Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Tuesday Sponsor Highlight: PEMCO Insurance

PEMCO Insurance will be returning as a sponsor for Spring Rebuilding Day 2011!  RTS looks forward to another rewarding partnership with PEMCO Insurance!!


Thank You, PEMCO!!

Thank you, Premier Law Group!



Rebuilding Together Seattle wants to send out a big thank you to the Seattle personal injury attorneys at Premier Law Group for reaching out to our community and donating to RTS.

Thank You, Premier Law Group!!!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Sweet 16 for Rebuilding Together's NFL Sanctioned 'Kickoff to Rebuild'

Annual Super Bowl Charity Event Gathers 1000, including: Volunteers, NFL Players, Celebrities and Community Members to Revitalize Neighborhood and Assist Elementary School

WASHINGTON, DC
- Rebuilding Together, the nation's leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership, announced plans for its 16th Annual Kickoff to Rebuild Event. Kickoff to Rebuild occurs annually in the host city of the Super Bowl and serves as a high-impact event that engages members of the NFL community to assist low-income neighborhoods. The event unites hundreds of volunteers with NFL players and alumni, cheerleaders, local leadership, and other celebrities to rebuild homes, provide community clean up and restorative services.

On February 3rd one neighborhood in Arlington, Texas, will receive revitalization services which generate impact lasting long after game day. Work includes rebuild projects for 12 homes with critical needs, an entire neighborhood clean-up, landscaping, and door-to-door repair teams serving as many as 40 low-income homeowners. In addition to the home and neighborhood projects, the adjacent Speer Elementary School, where many of the children in the community attend, will receive a new playground.

HGTV's Carter Oosterhouse, host of Carter Can, in association with his foundation Carter's Kids, and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation, will build the playground for the students of Speer Elementary School. Additionally, Chris Grundy of DIY Network will join the Kickoff to Rebuild event as another rebuilding expert and well-known television host of Cool Tools and DIY Dominator. Speer Elementary Principal Linda De Leon talked about how much her community deserves this attention. "A lot of our families are struggling to make ends meet, so the last thing you're going to budget for are home improvements," she said. "So for Rebuilding Together to come in and offer to renovate these homes and rebuild them ... it sends a message that there are people still out there who care."

A team of NFL Alumni from the NFL Player Care Foundation are expected to volunteer their efforts during the day, including Rebuilding Together longtime supporters Bill Gramatica and Martin Gramatica. Also attending are Rebuilding Together's media partner HGTV and DIY Network; radio hosts and partner, On the House with the Carey Brothers; and local leaders and community members.

To wrap up the entire event, Rebuilding Together along with its Dallas chapter Rebuilding Together Greater Dallas will host a community celebration event that focuses on the future of a preserved neighborhood. The mass-volunteer effort begins at 8:00am, with the neighborhood ribbon-cutting scheduled for 1:00pm and the community celebration open to the community at 11:00am.

The 16th annual Kickoff to Rebuild Sponsors include: Atmos Energy, Bridgestone and Firestone Complete Auto Care, Brown Foundation, CB Richard Ellis (CBRE), Freddie Mac, Kmart, Lowe's, National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), NFL Player Cares Foundation, and Wells Fargo.

About Rebuilding Together
Rebuilding Together is the nation's leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing extensive rehabilitation and modification services to those in need at no cost to those served. With the help of everyday citizen volunteers, skilled trades people, the support of local business and major corporate partners, Rebuilding Together affiliates in America's largest cities and smallest towns make life considerably better for thousands of low-income homeowners and the communities in which they live by completing 10,000 projects per year. Rebuilding Together has programs dedicated to, energy efficiency, veteran's housing, aging in place and gulf coast reconstruction. For more information, visit www.RebuildingTogether.org. You can follow Rebuilding Together on Twitter @rebldgtogthr or become a fan on Facebook at Facebook.com/RebuildingTogether.

Media Contact: BCarter@rebuildingtogether.org (202) 518-3500

###

Friday, January 21, 2011

Announcing a new RTS campaign: Hearts Rebuilding Homes


HEARTS REBUILDING HOMES

Give a unique gift to your loved ones this Valentine’s Day – give the gift of a safe and healthy home to a homeowner in need!

Starting on February 1st, make a donation to Rebuilding Together Seattle through our Hearts Rebuilding Homes 14 Day Campaign, in honor of your loved one(s). In return, we’ll send you and/or your loved one a special card indicating your donation on behalf of your special someone.

Together we can make a difference! Show us how big your heart can be, and give back to homeowners in need.

Here are a few people you can help with just one Hearts Rebuilding Homes donation:

Lisa and Family (White Center)
Lisa is a single mother taking care of her 4-month-old infant and her disabled mother.

