, please respond stating your preference.
Take Care!
Mikaela
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
JANUARY 2007 UPDATE
CONSTRUCTION VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH:
Greg Bishop
GROUPS ON SITE: US
Navy, Doylestown United Methodist Church, Redeemer Lutheran Church,
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products, Delaware Valley College
GROUPS PROVIDING LUNCHES: Johnson
& Johnson Consumer Products, Blooming Glen Mennonite Church,
1st Savings Bank of Perkasie
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS LOGGED
AT EMERALD HOLLOW TO DATE: 88,569
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AT EMERALD
HOLLOW TO DATE: 10,046
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
WELCOMING…
The Family Selection Committee recently accepted
the following families: Joseph Deng of Telford and Stephen Maina
and Mary Kamau of Quakertown. Joseph will be joined by his girlfriend,
mother and siblings, the latter of which are awaiting entry to
the United States from Sudan. Stephen and Mary are excited about
working toward a home for them and their daughter, Sarita.
Two families have received their Letters of Intent, which outlines
the specific home they will be purchasing. Congratulations to
Brian Staats, who will move into Cluster 10, and to James Ndungu
and Margaret Mungai, and their daughters, Suzie and Winnie, who
will move into Cluster 12.
The Andrew family, parents Brian and Tarah with children Kassidee,
Chaise and Mollie, recently completed their conditional acceptance
(an Emerald Hollow Two opportunity to complete a goal before entering
the formal homeownership partnership). They are looking to purchase
an end unit in Cluster 12.
ON SITE…
In Cluster 12, carpet, trim, and cabinets have
been installed in the final mid-unit and settlement will be in
early February. Drywall has been completed in the end-units.
Cluster 11 foundations have been completed and 1st and 2nd story
framing has begun on two of the homes.
REACHING OUT…
Attention Builders & Suppliers! Spring is
around the corner, and another Habitat Bucks Bargain Barn ReSale
is coming up on Sat., Mar. 17, from 7am-noon at our Big Red Barn
in Quakertown (1733 Creamery Road). We are accepting donations
for the event through Fri., Mar. 9. Keep us in mind for donations
as your company completes its annual inventory! Do you have any
materials, appliances, tools, etc. that you would be willing to
donate? We’ll happily accept:
· New and unused building materials and supplies, including
lumber, carpeting, windows, doors, unopened paint, lighting and
interior fixtures, etc.
· New appliances
· New and gently used garden, power and hand tools
· Extension ladders
· New and gently used furniture and children’s items
such as strollers and playpens
All donations are tax deductible; all funds raised support the
mission of Habitat Bucks. For more information, contact Trish
at t.schoor@habitatbucks.org
or x303.
JOIN US…
The Faith Relations Committee will meet on Tues.
Feb. 13 at the Habitat office at 6:30pm. We’d love to see
you there! Committee members partner with faith groups in Bucks
County to promote Habitat’s mission. They focus on advocacy,
diversity, fellowship and fundraising and organize the annual
Building on Faith Week. Members also assist with dedication ceremonies,
speak to congregations, and promote Habitat’s mission at
special events. For more information, contact Laura at l.mcclellan@habitatbucks.org
or x302.
REACHING OUT…
The Faith Relations Committee will meet on Tuesday Dec. 12 at
the Habitat office at 6:30pm. We’d love to see you there!
Committee members partner with faith groups in Bucks County to
promote Habitat’s mission. They focus on advocacy, diversity,
fellowship and fundraising and organize the annual Building on
Faith Week. Members also assist with dedication ceremonies, speak
to congregations, and promote Habitat’s mission at special
events. For more information, contact Laura at l.mcclellan@habitatbucks.org
or x302.
Women Build 2007 is here! Though we can hardly believe it, we
are about to begin our third year of Women Build! You may have
heard of the program over the past two years, and hopefully you
have found a way to get involved that works for you. If you haven’t,
now is a great time to get on board. We are holding two interest
meetings:
· Wed., Feb. 28, from 6:30pm – 8pm at Rolling Hills
Methodist Church, 7028 Easton Rd., Pipersville
· Fri., Mar. 9, from 11am – 12:30pm at the Habitat
Bucks office, 215 Matthews Ave., New Britain
This informational meeting will tell you everything you need
to know about the 2007 program, including ways to be involved
throughout the year and the greatly anticipated Women Build-a-Thon
Week 2007. Veteran and new Women Build-ers are invited! Bring
your friends, co-workers, sisters, daughters and mothers. For
more information, contact Laura at l.mcclellan@habitatbucks.org.
Habitat Bucks has formed a “ReStore” Committee! The
Habitat ReSale has evolved into an effort to capitalize even further
on its success by investing in the formation of a full-fledged
building supplies materials store, a ReStore. ReStore is a trademarked
Habitat for Humanity brand name for over 500 retail enterprises
across the United States and Canada, and supports the overall
mission by providing affiliates’ operations with a steady
stream of income. The goal of the project is not just revenue
for overhead, but to build organizational capacity that will enable
us to continue to build safe, decent and affordable housing in
Bucks County. The Habitat Bucks ReStore Committee was formed in
Nov. 2006 to spearhead the task of implementing a business plan,
researching potential commercial retail space and fundraising.
