SRD 2010 Photo Contest WINNERS!

After the intense amount of anticipation that I am sure you have all been feeling- biting your fingernails, checking the blog every day, double checking your sent mail to be sure you submitted your photos on time- the day of reckoning has finally arrived. First off- there were SO MANY great photos submitted!! Thank you all for taking the time to submit your photos to us!

And now, without further ado...

BEST ACTION PHOTO:

Submitted by Doug Wilson of Copiers Northwest

BEST GROUP PHOTO:

Taken by Kelly Guiberson - O'Dea High School parent

BEST BEFORE & AFTER PHOTO:

Submitted by Richard Petrone of the Concierge Guild of Seattle

BEST HOMEOWNER PHOTO:

Submitted by Claire Karlberg of the RTS Young Professionals Society

MISCELLANEOUS (new category):

Submitted by Gary Ballas of Honeywell

We also decided to post the runners up because there were so many great photos submitted!

Best Action Runners Up:

Submitted by Arnie Mondloch of the Gonzaga Alumni Association

Submitted by Collete Ketola of the RTS Young Professionals Society

Best Group Runner Up:

Submitted by Claire Karlberg of the RTS Young Professionals Society

Best Before and After Runners Up:

Submitted by Tim Brincefield of the Center for Spiritual Living

Submitted by Gary Ballas of Honeywell

Best Homeowner Runner Up:

Submitted by Gary Ballas of Honeywell

Best Miscellaneous Runners Up:

Submitted by Claire Karlberg of the RTS Young Professionals Society

Submitted by Katie Herche of the Gonzaga Alumni Association

Thank you, everyone, for your participation and enthusiasm on Spring Rebuilding Day 2010!

RTS Energizer: Ken Britton (J2 Consulting)

J2 Building Consultants worked on the home of a veteran and his family living in Everett.  Project Leader, Mary Barnes, chose Ken Britton as their RTS Energizer.

"Ken helped with the bathroom prep/demo work on Friday 4/23, working till 7:30 that night. Then he was at home depot that evening till 9:00 getting supplies for the next day, so we could all get started first thing Saturday morning," Mary explained.  "He worked all day with us Saturday, pushing ahead in the bathroom renovation work, without complaint. And believe me, just about everything that could go wrong did. Ken stayed late Saturday evening (till 7:00), trying to finish up as much as he could, making sure the toilet was reinstalled so the owners could use the bathroom that night. Ken even returned to the site Sunday morning to finish reinstalling the bathroom shower door so the owners could finally use the new improved shower!"

Great work, Ken!! Thank you for your enthusiasm and for going above and beyond!

To make a donation to Rebuilding Together Seattle in Ken's honor, please visit our donation website!

RTS Energizer: Glen Kuntz (S.D. Deacon)

The S.D. Deacon crew worked on the house of veteran Donald, doing yard cleanup and building a deck, among other projects.  Project Leaders, Sara Lattimer and Jeremy Grisham, chose Glen Kuntz to be the team's RTS Energizer. 

"Glen jumped right into the deck-building part of the project, picked up the materials, laid out the work - all with an amazingly positive attitude - and even took time to coach and train the people working on the decks with him," Sara explained.  "His cheerful energy kept everyone moving all day!"

Glen, working hard on the deck- Sara joked that she only had pictures of his side or back! He was working too hard to stop for a photo shoot :)

To make a donation to Rebuilding Together Seattle in Glen's honor, please visit our donation website!

RTS Energizer: Douglas Gray (Mike Santopolo & WDVA)

Mike Santopolo and the WA Department of Veterans Affairs helped out a disabled veteran on Spring Rebuilding Day 2010. Project leaders, Mike and Jason Cummings, named Douglas Gray as their RTS Energizer. Not only did he go above and beyond on April 24th, he volunteered to come back and worked another 6 hours the next day - What a trooper!

"Doug continually hung in there until the last project was completed. During the rebuilding day, he always looked for projects to do and volunteered for all tasks," Jason explained. "Whether it was working on the saw, pounding nails on the deck, or making runs to the home improvement store, Doug went above and beyond! Thank you Doug!"

Great work Doug!!

To make a donation to Rebuilding Together Seattle in Doug's honor, please visit our donation website!