Richard (Seatac)
Richard, a WWII Veteran, and his wife are wheelchair bound and in need of accessibility repairs at their home.

Nancy (West Seattle)
Nancy is 81-years-old and legally blind. She lives alone in West Seattle and is in need of major repairs in order to move safely about her home.

Shannon and Gabe (Mountlake Terrace)
Shannon and Gabe have two small children. Their small son has developmental disabilities and their home in Mountlake Terrace is in need of insulation plumbing repairs.

STAY TUNED FOR THE RELEASE OF OUR CAMPAIGN WEBPAGE AND FACEBOOK EVENT!


ABOUT: Hearts Rebuilding Homes is a special Valentine’s Day Campaign of Rebuilding Together Seattle from February 1st through 14th. Hearts Rebuilding Homes is geared towards the first 14 days in February leading up to Valentine’s Day. Donations made after Valentine’s Day (during the month of February) will also be credited to the Campaign. All donations are 100% tax-deductible. Rebuilding Together Seattle is a 501.c.3 non-profit organization with Tax ID #: 91-1606330.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Miss Seattle Rebuilding Day - June 4th, 2011


RTS is excited to announce an official Miss Seattle Rebuilding Day, with Miss Seattle 2011, Lauren Kuhn.  The big day will take place on June 4th, 2011!  Check out the Miss Seattle Scholarship Pagaent for more information about this great organization.  We look forward to a great partnership!

Learn more about Miss Seattle 2011, Lauren Kuhn:

1. Why did you choose to get involved with RTS? How long have you been volunteering with RTS?
I started volunteering with Rebuilding Together through my college and loved it! I go to Gonzaga University and a friend of mine and I helped to rehabilitate a youth center in the Hillyard neighborhood of Spokane. I am from Western Washington and as Miss Seattle I want to bring more attention to this great organization. I hope that by hosting a Miss Seattle Rebuilding Day, more people will get involved with RTS's message and take a day of their time to either volunteer or fundraise with this organization.

2. What do you enjoy the most about working with our organization?
I enjoy seeing my efforts produce a measurable outcome. It is great to see a group of people come together in one day to make a difference in the life of someone who needs it. Home repairs can be expensive and to take that burden away from someone feels amazing.

3. What do your colleagues or other volunteers say about RTS? Why do they want to volunteer their time?
RTS has a great reputation in the Seattle area. People are constantly amazed at how helping someone repair their home can make such a big difference.

4. What about RTS’ mission are you most drawn to?
I'm drawn to the idea that many people need help in this tough economy. Not everyone needs a brand-new home and not everyone has the money to make repairs--Rebuilding Together Seattle helps the people that fall in the middle.

5. Do you have any other comments you’d like to share at this time?
I am excited to work with Rebuilding Together Seattle this year as Miss Seattle 2011. This organization is helping the lives of homeowners that otherwise wouldn't be able to have a safe and/or functional home. The hope that RTS gives to the community is amazing!





Thank you for choosing RTS, Lauren!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Tuesday Sponsor Highlight: KPFF Consulting Engineers

KPFF Consulting Engineers will be back to sponsor a project on April 30th for Spring Rebuilding Day 2011!  RTS looks forward to another great year of partnership with KPFF.



Thank You, KPFF!!

Thank You Rubbish Works

RTS wants to recognize Rubbish Works for their ongoing support of our mission and providing discounted dumpsters to our rebuilding sites for the past few years.


Thank You Rubbish Works!!


Friday, January 14, 2011

Thank you, Meteor Solutions!


Rebuilding Together Seattle wants to send out a big thank you to Meteor Solutions for their generous donation to RTS on behalf of their clients and partners as a part of their holiday gift program.

Thank You, Meteor Solutions!!!



Rebuilding Together Awarded $1 Million in Healthy Homes Production Grant from HUD

WASHINGTON, DC - Rebuilding Together, the nation's leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership, has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) most recent funding to protect children from lead and other home hazards, distributed to over 40 different projects and organizations nationwide.

Rebuilding Together will receive a total of $1 million in Healthy Homes Production grant funds which focus on health hazards that occur in the home, such as mold and carbon monoxide poisoning. These hazards greatly affect the health of children and the elderly, particularly those in low-income homes, and the grant allows Rebuilding Together to address the hazards that exist by improving the health and safety of the homes.

"Rebuilding Together is thrilled to be recognized by HUD and receive such a substantial grant to support our work and mission," said Gary A. Officer, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together. "Our extensive expertise and dedication to ensuring a healthy home is evidenced by the Healthy Homes Production grant. We look forward to expanding our existing capacity as the leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable and safe homeownership nationwide."

Rebuilding Together is one of the 48 other organizations and localized projects chosen by HUD to be awarded healthy homes funding. The grant funding will address lead and other health hazards in homes, as well as provide training and education to raise awareness of these home hazards.