Fifteen members compose the task force: Tom Richards (chairperson),
Jim Dowling, Melissa Harris, Don Houghton, Diana Kayes, Gena McCleary,
Joel Stewart, Neil Vora, Patrick McGrath, Kim Noble, Rick Ottinger,
Lori Petersen, Patti Post and staff representatives Linda Andrews
and Trish Schoor. Think you’re interested in joining the
committee? Contact Laura at l.mcclellan@habitatbucks.org
or x302!
Come out to the Habitat Bucks Bargain Barn ReSale, Sat. Mar.
17 from 7am-noon at our Big Red Barn on 1733 Creamery Road, Quakertown
(map). Don’t miss the selection of top-notch building and
remodeling items at discount rates! New and gently used items
include kitchen and bath cabinetry and hardware, doors and windows,
furniture and much, much more! This sale will feature dining room
tables from a nationwide top furniture retailer and a new French
double door. For more information, contact Trish at t.schoor@habitatbucks.org
or x303.
IN PARTNERSHIP…
Though the Thrivent Builds Homes 2006 partnership
has officially drawn to a close, the opportunity for members of
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to continue to support Habitat
Bucks remains. Thrivent Builds Giving is a matching-funds program,
by which Thrivent will contribute $1 for every $2 donated by one
of its members! If you are a Thrivent member and are considering
becoming a Habitat Bucks donor, this is an excellent way to maximize
your contribution. For more information, check out the Thrivent
Builds Giving website http://www.thriventbuilds.com/giving/buildsgiving/index.html.
GIVING THANKS…
Nearly 75 volunteers, 50 of them under the age
of 18, gathered at Buckingham Friends School on Mon., Jan. 15
for the Habitat Bucks MLK Day project. This year our project was
four-fold: creating “welcome home” dedication baskets
for our partner families, assembling “thank you snack packs”
for our volunteers on the construction site, decorating house-shaped
thank you cards for our families to use and building birdhouses
to raise funds. Everyone involved, both volunteers from the school
and those that participated through CB Cares, really stepped up
and, consequently, we can’t use our small conference room!
Our families and volunteers will be well-cared for in the coming
months. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone that participated!
MAKING NOTE…
Planning for IRA Rollover Gifts in 2007
In the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Congress permitted a direct
IRA Rollover to charity for the first time. IRA owners who were
age 70½ or older could transfer up to $100,000 directly
from an IRA to charity. The rollover is not included in taxable
income and may reduce taxes for some IRA owners. Since the IRA
Rollover also qualifies for the required minimum distribution
from an IRA, it’s helpful to plan ahead for 2007. The IRA
owners who will gain most benefit from the rollover are the convenience
donor, the generous donor, the social security donor, the non-itemizer
donor and the major donor:
· Convenience Donor - Many people use
the IRA Rollover gift because it is very convenient. The transfer
is made directly from the IRA custodian to the charity, and it
is a simple and easy method for making a charitable gift.
· Generous Donor - Many donors are very
generous and some even give to the maximum 50% of adjusted gross
income that may be deducted in a particular year. A few generous
donors also have carry forwards. By making gifts from an IRA directly
to charity that are not included in taxable income, these generous
owners are able to deduct their other gifts or their carry-forwards.
The IRA rollover can facilitate both charitable giving and tax
savings through the other deductions.
· Social Security Donor - A portion of
Social Security is taxable, depending upon your income level.
Some persons pay no tax on Social Security, some pay tax on one-half
of Social Security and higher-income persons pay tax on 85% of
Social Security. By making IRA Rollover gifts, it may be possible
to stay at a lower total income level and pay less tax on Social
Security payments.
· Non-Itemizer Donor - Approximately 2/3
of Americans age 70 take the standard deduction and do not itemize.
By making charitable gifts directly from and IRA and reducing
the part of the required minimum distribution payable and taxable,
an IRA owner can take the standard deduction and still save taxes.
Tax savings occur because the donor's income is lower since the
taxable payout from the IRA is reduced.
· Major Donor - Some individuals have
quite large IRAs and also are fortunate to have CDs, stock, land
or other property. Major IRA donors have the ability to give up
to $100,000 from their IRA and reduce income by not taking a required
minimum distribution. This could save a substantial amount of
tax for persons with higher incomes.
· IRA Rollover Planning - It
is early in year 2007, but an IRA distribution can be taken anytime
during the year. Some donors who would like to help their favorite
charity may choose to make the IRA Rollover gift early in the
year to accomplish a charitable purpose.
For more information about using your IRA to benefit Habitat
for Humanity of Bucks County, contact Trish at t.schoor@habitatbucks.org
or x303
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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
www.habitatbucks.org
From 2005-2008, Habitat for Humanity will
build 36 affordable homes in Bucks County. Each home will require
a commitment of 2000 volunteer hours and financial contributions
averaging $4,250 per day. Habitat relies strictly on the generosity
and commitment of our neighbors and partner families to provide
these resources, and to make safe, affordable housing a matter
of conscience and action in our community.
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