Spring Rebuilding Day 2013 Photo Preview

Some of our favorite photos from Spring Rebuilding Day so far:

Van Ness Feldman volunteers with Albert and his grandson (photo by Dana Questad)

Gonzaga Alumni volunteer with Diane

Melanie with Project Manager, Joe Black.

Swinerton volunteers

Kim and Claire (RTS Program Associate)

O'Dea volunteers with Theresa

Foster Pepper/Goodman Real Estate with Tamara

Wright Runstad volunteers helping Margot

Gonzaga volunteers hard at work

Intellectual Ventures Project Leads

Emmanuel Episcopal volunteer with Linda

Pemco volunteers with Alanna

YPS volunteer working at Antonia's house

Many, many more photos to come!

About the Van Ness Feldman GordonDerr culture and RTS partnership

Top sponsor group, Van Ness Feldman GordonDerr, is geared up for their first ever Spring Rebuilding Day project! This Saturday, more than 20 volunteers from the law firm will restore the home of Albert, an elderly man living with his 8 year old grandson in the Central District.

RTS is so excited to be working with Van Ness Feldman GordonDerr this year. Here is what Julie, Volunteer Coordinator with VNF, had to say about working with RTS:

"The foundation of Van Ness Feldman GordonDerr’s culture is giving back to our community. Our firm has a long history of involvement and dedication to serving low-income and homeless individuals and families in their need for adequate housing. Believing everyone deserves a safe place to call home, VNF is proud to partner with RTS to make a difference for those in need.

VNF chose RTS as a community partner because it was the perfect opportunity to marry the firm’s dedication to those in need of housing with the hands-on ability to make a difference and get our hands dirty in making this vision a reality."

We are looking forward to posting photos of the Van Ness Feldman GordonDerr project after tomorrow's event. Good luck volunteers!

Perkins Coie to restore home of elderly couple in Madison Valley!

Perkins Coie has partnered with Rebuilding Together Seattle for over 10 years! We are proud to have Perkins Coie serve as a top sponsor on Spring Rebuilding Day.

Tomorrow, 30 volunteers from Perkins Coie will restore the home of OD and Bernice, an elderly couple living in Madison Valley.  OD is a WWII veteran who served in New Orleans from 1943-1946.  Volunteers will paint the exterior of the house, repair the gutters, trim back shrubbery, and install grab bars and handrails.  

Last year Perkins Coie partnered with Intellectual Ventures to help Elleree Harrison, a widow of a veteran.  Check out the photos below from last year.

RTS is looking forward to another great project with Perkins Coie this Saturday!  Thank you Perkins Coie volunteers and this year's volunteer Project Manager, Board Member, Randy Rademaker, for all you've done!  Stay tuned for photos of the restoration of OD and Bernice's home.

What Greenpoint Technologies has to say about Spring Rebuilding Day

RTS is proud to have Greenpoint serve as our top sponsor on Spring Rebuilding Day for another year.  Here's what Greenpoint has to say about our partnership:

"The event speaks to our core values of Fun, Integrity, Teamwork, Creativity and Community Service. It’s amazing how much you can accomplish in one day. We have a great time helping a family in need while strengthening relationships with coworkers outside of the office. It’s one of our favorite days of the year.

Our favorite part is watching everyone pitch in; we all do a little bit and a lot of stuff gets done. It’s rewarding leaving the home in better shape and this is the heart of what we do. We love to improve things; we love to build and come together; teamwork is our cornerstone value.

We support many charities and organizations but this is by far our favorite event. In one short day you witness the impact made on a family and their home. It’s the reason we come back every year."

Thank you, Greenpoint Technologies, for your continued support! See you tomorrow!

Meet the Staff: Paige Schultz

Paige (center), volunteering at the 2012 Beer and Wine Tasting fundraiser!

This month, RTS welcomed Paige Schultz to our team.  Paige is serving as our new Development Associate, assisting with fundraising events, individual giving, volunteer engagement, marketing, PR, and more!  Paige first joined RTS in 2011 when she served as a Program and Development Intern.  Paige did an outstanding job helping with our annual fundraiser and program events, and we are thrilled to have Paige back in action!

Let's get to know Paige!

How did you first get involved with Rebuilding Together Seattle?

I first heard about RTS through my dad, who was leading a project for Honeywell. After graduating from Western Washington University in 2011, I came to RTS as an intern during the summer and fall. I loved my time with RTS, but ultimately took a job in finance. When the development associate position at RTS opened up, I knew it was what I wanted to do. I am beyond excited to be back at RTS!