A complete project summary of the programs awarded grants today can be found on HUD's website at www.hud.gov.

To learn more about Rebuilding Together and its programs, visit www.rebuildingtogether.org

About Rebuilding Together
Rebuilding Together is the nation's leading nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing extensive rehabilitation and modification services to those in need at no cost to those served. With the help of everyday citizen volunteers, skilled trades people, the support of local business and major corporate partners, Rebuilding Together affiliates in America's largest cities and smallest towns make life considerably better for thousands of low-income homeowners and the communities in which they live by completing 10,000 projects per year, serving approximately 800,000 Americans. Rebuilding Together has programs dedicated to, energy efficiency, veteran's housing, aging in place and gulf coast reconstruction. For more information, visit www.RebuildingTogether.org. You can also follow Rebuilding Together on Twitter @rebldgtogthr or become a fan on Facebook at Facebook.com/RebuildingTogether.

Media Contact: BCarter@rebuildingtogether.org

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Thank you Seattle Bank Employees and Customers!

RTS thanks Seattle Bank employees and customers for participating in the holiday supply drive!  The Bellevue, Wallingford, Queen Anne and Southcenter locations donated bins of supplies to our office in preparation for our Spring Rebuilding Day on April 30th, 2011.  Each project site (there will be over 25 projects completed in one day!) is given a box of supplies typically needed at every RTS project site. 

Thank you also to the Tacoma office for your contributions to Rebuilding Together South Sound!
Thank you, Seattle Bank!!!




Rebuilding Together launches PSA Campaign Featuring Morgan Freeman

On Wednesday, 1-1-11, Rebuilding Together (Washington, D.C.) released its new PSA Campaign featuring Morgan Freeman!

Please click here to watch this awesome video!

Thank you for your support! Please share this with your family, friends, and fellow RT supporters!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Announcing a new RTS award: Volunteer of the Year!

Recently, the RTS Board & Staff approved a new award: Volunteer of the Year. The award will be given out to one outstanding volunteer from the 2010-2011 fiscal year (ending in June 2011), and will be announced at RTS's annual Beer & Wine Tasting fundraiser on September 30, 2011.

A Call for Nominations will be announced in early July, where all volunteers, donors, and supporters of RTS will be given an opportunity to nominate a volunteer of choice and submit to the RTS office for a formal review.

The RTS Board of Directors and Staff looks forward to recognizing our first ever Volunteer of the Year, and celebrating this new and exciting award with our community in the Fall. Stay on the lookout for our nomination form in July!

Thank you, YPS donors!

RTS sends a BIG thanks to YPS President, Alex Hamling, and three year member, Candace Priestley, for being our first two Annual Appeal YPS donors this year!

Thank you for your generosity, and for all of your support of our organization throughout the year!

Candace (L) with fellow YPS Member, Erin Scheopner (R), on Spring Rebuilding Day 2010!

Alex busy at work at the YPS Rebuilding Day in August!







Tuesday Sponsor Highlight: Junior League of Seattle

Junior League of Seattle will be returning for Spring Rebuilding Day 2011.  April 30th will mark their 21st Year with Rebuilding Together Seattle!! Wow! Thanks for all your support, Junior League! We look forward to another great project in April!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Volunteer of the Month: Sean Kennedy

Every so often, RTS does a shout out to a volunteer who has gone above and beyond and has been especially helpful to our office and programs.  From now on this post will appear as the "Volunteer of the Month" and will be up the first Wednesday of every month!

This month, RTS is highlighting Sean Kennedy, who works for McKinstry and is a member of both the RTS Site Preview team and the RTS Year-Round Program team.  He has been an outstanding asset to RTS and is always willing to help out.

We asked Sean a few questions about his involvement with Rebuilding Together Seattle:

1. Why did you choose to get involved with RTS? How long have you been volunteering with RTS?
I have been with RTS since April of 2010. That is the first time I saw RTS in action. I went for a walk in my neighborhood one morning and I saw what seemed to be approximately 50 people working on an elderly lady’s home in my neighborhood. There were people painting, fixing doors, replacing hand railings, removing clutter, landscaping, etc. It looked like one of those home makeover shows that you see on TV. What caught my attention was that there were so many people working there and they were really well organized. These people all helped to make both an immediate and lasting impact on the home and the neighborhood. When I saw all of the action going on I instantly knew I wanted to be a part of this. To this day I walk by the house and it still looks great!

2. What do you enjoy the most about working with our organization?
I enjoy working with the different people with all kinds of different backgrounds at RTS. Although sometimes our ideas or opinions may differ, at the end of the day we are all working towards a common goal which is to help out the person in need. I also like the fact that as a member of the site preview team we are the first ones in and we have the initial responsibility of making sure that the particular site we are visiting is part of the RTS mission and also that this needs to be a safe place for RTS to send volunteers to work.

