Thank you to our newest Hearts Rebuilding Homes donors!

RTS thanks the most recent donors of Hearts Rebuilding Homes. Thank you for your support of our organization and our campaign. Happy Valentine's Day!

Pam Madden, RTS Development Committee

Andrea Anthony, RTS Young Professionals Society

Caitlin McHugh, RTS Young Professionals Society

Gayle Roberts, RTS Board of Directors

Brooke Sullivan, RTS Board of Directors

Jim Robenalt, Volunteer

Board Member of the Month: Jim Broadlick, Vulcan Inc.

Every first Thursday of the month, RTS will be posting a new blog series- Board Member of the Month- that will include an interview with a Board of Directors member.  We think it's important that the community gets to know who we are here at RTS!

For our first post, we would like to highlight our newest Board Member, Jim Broadlick, Director of Design and Construction at Vulcan Inc.  Jim joined the RTS Board of Directors on January 14th, and the RTS Board and Staff is very excited about Jim's commitment.

“RTS is thrilled to have Jim join our Board," said RTS Director, Margie Thirlby.  "In addition to many years of personal and professional experience in the (home) building industry, Jim shows a great understanding of the RTS mission and works well with our clients and volunteers.  Jim will be a great asset to the Site Preview Team, our programs, and in helping RTS develop new relationships in the Seattle community.”

RTS asked Jim a few questions about his involvement:

How did you first get involved with RTS?

I had the opportunity to work with RTS on a project at the Cascade Peoples Center last summer. It was a collaborative effort between CPC, RTS and Vulcan. CPC provided the opportunity, RTS the framework and guidance and Vulcan provided the materials & labor. We divided the project into two phases. The first was performed by the skilled craftsman working at the new Vulcan developments in SLU. Our contractors were very generous in donating materials and labor to renovate the kitchen, re-caulk the exterior glazing, re-grade runoff away from the building and install a new gravel path. All for this work was completed over a 3 week period leading up to a volunteer day when Vulcan employees could come in on a Saturday and make their contribution to the community center. Eighteen volunteers working with RTS and staff from CPC cleared away brush, built paths, worked on landscaping and painted inside the building. I was very impressed with the way the folks from RTS engaged the community and provided an avenue for our company to make a positive and tangible contribution to the community.

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

I’m looking forward to working with a board that has such a diverse background. I expect to find differing views on how to promote and strengthen the position of RTS in the community increase its ability to serve the community and engage volunteers. I look forward finding ways to contribute.

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

The RTS mission is very tangible. It would be hard not to empathize with the people that benefit from the work RTS makes possible. Increasing the number of individuals that have access to RTS services and growing the volunteer base, individual and corporate, would be my primary hope for the organization.

Doing some pre-project warm ups at the Cascade People's Center!

Getting down to business!

Please join us in welcoming Jim on board!! (no pun intended ;)

Thank you to our first 14 Hearts Rebuilding Homes donors!

RTS sends a BIG thank you to our FIRST 14 Hearts Rebuilding Homes donors. Thank you for giving the gift of a safe and healthy home to a homeowner in need!

To join our supporters in giving, please visit: http://rtseattle.org/hearts_rebuilding_homes.php.
Hearts Rebuilding Homes - First 14 Donors!

1. Zach Oliver (Unadomanda.com), RTS Young Professionals Society
2. Margie Thirlby, RTS Staff
3. Sarah Ihrie, RTS Staff
4. Erica Strathern, RTS Staff
5. Joel Ihrie, Volunteer
6. Nathan Allen, Supporter

7. Kristen Kirst, Supporter

8. Kristen Cramer, RTS Board of Directors
9. Arnie Mondloch, RTS Board of Directors
10. Val Gorder, RTS Board of Directors
11. Charlie Foushee, RTS Board of Directors
12. Ashley O'Hagan, Supporter

13. Don Cramer, Supporter

14. Mary Konrad Weeks, Supporter

Volunteer of the Month: Amy Peltonen

Amy joined RTS as a member of the Young Professionals Society last summer and volunteered at both the first YPS Rebuilding Day in August, and the Warehouse Cleanup later that fall.  Amy has shown great dedication to RTS' mission of helping homeowners in need. At the Honeywell Rebuilding Day las fall, Amy worked one-on-one with a homeowner to help her organize her belongings and get rid of items she didn't need. By the end of the day, Amy had assisted her in clearing out and organizaing her entire living room and bathroom.

Recently, Amy also joined the Site Preview Team. "Amy's willingness to help out whenever and wherever and her positive attitude really stood out to me. When she mentioned her interest in being a part of the RTS team on a regular basis, I immediately agreed that she would be an excellent fit on our Site Preview Team," said Sarah Ihrie, RTS Program and Marketing Manager.

