Volunteer of the Month: Erick Cruz!

Rebuilding Together Seattle congratulates Erick Cruz (above, left) on being Volunteer of the Month! Erick has been a long time supporter of RTS and has just completed leading one of two recent projects with Turner Construction. On January 29th, over 50 members of the Turner staff set aside time from their annual Officer's meeting to rehabilitate two Central District homes with Rebuilding Together Seattle. Erick, along with a dedicated team of Turner Seattle employees, spent a great deal of January planning the project and completing prep work to make for a successful day. Here is what Erick has to say about his experiences with Rebuilding Together Seattle:

How did you first get involved with Rebuilding Together Seattle?

I got involved as a volunteer 3 years ago, when Dan Gemme (Turner Seattle GM), who is on the RTS board, relocated from our Portland office. He is a strong supporter of RTS and kick started our involvement with the organization and community. 

What do you enjoy most about volunteering with RTS?

My favorite part of volunteering with RTS, is the interaction with the homeowners. Most notably, my favorite part is their reaction the day of the event. They truly appreciate all the hard work and are very touched at the care and thought put into the repairs of their homes.

What about the RTS mission are you most drawn to?

What draws me most to the RTS mission, is being able to give back to the community iwth the skills that I have been fortunate to acquire over the years. Many of these folkds are down on their luck and I realize the importance of lending a helping hand. I consider myself lucky in that as many of us and our families are a stone's throw away from needing this sort of help too.

What are you doing when you aren't volunteering with Rebuilding Together Seattle?

The question here is, what am I not doing? Not sleeping actually. My wife and I recently were blessed with our first son, who is now almost 4 months old. Coincidentally, I also started the evening MBA program at UW, which keeps me super busy. Oh and I also work full time as an engineer at Turner Construction :)

Thank you Erick and the Turner Team!

Announcing the First 14 Hearts Rebuilding Homes Donors!

Rebuilding Together Seattle sends a big "thank you" to the FIRST 14 donors for this year's Hearts Rebuilding Homes Valentine's Day Campaign. These 14 people are giving the gift of a warm and safe home to families in need this Valentine's Day in honor of their loved ones!

To join these supporters, visit http://rtseattle.org/hearts_rebuilding_homes.php.

First 14 Donors

David Kimelman 

Pam Madden 

Paige Schultz 

Margie Thirlby 

Mark Hall 

Jenny Whelan 

Kristen Thyng 

May Saetern 

Monica Berger 

Kari Koos 

John Lee 

Thomas Herche 

Kara Eberle 

Mary Weeks 

There are 10 more days left to participate in this year's Hearts Rebuilding Homes online campaign. Give the gift of a warm and safe home to a homeowner in need this Valentine's Day!

Announcing the 2014 Hearts Rebuilding Homes Campaign!

Give the gift of a warm and safe home!

Looking for a creative and meaningful Valentine's Day gift idea this year? Between February 1st and February 14th, we will be asking our supporters to give the gift of a warm and safe home to a homeowner in need by making a donation to our organization in honor of their loved ones through our 4th annual Hearts Rebuilding Homes Valentine's Day campaign!

Thanks to the generosity of our 2013 Hearts Rebuilding Homes donors, we were able to help four families in need. This year we hope to raise at least $5,000 to help four deserving homeowners on our waiting list (see their stories below). We are excited to celebrate the fourth year of our beloved Valentine's Day campaign, starting on Friday, February 1st. We hope you will consider joining us!

If you would like to support this fun campaign, you will have fourteen days to make a donation online (or by mail) to Rebuilding Together Seattle in honor of your Valentine. After receiving confirmation of your donation, we will mail a special card to your Valentine, notifying them of your donation. Later in the year, we will send an email greeting to all donors and card recipients to let them know about the families we were able to help with your support. 

Please make your donation by February 11 to ensure that your Valentine gets their card in time!

Here are four families on our waiting list who need your support this Valentine's Day:

Ernesto and Perpetua live in Rainier Valley with their teenage son and adult daughter, who has developmental disabilities. Perpetua works part-time work as a nurse and Ernesto is wheelchair bound due to post-polio effects. The family needs a ramp built off their porch so Ernesto can safely exit his home, new grab bars installed and other accessibility improvements around the home. 

Kitisha is the single mother of two and temporary guardian of her nephew, living in Renton. Her family needs new windows in the kids’ rooms, flooring throughout the home, exterior siding replaced, new back stairs, and plumbing work to allow the family to use both bathrooms again. 