Why are you passionate about the mission of Rebuilding Together Seattle?

RTS brings together so many diverse groups of people, from homeowners to sponsors and volunteers to donors. It is amazing to watch people who might not have otherwise met, interact with one another in a  meaningful way to ensure that every person has a safe and healthy place to call home. A lot of homeowners that are served by RTS live in the home they grew up in, or that their children grew up in. Seeing these homes be transformed into something new again is special in a world where often times the old is wiped away to make room for the new. I am so happy to be involved in what we are doing here!
 

What are some of your hopes for Rebuilding Together Seattle in years to come? 

I hope that RTS becomes a household name. It is great to see how much the organization has grown just in the last year and a half, and I truly believe that we are very close to our tipping point. I am honored to be involved during this phase of our growth and I am looking forward to introducing new groups of people to RTS. 

Tell us a bit about yourself – what do you do outside of work?

I am blessed with a large family, almost all of whom live in the area, and a great group of close friends.  I spend  most my time with this close knit group of family and friends. Some of my favorite Seattle activities include attending sports games (Go Hawks!), going to concerts, and exploring all the beautiful scenes Seattle has to offer.  Beyond that, I love to read, watch movies, and travel as much as possible.

Avoid DIY Disasters! (Tips from Real Estate Agent, Kristen Cramer)

Today our former Board Member, Kristen Cramer (Lake & Company Real Estate), shared a fun article about avoiding "DIY Disasters."  As we prepare for Spring Rebuilding Day this Saturday and start thinking about Spring cleaning and projects at OUR homes, we thought you'd enjoy reading this great advice!

RTS thanks Cedar Grove for their generous support!

Rebuilding Together Seattle would like to officially welcome Cedar Grove to our community!  This year, Cedar Grove decided to support our organization through donating some of their services to select RTS project sites.   In January, Cedar Grove donated a 30 yard and a 20 yard roll off container to two of our Safe at Home projects, and in April, Cedar Grove donated a 2 yard and a 40 yard container to two of our Team Build projects.

For Spring Rebuilding Day (this Saturday), Cedar Grove will offer RTS discounted pricing on delivery fees, haul fees, and tip fees, along with free rentals for our yard waste bins at 13 sites!  We are excited to go green with Cedar Grove!

Waste removal is often a big part of our projects, so we love having a partner like Cedar Grove to support our effort of putting more donor and sponsor dollars directly toward our homeowners!

Here is what Cedar Grove had to say about working with RTS:

“Cedar Grove Composting is honored to partner with Rebuilding Together Seattle to close the loop in our community; recycling green yard waste from their projects and transforming it into nutrient rich soil to go back into their landscape projects for people in our community.  From responsible recycling to beautifying residences and neighborhoods, we’re delighted to support these projects so that Rebuilding Together Seattle can better meet its mission of helping low income homeowners in the greater Seattle community.” -Stephan Banchero III, General Manager, Cedar Grove Composting

You can show your appreciation for Cedar Grove by purchasing their compost at a number of local retailers, including Ace Hardware and Whole Foods Market. You can also sign up from curbside pick-up of your home compost, and help keep millions of tons of waste from entering landfills every year.

Thank you to Cedar Grove for your support of RTS programs!

Booz Allen Hamilton to restore home of family in White Center

RTS is excited to work with Booz Allen Hamilton on their 7th Spring Rebuilding Day! 

This Saturday, 45 volunteeers from top Sponsor, Booz Allen Hamilton, will restore the home of Jessica, a single mother who lives with her  2 children in White Center. Volunteers will replace her bathroom floor and fixtures, repair old electrical work and outlets, rebuild her front steps and ramp, and replace rotting siding. Joining Booz Allen Hamilton will be volunteers from BuzzBee and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation!

We are excited to see all the great work Booz Allen Hamilton volunteers will do on the big day! Stay tuned for pictures here on the RTS Blog and on our Facebook Page.

Announcing the SRD 2013 Photo Contest!

That's right - the Spring Rebuilding Day 2013 Photo Contest is just a few weeks away!  This Saturday, over 1,000 volunteers will restore 26 homes in one day, in addition 1 park and 1 school clean-up.  This provides a great opportunity for volunteers to take photos throughout the day to capture the impact of our big event!