3. What do your colleagues or other volunteers say about RTS? Why do they want to volunteer their time?
All of the other volunteers I have worked with seem to share the same attitude that I have. And that is we want to help make a positive impact for the homeowners that need assistance and also for the neighborhood that they live in. Improving the interior and exterior of a home as well as helping out a person in need is a positive and rewarding thing for everyone involved.

4. What about RTS’ mission are you most drawn to?
The thing I like the most is helping people that really need help. I especially like helping senior citizens. You learn so much from meeting all of the different homeowners and their families and you realize we are all the same and everyone needs a little help or support at some point in their life. That is why it is great that there are organizations like RTS that can help people and give them the boost they need.

5. Do you have any other comments you’d like to share at this time?
I am looking forward to continuing my work with RTS in this new year. I believe that regardless of your background, God has given all of us a special talent that we can help others with. Although my contribution is very small in the grand scheme of things I hope that in some way it helps make people’s lives a little better.

Thank You, Sean, for all your contributions
to RTS and homeowners in need!

To make a donation to Rebuilding Together Seattle in honor of
Sean Kennedy, please visit our donation website.

Thank You, Olympic Crest Coffee Roasters

RTS wants to send a shout out to Chuck and his team at Olympic Crest Coffee Roasters.  We have been planning the coffee sale for some time now, and we are so pleased with how things turned out.  Chuck was even kind enough to personally deliver our Builder's Brew directly to our warehouse.  Please support the RTS Coffee Sale!!
Thank You Olympic Crest Coffee Roasters!!!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Tuesday Sponsor Highlight: O'Dea High School Community

Students, parents, and community members of O'Dea High School completed two Spring Rebuilding Day projects in 2010, and plan to return on April 30th, 2011, for the 21st annual RTS Spring Rebuilding Day! 

Thank you O'Dea High School community members!! 

Monday, January 3, 2011

Thank you, Coffee Sale supporters!


RTS thanks our first Coffee Sale supporters!

Glen Meskimen from our Sponsor group, the Rotary Club of Magnolia, has been busy selling coffee to his fellow rotarians!

Kyle Weeks of Vulcan Inc. and our Development Committee bought stocking stuffers for his family during the Christmas holiday!

Jim Robenalt of Williams Kastner is selling coffee at his firm!

Caitlin McHugh of the RTS Young Professionals Society is selling coffee to her family and friends!


THANK YOU, COFFEE DRINKERS!
To order a bag (or two) of RTS Builders Brew, please email sihrie@rtseattle.org or call 206.682.1231.




Annual Appeal reaches $9,000!

In just one month, Rebuilding Together Seattle supporters have donated over $9,000 to our 2010-2011 Annual Appeal!

Thank you to our most recent donors!

Lawrence and Maribeth Martin
Richard Johnson
Jim and Deborah Bevier Revocable Trust
Jacklin Foushee
Tom and Jodi Kelly
Jill Cunningham
Pam and Ollie Cobb
Thomas and Elizabeth Swanson
Vince and Pam Madden
Georgi and Steve Krom
Merrick Bodmer
Dean Backholm Landscape Design, Inc.
Edean Ihlanfeldt - in honor of Anne Quigg
Steven F. Isaacson
Lea Carlson
Dr. and Mrs. Brian Cornell
Marjory A. Burns
Mark Cramer and Trudi Mueller - in honor of Kristen Cramer
Jeffrey and Dina Frank
Art and Sharon Lustig
Michael and Nancy Mariano, Sr.
Lawrence B. Faust
Paul and Debbie Slatt
Susie and George White
Ted and Allison Bickel
Don and Jean Cornell
The LaGuardias
Allison Spielman Advisors - in honor of Kevin and Sharon McCarty
Becky and Charlie Johnson
Donna F. Yates
Jeff Haines
Adam and Aubrey Cornell
Keating Homes
Eric and Kristin Miller
Marsha and Drew Murphy
Heide Felton
Monte Szendre - c/o Wilson Construction Company
James and Rose Flaherty
Bob and Char Shadduck
Celeste Reilly
Audrey S. Hancock
Larry and Tobey Dickson
Joan Pratt and Lynne Berry
Mary and Tom Herche
Gale Barre
Pete and Karen Wickstrand
Sarah and Joel Ihrie
Margie Thirlby
Alex Hamling

Gemma Borg
Alan Newstead

Join others in making a difference! To a make a donation to RTS, please mail a check (made out to "Rebuilding Together Seattle") to: 811 Harrison St, Seattle, 98109) or visit http://www.rtseattle.org/make_donation.php to make a donation online. Thank you for your support!

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