Learn a little bit more about Amy from her interview:

1. Why did you choose to get involved with RTS? How long have you been volunteering with RTS?

I decided to get involved with RTS after seeing coverage of a Rebuilding Day on one of our local news websites. I loved the idea of getting together a group of volunteers to help others in the Seattle area who need help with their homes. Because the home is so important for one's comfort and safety, Rebuilding Days are a great way to make a large, positive, immediate impact in people's lives.

2. What do you enjoy the most about working with our organization?

What I enjoy most is having direct contact with the homeowners we are helping. These are all good people who have ended up in unfortunate situations, so it is very rewarding to hear their stories and to address their home-related concerns.

3. What do your colleagues or other volunteers say about RTS? Why do they want to volunteer their time?

One of the wonderful things about RTS is working with the other volunteers! Being part of the RTS crew is a great way to meet friendly, like-minded professionals and is certainly another motivator for being involved in the organization.

4. What about RTS’ mission are you most drawn to?

I am most drawn to the mission of helping elderly and/or disabled people.

When people get older, research shows that they would rather stay in their homes (versus assisted care facilities) even as they start to experience limitations brought on by chronic disease. With the growing number of seniors, a limited number of assisted care facilities (often with a prohibitive cost) and homeowners' desire to age in place, I am happy to be part of a team that can help low-income seniors stay in their homes.
I feel a personal connection with people who are disabled, as my late brother was disabled and lived with my parents until he was 21. At that age my family helped set him up to live independently in his own home. He felt a huge sense of pride to have his own place! Seeing how much my brother valued his independent living situation makes it all the more meaningful to be a part of RTS as they help low-income disabled people with their homes.

5. Do you have any other comments you’d like to share at this time?

As part of organizing a recent panelist/speaker event on aging, technology and health, I learned a lot about the at-home needs of those with physical and/or mental limitations. Armed with this new knowledge, I asked if I could be a part of the site preview team that would go on the initial home visits of potential work sites. Last week I had a great experience going on my first site preview visit with fellow volunteer Sean Kennedy, where I could see lots of opportunities for home improvements to proactively address the needs of the homeowners. I look forward to doing more site previews and I appreciate RTS giving me the opportunity to contribute in this way!

Amy (left) hard at work at the YPS Rebuilding Day

 

Thank you for your commitment to RTS, Amy!!

Year-Round Program Highlight: Shirley in Wedgwood

The Year-Round Program team is working hard and helping homeowners in need!! Recently, the Assumption Parish gave their time, funds, and energy to an elderly woman in need right in their own neighborhood. 

"On behalf of Anne, Rebuilding Together Seattle and myself, THANK YOU for an amazing day of work!" Tim, an RTS Board Member said to the Assumption volunteers.   "In one day, Shirley has gone from a stove with one working burner, a refrigerator that was half warm, a dishwasher that has been broken for years, a non-existent garbage disposal, a cluttered and dirty kitchen, and a tiny TV to a completely clean and renovated kitchen with all new appliances."

Tim shared his interaction with Shirley: "You all have made such a big difference in her life. She told me she was so excited about today that she couldn’t sleep last night! But now she feels like she “just got her 100,000 mile tune up and is now ready for more miles!” She is such a great woman. She also teared up as I left today saying, “You can’t imagine what this means to me. I don’t know why I deserve all this help but... thank you to all the people at your church.”

Parishioners with homeowner, Shirley

Thank you Assumption Parish!!

Day 1 of Hearts Rebuilding Homes!

February 1st marks the first day of the new 14-Day donation campaign of Rebuilding Together Seattle: Hearts Rebuilding Homes.

Looking for a creative and meaningful Valentine's Day gift idea this year? From February 1st through February 14th, RTS supporters can make a donation to Rebuilding Together Seattle in honor of their loved ones. In return, RTS will mail your Valentine a special card notifying him/her of your donation.

Give the gift of a warm and safe home to a homeowner in need TODAY!The first 14 Hearts Rebuilding Homes donors will be featured on the RTS Blog this week!

Questions? Please visit http://rtseattle.org/hearts_rebuilding_homes.php or email mthirlby@rtseattle.org.

Thank you for your support!

Tuesday Sponsor Highlight: Concierge Guild of Seattle

RTS is excited to welcome back the Concierge Guild of Seattle for yet another Spring Rebuilding Day project!! We send our congrats out to Richard Petrone, new CGS President and Project Leader for SRD 2011.

Thank you for your continued support, Concierge Guild of Seattle!!