Leroy is a 74 year old Army veteran who lives alone in Wallingford. He has limited mobility and is on an oxygen tank due to his COPD. Leroy needs his ramp rebuilt, a couple windows repaired, his kitchen ceiling patched, and lots of clean-up and repair of his bedrooms which were damaged by harmful tenants.

Patricia and Bruce, both in their early 80s, have lived in their Lynwood home for nearly 30 years. Recently, Patricia and Bruce have been dealing with health issues that make it difficult for them to get around their home. They need a wheelchair ramp, grab bars in the bathroom and secure handrails down the stairs, as well as some weatherization repairs to keep them warm through the winter.

Please visit http://rtseattle.org/hearts_rebuilding_homes.php or email Paige Schultz at pschultz@rtseattle.org to learn more about Hearts Rebuilding Homes.

Give the gift of a warm and safe home to a homeowner in need this Valentine's Day!

Volunteer of the Month: Anne Timmermans!

Rebuilding Together Seattle is so happy to recognize Anne Timmermans (above, left) as our Volunteer of the Month! Anne has been a volunteer with Rebuilding Together for nearly 5 years and currently serves on the leadership board for the Young Professionals Society. Anne has been instrumental in the planning for the first ever YPS fundraiser, Sip & Support, on January 25. She has also participated in or lead numerous volunteer projects over the years with the Young Professionals Society. Here is what Anne had to say about this honor:

How did you first get involved with Rebuilding Together Seattle?

Gayle Roberts (Current RTS Board Member) recruited me back in 2009 or 10 as a grad student at UW in the CM department for an RTS project at a high school with the Seattle Sounders, the school’s kids and staff. Anne Quigg, a former RTS Board Member, and I planned the landscaping portion of the day, and we had a great time .

What do you enjoy most about volunteering with RTS?

Working with the homeowners to identify what they really need, and addressing issues with their homes that really impact their daily routines. I try to make sure we address how they get around their homes safely first before we advance with advance with any other planning.

What about the RTS mission are you most drawn to?

I think a lot of the times, we get so busy with our own lives and routines, that we forget a lot of people don’t live as nicely as we do. And, sometimes people just don’t have the basics of warmth, safety, and comfort. A lot of the projects I’ve helped on have made simple, effective changes that have had huge impacts on the homeowner’s lives.

Can you share about a particular project or homeowner that was especially meaningful to you?

The last YPS project in August happened to end up being my favorite homeowner to date, Alton Moton. Matt Macomber and I spent a lot of time doing site visits and pre-work at his house to make sure the YPS day went smoothly. He was just a gem and so nice to talk with whenever we stopped by. I could tell all of the YPS volunteers and our efforts really changed his life.

What are you doing when you aren’t volunteering with Rebuilding Together Seattle?

I just started a new job at Jacobs Engineering a few months back and that keeps me insanely busy during the work week. I am on the Construction Management Board of Directors as the Secretary for the Pacific NW, and anything after that goes spending anything else with friends and family and sometimes sleep.

Thank you, Anne, for all your hard work being an advocate for Rebuilding Together Seattle. Meet Anne and the other YPS leaders at Sip & Support on January 25 at Wine World in the U District from 6pm to 9pm. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: http://sipandsupport2014.eventbee.com

Gearing up for Sip & Support with the Young Professionals Society!

We are so excited for the first ever Young Professionals Society fundraiser, Sip & Support! This year's event will be held at Wine World & Spirits in the University District on January 25 from 6 to 9pm. The evening will feature wine and beer tasting from the knowledgeable guides at Wine World, Bocce Ball on an indoor court, a small silent auction, exciting raffles, and information on the work of the Young Professionals with Rebuilding Together Seattle.

All of the event proceeds will go to support the volunteer projects of the Young Professionals Society year round, including their Spring Rebuilding Day project in April.

