RTS Energizer: Khalil Sadiq, Gonzaga Seattle Alumni

Project Leader for the Gonzaga Seattle Alumni team, Arnie Mondloch, chose Khalil Sadiq as their site's RTS Energizer.

Khalil center stage (with red cap), homeowner Vicki (in black)

and project leader, Arnie (in hard hat).

"Khalil went above and beyond the call of duty by volunteering to be a sub-project leader to coordinate the effort to tear down a dilapidated garage behind the house AND show up the Saturday before build day to help clear out a water-soaked basement of all contents," Arnie explained.  "Khalil attacked both tasks with a vengeance – he fearlessly took on the soaked boxes, mattresses, and other “stuff” that was covered in mold and mildew in the basement on one Saturday, then led his crew’s effort to tear down the garage that was filled with rain-soaked materials, toys and equipment.   Both were truly “Dirty Jobs” and were done efficiently and effectively due to Khalil’s fearless attitude and approach.  Quite simply, we couldn’t have done it without him!"

* As a special note, Khalil has also traveled to

New Orleans to participate in the RTS/Gonzaga Katrina rebuild effort *

Excellent work, Khalil!

Visit our donation page to make a donation to RTS in Khalil's honor!

RTS Energizer: Trenton Hornbeck, Concierge Guild of Seattle

The Concierge Guild House's Project Leaders, Veronika Smith-Archiapatti and Richard Petrone, elected Trenton Hornbeck to be their RTS Energizer.

“No one ever attains very eminent success by simply doing what is required of him; it is the amount and excellence of what is over and above the required that determines the greatness of ultimate distinction.” – Charles Kendall Adams

"Trenton focused most of his much needed energy and efforts on the Parkview Services front yard work," Veronika said.   "At even the slightest mention of any project by Richard, the Project Leader, Trenton would simply jump in head first and knock it out with no hesitation.  Not once did the words, “how”, “why” or “can’t” leave his lips throughout the day.  After the completion of one project, he was on to the next without skipping a beat.  Trenton transplanted bushes, laid boarder around trees in the side yard, and helped supply beauty bark to the back yard, without even having to be asked.  These are only a few of his efforts; Trenton demonstrated true greatness during the entire day and had a smile on his face the entire time."

"We couldn’t have done it without him!"

Excellent work, Trenton!!!

Visit our donation page to make a donation to RTS in Trenton's honor

RTS Energizer: John Handley, Wright Runstad & Company

Jeff Kasowski, Project Manager for Wright Runstad & Company, chose John Handley as the RTS Energizer for the day. 

"This is not an easy nomination because of all the great talent at Wright Runstad & Company," Jeff explained.  "Everyone performed an outstanding job with a positive and fun attitude all day. With 35 volunteers working in a small area we really developed close relationships. However, out of all the great people John Handley stuck out to me."

"John was on the painting crew and responsible for painting a bedroom that was originally painted yellow, " continued Jeff.  "John stayed with the project from morning until night. His attitude was great and as the afternoon rolled in he was on his third coat he was positive and encouraging to the others helping in that area. His persistence paid off and the room looks great."

Great work, John!!

 

**Visit our donation page to make a donation to RTS in John's honor**

RTS Energizer: Sean Davidson, O'Dea High School

Volunteer Coordinator, David Olinger, chose Sean Davidson as the O'Dea High School project site's Energizer.  "O’Dea High School student Sean Davidson was a great asset to our Rebuilding Together Team this year," David said.  "He worked diligently throughout the day to complete his project of painting a refreshing the room of our client.  Given the limited space in the room he worked relatively isolated from the rest of his peers who were working on landscaping projects on the exterior of the house.  In the end the work truly paid off and the room looked great.  Awesome Job Sean!"

Way to go, Sean!!

**Visit our donation page to make a donation to RTS in Sean's honor**

St. Anne School Supply Drive

St. Anne School hosted a supply drive to benefit Rebuilding Together Seattle.  Every year for Spring Rebuilding Day, RTS creates around 25 boxes of supplies.  If it weren't for the help of St. Anne School, we would surely run out of essential supplies needed at the project sites!  Last year, the school donated a whole bunch of great cleaning supplies and this year was no different!  This year, along with the cleaning supplies, they were even able to get yard tools donated! 

Thank You, St. Anne School!!