RTS Energizer: Leo Finnegan (Gonzaga Alumni)

The Gonzaga Alumni Association sponsored a house in Bothell helping disabled homeowner, Steve, with plumbing and new window installment.  Project Leader (and member of the RTS Board of Directors), Arnie Mondloch, chose Leo Finnegan as their RTS Energizer.

Homeowner, Steve, with RTS Energizer, Leo

"Leo was the most dedicated volunteer! Not only did Leo work on the project all day on the “official” build day, he also dedicated the Saturday the weekend BEFORE the build day to get a head start on the window replacement project and was the first to volunteer for the Saturday AFTER the build day to finish up on the window replacement project!," Arnie said.  "Leo stepped up to the call and showed up first thing Saturday morning the following week to finish the project. Together he and I drove the last nail into the trim on the last window at 2:00 pm that day…and he was still smiling!"

Most of Leo’s children attended Gonzaga, including his daughter Patty, who also volunteered for the project on April 24th along with Leo. As a loyal Gonzaga alumni, Leo responded to the call for volunteers for the Gonzaga Alumni Association Community Service Project.

"If it wasn’t for Leo’s dedication, the window replacement project would STILL be unfinished, but because of his efforts, we have another highly satisfied homeowner!" Arnie emphasized.


Great work, Leo!!


To make a donation to Rebuilding Together Seattle in Leo's honor, please visit our donation website!

RTS Energizer: Joe Torres (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), Peter Rowen (Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland), and Hannah Rames (BuzzBee Company)

Booz Allen Hamilton sponsored a project in south Seattle to help Helen and Jeff, a disabled son and mother living in Beacon Hill. Three different groups of volunteers worked at the Booz Allen Hamilton site: BuzzBee Company, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland.

Hannah Rames, from BuzzBee Company, was chosen to be a RTS Energizer by project leaders, Matt Coldwell and Ed Ball, because of "Hannah’s level of effort and willingness to do anything!"

"At 8:30 in the morning Hannah was swinging a 50 pound sledge hammer and demolishing the old concrete front walkway as part of the crew supporting our professional concrete contractor," Matt explained. "At 11:00, she was shoveling and wheel barrowing gravel as part of a team that built a walkway around the house and leveled the back patio and 2:00 found Hannah wielding a saw and clippers trimming back hedges and trees, beautifying the back yard."

This is the second year that Hannah and the Buzzbee team have been part of the Booz Allen worksite, and both she and the Buzzbee staff are incredible supporters of RTS.

Peter Rowen, from Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland, was chosen by Ed and Matt to be a RTS Energizer because of his tireless commitment to the projects of the day.

"Peter was one of the first to arrive from the Ryan Swanson team, and was the last from our team to leave in the late afternoon," Matt said. "He worked a majority of his time on the fence in the back, putting his all into taking down the old fence and installing the new one through bamboo and other obstacles. He was a great team player."

Ed and Matt chose Joe Torres as a RTS Energizer from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation volunteers. Joe was behind all of the food donations for this year’s Rebuilding Day. "He was able to get donations from Starbucks and Krispy Kreme as well as Tutta Bella Pizza, which was a nice improvement from our regular Costco pizza!" Matt said. "He’s been working with us for two years now, and is always one of the first volunteers to arrive and the last to leave. Plus, he does a lot of the dirty work that no one else likes to do."

Way to go Joe, Peter and Hannah!!

To make a donation to Rebuilding Together Seattle in Joe, Peter or Hannah's honor, please visit our donation website!

RTS Energizer: Jeff Berry (Howard S. Wright)

Howard S. Wright sponsored a project for a disabled homeowner, Wesley, in south Seattle. Project Leader, Whitney Evans, chose Jeff Berry from Howard S. Wright as the RTS Energizer for their site.

Jeff, working hard!

"Jeff was our most valuable player; he became involved early on in the project. He did everything from designing the ADA ramps and deck, to the material list, to working with the teams," Whitney said. "He also moved the lumber package piece by piece into the yard because the driveway was blocked by the dumpster. He truly went above and beyond."

Jeff has offered repeatedly to help and is still asking to go back and help Wesley.

Jeff, working on the new deck

Thank you for your hard work at Wesley's home, Jeff!!

To make a donation to Rebuilding Together Seattle in Jeff's honor, please visit our donation website!