The SRD 2013 Photo Contest is open to ALL volunteers.  Like last year, the photo contest will have the following four categories:

1. Best Before and After Shot
2. Best Homeowner Photo
3. Best Volunteer Action Shot
4. Best Group Photo
5. Most Random/Miscellaneous/Hilarious

Click here to check out the winners of our 2012 photo contest.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS

Volunteers may submit up to three submissions per category.  Photos must be submitted to pschultz@rtseattle.org no later than Monday, May 13th to be considered for the contest.  Please note that photos may be used in future marketing efforts at RTS.

THE RESULTS

The winning photos will be announced on Friday, May 17th!  The names of our winning photographers will be included and credited in our official blog feature announcing the results.  In addition, the winning photographers will each receive (1) gift certificate from RTS to recognize their contributions and excellent photography skills!

Questions?  Please email pschultz@rtseattle.org or call 206.682.1231.  Happy photo taking!

Wells Fargo to restore home of single mother in Columbia City

RTS is excited to partner again with Wells Fargo for Spring Rebuilding Day!  Wells Fargo will serve as one of our top sponsors on Spring Rebuilding Day, and will also complete a Team Build project in June!  Last year, volunteers from Wells Fargo restored the home of Robie, a elderly women living in Central Seattle. Volunteers replaced both her kitchen and bathroom flooring, painted the exterior and interior of her home, repaired her roof, and replaced her furnace.

On April 27th, Wells Fargo volunteers will restore the home of Kim, a single mother living in Columbia City.  Kim cares for 3 children in her home - her 17 and 8 year old sons, and a friend of her son's who lives with them. Volunteers will install new appliances and new weatherized windows, perform much-needed bathroom repairs (they currently do not have a working shower), and general cleanup and yard work.

Thank you, Wells Fargo, for all the work you do for RTS and the community! RTS also thanks volunteer Project Manager, Joe Newland, for his support planning for the rebuilding day.  Stay tuned for photos of the Kim's home transformation after Spring Rebuilding Day on our blog and Facebook page!

Center for Spiritual Living volunteers to celebrate 17th year of Spring Rebuilding Day participation!

On April 27th, long-time sponsor group Center for Spiritual Living (CSL)  will help two homeowners in the Shoreline area, celebrating their 17th year of participation for Spring Rebuilding Day. Center for Spiritual Living, who won the RTS Ambassador's Award in April 2010, has been working with RTS since 1996.  Rebuilding Together Seattle is honored to continue our partnership with CSL for another year. 

Last April, Center for Spiritual Living Volunteers restored the home of Dixie and Luster, an elderly couple living in the Minor neighborhood of Seattle. Volunteers cleared the clutter in the yard (see before and after photos), replaced broken windows, repaired unsafe wiring and installed smoke alarms throughout the home.

BEFORE

AFTER

This year, over 80 volunteers from Center for Spiritual Living will be restoring two homes in the Shoreline Area. Both homes are owned by Parkview Services, a nonprofit organization that runs several group homes around the area for adults with developmental disabilities. Volunteers will be making both homes more functional for the residents and caretakers, as well as doing some much-needed yard work and general cleanup!

Monte Szendre (L) and Tim Brincefield (R), two long-term volunteers from the CSL!

RTS sends a big thanks to the Center for Spiritual Living for your continued support of our organization.  Be sure to check back to the RTS blog and Facebook page for details and photos after April 27th!

Greenpoint Technologies to Rebuild Home of Hurricane Katrina Evacuee, Suzette!

RTS is looking forward to another successful Spring Rebuilding Day with our top sponsor group from the last 4 years, Greenpoint Technologies!

On April 27th, Greenpoint volunteers will be restoring the home of Suzette, who lives with her 11 year old son in the Highland Park neighborhood of West Seattle. Suzette and her son were displaced from their home in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and moved to Seattle soon after. When Suzette received the news that she would be receiving help from Greenpoint    volunteers on Spring Rebuilding Day, she said "I felt like a ton of bricks were lifted off my shoulders and I am so elated that we will be getting much-needed housing repairs so we can have a happy, safe and warm home to live in for many years to come.“

Volunteers will be replacing Suzette's oven and refrigerator, repairing and replacing doors throughout the home, installing new installation, painting throughout the home, replacing bathroom tile, sort and donating items from the garage, and installing flashing smoke alarms and doorbell to help Suzette, who has been deaf since birth.