RTS Energizer: Susan Walters

Christi Rizzuto, Project Manager for PEMCO, chose Susan Walters to be their Spring Rebuilding Day RTS Energizer!

"Susan went the extra mile in every way," Christi explained. "She helped prior to Saturday, bringing tables and chairs and getting “food for the troops”. She was one of the first ones there, setting up and making sure everything was ready when the rest of the volunteers showed up. She helped out with yard work and other projects as well as being there when needed to obtain additional supplies. She was a true inspiration to all of us, as she always had a smile on her face, even at the end of the day (when she was one of the very last to leave) when I’m sure she was exhausted."

Great work, Susan!!

**Visit our donation page to make a donation to RTS in Susan's honor**

Board Member of the Month: Anne Quigg

Anne Quigg has been involved with Rebuilding Together Seattle for close to 20 years.  She has been an advocate for so many homeowners in need and has gone above and beyond as the Project Manager on these projects. This fiscal year alone Anne and Assumption Parish have completed six projects, contributing over $30,000 in total market value repairs. She even got her parish on board to join the RTS Year-Round Program!

Anne with homeowner, Earl, during our fall 2010 Veterans Rebuilding Day

"After 19 years of involvement with Rebuilding Together Seattle, Anne has made significant contributions to our organization," says RTS Director, Margie Thirlby.  "In addition to being an exceptional Board Member (who has only missed one Board meeting during my time so far at RTS!), Anne is a constant advocate for RTS in spreading the word about our programs, and searching for members of her community that can use our support.  Aside from Board involvement, Anne leads multiple projects throughout the year.   Anne has an incredible ability to engage any volunteer group and get them beyond excited about volunteering and supporting RTS in a matter of minutes.  Her energy is contagious, and her volunteers come back each year to support the effort.  No words can sum up how wonderful Anne is!”

How did you first get involved with RTS?

My first involvement with RTS (Christmas in April at that time) was 2^nd year of existence.  Mary Herche (Junior League friend) talked me into helping out.  The next year Karen Wickstrand talked me into just “visiting” a man named Bill.  Bill and his house were in bad shape.  I sponsored Bill’s house and spent six weeks getting everyone I knew involved in the process.  We restored Bill’s home and heart into a warm and cozy place.  His surviving daughter enjoys it to this day.

What do you enjoy most about being a board member for RTS?

The best part of being a board member (now completing my third and last three year term) is commitment all members have to serve.  We all personally donate our time and talent and ask our friends/business associates to do the same.  All members are “givers” and great stewards of the RTS mission.  Our backgrounds are varied, we trust and respect each other and support our strong leadership.  I value my lifetime friendships I have made through RTS.  Additionally, my friends and parish value me for introducing them to RTS.  We will always tell the stories of the homeowners we have helped… even if the stories include rats (dead or alive), non-working plumbing or electricity or frail women scaling a dumpster ladder as we drive off looking for that one special thing that might have accidentally been tossed.

What are your hopes for RTS in the years to come?

My hope for RTS is for the continued and professional growth.  In all my years I have never seen such a great staff, board, sponsor and volunteer base.  I am proud to be associated with RTS and plan to support all future efforts.

Thank you, Youth Board Donors!

On Saturday, the RTS Youth Board partnered with volunteers from the UW Project Management Team (lead by Phil Renz) to restore the home of Deborah and her family in Beacon Hill. The project was a HUGE success, and would not have been made possible without the generosity of the Youth Board Spring Rebuilding Day 2011 Donors.


Thank you, donors, for your support!

Mary and Tom Herche

Lisa K. Pirnie

Lake Union Travel

Dave and Ann Kocer

Brenda and Tom Heflin

Jim and Mary Ellen Weber

Cathleen Clampitt

Bruce and M.A. Sangeorzan

Thomas Wilkes and Kathleen Greer-Wilkes

Lynne Berry

Ray and Rosemary Siderius

Dan and Julie Coleman

Stephen and Wendy Sefcik

Ginny Scalzo

Lisa Reynvaan-Hawes

Tracy A. Lloyd

Robert L. Aigner

Pauline Bach

Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Ratti

Kary Doerfler

Robert and Martha Aigner

Glen A. Curda and Jeanne Marie Clavere

Chapin and Janet Day

Elaine Moody and Mike Taylor

Kristi and Brent Greene

Pat and Kathy Shultz

John and Suzanne Rettenmier

Janet and David Aigner

Kelly and Bob Crimmins

Tobey Clarkin

P.R. Morris

Layne Presho and Dan Dunne

Horace and Barbara Hayworth

Lee Ann Rasmus

Jamie Dearn

Volunteer of the Month: SRD 2011 Project Leaders

For the month of May, RTS has decided that there are no more deserving volunteers than those who spent hours planning for their Spring Rebuilding Day 2011 projects that took place on April 30th and made the day an enormous success- our SRD 2011 Project Leaders!!!