Event Info

Date: Saturday, January 25, 2014

Time: 6:00 - 9:00pm

Venue: Wine World & Spirits Ballroom

400 NE 45th St Seattle, WA 98105

Cost: $35 in advance, $40 at the door

Silent Auction Preview

The Seattle Experience

- 2 Space Needle Tickets

- 2 Chihuly Garden and Glass Tickets

- $50 Eltana Wood-Fired Bagels Gift Card

- 6 Bags of Organic Green Mountain Coffee

Butter London Gift Pack

- 15 Nail Laquers

- Manicure/Pedicure Gift Set

Wine Date for Four

- 4 Wine Tastings at Novelty Hill-Januik

- 2 Brick Oven Pizzas from the Novelty Hill-Januik Kitchen

SaltWorks Bamboo Salt Sampler Box Set

Donedei Wines Vertical Set

- 3 Bottles 2007 Merlot

- 3 Bottles 2008 Merlot

*2 sets available*

Seattle Sounders Fan Package

- Autographed Sounders Soccer Ball

- Sounders Hat and Scarf

Chef John Howie Restaurant Tour

- $50 Gift Card to Seastar

- $50 Gift Card to John Howie Steak

- $50 Gift Card to Sport

Nordstrom Shopping Spree

- $200 in Nordstrom Gift Cards

Handmade Earrings and Necklace

Eyelash Extensions from Bella Direct

WSU Cougar Fan Gift Package

- Handmade Cougar-Themed Fleece Blanket

- Cougar-Themed Candy and Popcorn

UW Husky Fan Gift Package 

- Handmade Husky-Themed Fleece Blanket

- Husky-Themed Candy and Popcorn

Raffle Prize

Batch 206 Distillery Experience

-VIP Tour, Tasting for 12 

-Bottle of 'Counter Gin'

-Bottle of 'Batch 206 Vodka'

-Bottle of 'Mad MintVodka'

-Bottle of 'See 7 Stars Moonshine'

You can purchase event tickets in advance online for $35 or at the door for $40 until we sell out. Come support the Young Professionals Society while meeting new people, bidding on fun local products, and trying exciting new wines. We hope to see you there! 

Thank you to Wine World & Spirits and BlackRock Investment Management for their support of this event!

Volunteer of the Month: Ron Hankinson

Ron Hankinson (middle) with his wife Shanne (left), fellow Project Manager Gail Duke, (far left), and family members of the homeowner, Bernsteen, (right).

Rebuilding Together Seattle is excited to recognize Ron Hankinson as the Volunteer of the Month for November! Ron is part of the passionate team at Madrona Ridge Residential who helped coordinate the first ever Safe at Home Impact Day. On November 23rd, over 100 volunteers and over 65 community partners came together to repair and improve 10 homes across Seattle. Ron's expert home repair knowledge and enthusiasm for helping the community were essential to the success of the Safe at Home Impact Day. Here is what Ron has to say about his experience volunteering with RTS:

How did you get involved with RTS?

Madrona Ridge volunteered down in the Portland area last year and wanted to provide the same service in the Seattle region where we have a much larger presence and work force available.  My position in the company created a “natural choice” for me to provide the detailed involvement necessary on such a large scale project.  Lisa Bainter provided a HUGE impact getting all the vendor donations plugged in and organized.  Truly, a team effort!

What did you enjoy most about volunteering with RTS?

A collaborative effort between Madrona Ridge, RTS, the vendors, the team leads, the outside volunteers and especially the home owners themselves…….. That was what was most enjoyable.

What repairs did your volunteer team accomplish? 

Our team consisted of 8 Madrona Ridge Residential/Security Properties volunteers, 2 Apartment Advantage volunteers, 10 additional home owner supplied volunteers and 3 site vendors providing services (Innovative Systems/ D&E Electric, Beacon Plumbing and Alliance Flooring).  We completed the following………

• Replaced kitchen vinyl flooring
• Installed ADA grab bars in bathroom
• Removed 40 cubic yards of clutter
• Installed a new range and built new kitchen cabinetry

 And MANY other repairs and improvements to the home of 86 year old Bernsteen.
 


Ron coaching a volunteer on miter saw technique.

What about RTS's mission are you most drawn to?

Anytime capable people, with good health and the means to financially support those less fortunate than we are, I think we should as the “human thing to do”.  Not to get too deep in the weeds……. My wife Shanne and I are very, very fortunate to have good health, good jobs, 3 beautiful healthy children (Connor, Tennley and Tanner), a “stable life”, if you will.  Giving back to our community is something that Shanne and I try to do to “feel good about the great lives we have”.  Donating, labor, knowledge of building construction, materials and our time, frankly, just makes us feel good. I think RTS represents this concept well and felt blessed to be an integral part of something bigger that affected so many peoples lives, both volunteers and home owners.

Thank you Ron for all of your hard work making the first Safe at Home Impact Day a huge success!

Volunteers of the Month: The RTS Intern Team!

Rebuilding Together Seattle is so happy to recognize our amazing intern team as our Volunteers of the Month for October. Each one of them worked tirelessly in the weeks and months leading up to the 4th Annual Beer & Wine Tasting fundraiser to help make sure it was a smashing success. The staff was so proud of their dedication and positive "roll up your sleeves" attitude that we wanted to give them extra-special recognition as our Volunteers of the Month.