Thank you, Greenpoint Technologies, for all you do for Rebuilding Together Seattle and for the impact you will have on Suzette's life. We will be posting pictures of Greenpoint volunteers' work restoring Suzette's home after April 27th. Be sure to check back to the blog and our Facebook page for my details and photos!

Van Ness Feldman serves as a new, top sponsor of Spring Rebuilding Day 2013!

For the first time, law firm Van Ness Feldman GordonDerr will be partnering with RTS to participate in Spring Rebuilding Day 2013! On April 27th, Van Ness Feldman GordonDerr will join over 1,000 volunteers to restore 26 homes in the greater Seattle area, and serving as one of the event's top sponsors!

Volunteers from Van Ness Feldman GordonDerr will be rebuilding the home of Albert, who lives with his 8 year old grandson in the Central District. Albert's home is in need of many improvements, and volunteers are eager to make his home a safe place for him and his grandson.  Planned repairs include new drywall and paint, replacing the bathroom counter tops and new tile for the shower and bathroom floor, new functioning kitchen appliances, and general yard work and clutter removal.

In November of 2012, Van Ness Feldman GordonDerr selected RTS as their 2012 Thanksgiving Match program recipient. During this campaign, donors raised over $10,000 for RTS programs, with additional matching funds from the firm itself!  RTS is pleased to utilize Van Ness Feldman's contributions toward Spring Rebuilding Day.

Stay tuned to the RTS Blog and Facebook page for updates and photos to see how Albert's transformation turns out!

Announcing the first official Spring Rebuilding Day Volunteer Giving Challenge!

This year, Rebuilding Together Seattle will launch our first ever Spring Rebuilding Day Volunteer Giving Challenge! On April 27th, we'll be asking over 1,000 volunteers to consider impacting our programs beyond Spring Rebuilding Day, by making a financial contribution to our organization to help more families on our waiting list.

WHY WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!
While our Spring Rebuilding Day Sponsors and volunteers make our annual event possible, we currently have over 60 families on our waiting list who are still in need of critical home repairs.  A majority of individual donations at RTS go toward our Safe at Home Program, our year-round maintenance program that assists clients with critical home improvements each month.  Examples of Safe at Home projects include: building ramps and steps, replacing doors, windows, and kitchen appliances, installing grab bars and hand rails, and providing electric and plumbing repairs.  We're hoping our Spring Rebuilding Day volunteers will consider supporting Safe at Home, so we help more homeowners in need of our services.

HOW THE CAMPAIGN WILL WORK

On April 27th, our Area Coordinators will bring custom pledge cards to each site, so volunteers can make a donation of any amount without having the hassle of making a payment at the event (we will, however, be able to accept checks and run credit cards at select sites who request our machines).  The following week, volunteers will receive a pledge reminder (via email or mail) with information on how to make a donation, based on the preferences indicated on their pledge cards.

ABOUT THE CHALLENGE!

Yes, we are calling April 27th an official challenge!  Here's how it will work:

The Match: We have a family in our community who is so excited about our first Volunteer Giving Challenge, that they are willing match a certain number of volunteer donations from April 27th (the official amount will be announced on the day)!

Sponsor Challenge: In order to add some friendly competition amongst our 28 sponsor/volunteer groups, we’ll be recognizing the group with the highest percentage of volunteer participation!  This group will receive an exclusive marketing feature on our Blog and Facebook page, and a FREE ICE CREAM DELIVERY at the end of the day!  In additional, all groups who pledge $2,000 or more will receive name recognition in our Spring newsletter! 

Individual Challenge: All donors who contribute to the campaign will be recognized in our official Blog feature announcing the results to our campaign, and will receive a 100% tax-deductible receipt for their contributions.  All donors who give $50 or more will be entered into a raffle drawing to win a free iPod Shuffle or a Free Microsoft Surface RT! Those who donate $100.00 or more will be entered twice into the raffle!  Lastly, our top donor from April 27th will be given 2 free tickets to our annual Beer and Wine Tasting Fundraiser in October!

 

What a fun way to celebrate our 23rd annual Spring Rebuilding Day and all the hard work these volunteers are putting in to help our homeowners! Stay tuned to the blog to see more information on the Volunteer Giving Challenge and the results after April 27th.

Questions? Please contact pschultz@rtseattle.org or call 206.682.1231.  To make a donation online in advance of Spring Rebuilding Day, please visit our donation page and remember to write the name of your volunteer/sponsor group in the Designation field!