If you know any of these great leaders, give them a pat on the back or a high five next time you see them.  They helped homeowners in need so that they may live in warmth, safety, and independence.

Listed by sponsor group in alphabetical order are the rockstar volunteers of April:

ASCE
Arthur Fleming
Marika Hjert-Bernardi

Assumption Parish
Anne Quigg
Tim Lane

Booz Allen Hamilton
Matt Coldwell
Ed Ball

Center for Spiritual Living
Tim Brincefield
Kathi White

CoHo Team of Windermere with Copiers NW
Peter Wolf
Doug Wilson

Concierge Guild of Seattle
Richard Petrone
Veronika Smith-Archiapatti

Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Pete Kangas
Anna Gordon

Gonzaga Seattle Alumni
Arnie Mondloch
Brooke Sullivan

Greenpoint Technologies
Carmine Coburn
Katelin Benson

Honeywell
Russ Schultz

Howard S. Wright
Randy Rademaker
Chris Martindale

Intellectual Ventures and Perkins Coie
Karen Fuller
Lisa Miner
John Hanks
Joe Newland

Junior League of Seattle
Brooke Hannaford
Roshele Allison
Kelly Lems

KPFF Consulting Engineers
Trevor Lighty
Evan Edgecomb

Krekow Jennings
Pat Cabe

O'Dea High School
Mike Santopolo
David Olinger

PEMCO
Christi Rizzuto

Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland PLLC
Tony Jarosz
Gale Jarosz

SEARS with GLY Construction
Jim David
Ken James

The CWD Group
Sarah Anderson
Ryan Abeo

Vulcan and AGC of Washington
Jim Broadlick

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Jenni Loreti
Eric Kormondy

Wright Runstad & Company
Jeff Kasowski
Corliss Perdaems

Youth Board of RTS with UW Project Management Students
Phil Renz & team
Jenny Huston
Megan Sherman

THANK YOU SRD 2011 PROJECT LEADERS!!

A letter from Gary Officer (RT National)

May 2, 2011

Dear Rebuilding Together Affiliates,

Rebuilding Together's National Rebuilding Day 2011 occurred this past Saturday, and was accomplished with unprecedented support across the country. Approximately 4,000 projects were completed at the hands of dedicated volunteers, generous national and local sponsors, and Rebuilding Together's 200 affiliates. National Rebuilding Day serves as a cornerstone of our mission and brings national attention to the housing need that exists in countless communities across America. It reminds us all that affordable housing is a critical element to the health and development of our nation. Peoples' most basic needs are addressed on this national day of service, through the commitment of individuals like yourselves. So far, 4 million media impressions have swept the nation from California to Rhode Island, chronicling the projects completed this past Saturday and the homeowners' lives we have changed forever. National Rebuilding Day gained incredible momentum through our social media campaign as well, as Rebuilding Together's Facebook and Twitter pages experienced hundreds of new followers and feedback on our National Day of Service. Thus, news coverage was plentiful across the country - please continue to check on our National Rebuilding Day page, as media and social updates from across the network continue to be sent in for the following days. We are hearing stories that truly capture the essence of Rebuilding Together's impact on homeowners facing unthinkable hardship. For example, homeowner Minnie Johnson was living in her basement because she did not have heat in her home to keep her warm. She worked at a local hospital and took on 2 additional jobs to put her daughter through college, which took precedence over basic home repairs. Like Minnie, thousands of homeowners thanked Rebuilding Together on National Rebuilding Day for changing their lives and allowing them to fully live in their homes in safety and comfort. Congratulations on the immense success our entire network had on National Rebuilding Day. We thank you for all the work you do every day.

Gary A. Officer Rebuilding Together President & CEO