Jinhee, Jaclyn, and Stephanie each have their own unique perspective on Rebuilding Together Seattle so let's hear from each of them what this honor means.

How did you first get involved with Rebuilding Together Seattle?

Stephanie

I first heard about Rebuilding Together Seattle from my friend, Kristen Kirst (Senior Director of Advancement Communications and Marketing at Seattle University), who had wonderful things to say about Margie Thirlby, the Executive Director of RTS. I was meeting with Kristen because I wanted to get into the non-profit sector in Seattle, and she suggested I speak with Margie about a position here. Next, I went online and signed up to participate in the Spring Rebuilding Day in April.

Jinhee

I found out about RTS through a friend of mine who also had an internship at RTS. The more I listened to what she had to say about how wonderful the organization is and what it does for the community, the more I wanted to be a part of it. Additionally, at this time of economic hardship which has had a great impact on my friends, I thought having an organization such as RTS around our region was such a relief and I applied for the internship program to explore more about the organization.

Jaclyn

I first heard about Rebuilding Together Seattle through my brother who is friends with Margie’s brother. After hearing about RTS and its programs and also talking with Margie, I became really interested in getting involved. When I heard about the internship program, I was immediately drawn to the position and thought that it would be a great way to gain some valuable experience while working towards a really important cause.

What have you enjoyed most in your time with RTS?

Stephanie

My biggest highlights at RTS have been conducting the homeowner surveys from our Spring Rebuilding Day and seeing the Beer & Wine Tasting come together in October. I was so touched when speaking with the homeowners about the powerful impact of our services not just on their homes, but in their lives. The Beer & Wine Tasting event was such a blast, and I really enjoyed putting faces to names and seeing the items, which I helped to secure, bring in funding for our future projects. I have loved working with the whole RTS team, not just the staff, but all the volunteers and supporters as well.

Jinhee

The people I work with and the positive outcomes RTS brings in to the community make my time here at RTS worthwhile to be committed to. The passion and pride I feel from the RTS staff for what they do to assist the homeowners influence me in such a positive way. It is also great to see the results of the effort the staff, sponsors, volunteers and homeowners put into the programs we provide. The smiles on the homeowners’ faces, their thank you letters as well as their now safer, warmer and more independent houses remind me about how thankful I am to work for RTS.

 
Jaclyn

Helping to prepare for the Beer and Wine Tasting auction was really exciting. I enjoyed helping organize such a big event, and I was able to learn a lot about putting together a fundraising event in the process. It was amazing seeing the whole process from start to finish, especially since it turned out to be such a success.

What about the RTS mission are you most drawn to?

Stephanie   

I feel that our most powerful impact on our clients is our ability to restore their sense of control in their own lives and their faith in the humanity and generosity of others. It is an amazing thing to be a part of!

Jinhee

The mission of RTS is to let everyone live in warmth, safety, and independence and I completely agree with that statement. Building a broader social safety net and providing a hand when someone is in a difficult situation is one of the crucial factors for all of us to live a happy, satisfied life. Thus, the mission of RTS is not only beneficial for those in need but it is also beneficial for all of us to create a stronger, prosperous community.

Jaclyn      

I think it is so important that every person has the opportunity to feel safe in their home. Many people deal with daily struggles that they have no control over, and helping someone feel warm and safe in their own home is something that can be controlled. RTS works to help struggling homeowners by contributing a tangible improvement to their home and their life.

What are your goals and aspirations after you are done with your time at RTS?

Stephanie

I am currently pursuing opportunities in non-profit development and outreach. I hope to secure a position that focuses on relationship building and allows me to improve the lives of others. 

Jinhee

I would like to continuously get involved with this wonderful organization as a volunteer after I am finished with my time at RTS. The internship program here at RTS has been an eye-opening experience which has taught me that there are still so many people in our region, living under inferior conditions and, that there are also so many warm hearted people willing to help those in need.  I would like to put in my time and effort to create a better environment for everyone and I also believe learning practical skills regarding house repair will be a great asset for me personally!

Jaclyn

I hope to continue in the nonprofit sector, whether in a development role or something else, I am not sure! I will take with me a great deal of knowledge acquired at RTS and hope to continue to be involved in any way in the future.

Rebuilding Together Seattle sends a big thank you to Stephanie, Jinhee, and Jaclyn for all of their hard work and dedication over the past few months! We couldn't accomplish our mission without passionate volunteers like these three. To find out more about how you can get involved with Rebuilding Together Seattle, email Paige Schultz at pschultz@rtseattle.org or call our office at 206-682-1231.