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| Welcome the Solorzano Family |
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To their new DC Habitat for Humanity Home
The Solorzano family had a longer journey than most to their new home. Leonidas Solorzano, who had resided in DC for many years, met and married his wife Maria in his native El Salvador. When he returned to the US, leaving Maria and their elder daughter, Rosemary, in El Salvador, it was with the goal of bringing his young family to DC as soon as he was financially able. It took almost ten years to achieve their dream of uniting their family.
In addition to the joy they felt being welcomed to a home of their own in their adopted country, they will soon have the joy of welcoming a third child to their family.
The Solorzanos are pictured with friends, family, their DC Habitat family partner and representatives from Bank of America, without whose financial support this wonderful day of celebration would not have been possible. Jeannan Peterson, Senior Vice President and Market Development Manager (second from right) and Jay Hills, Chair, Team Bank of America Volunteer Network (third from left) spoke about Bank of America's generous commitment nationwide of both volunteers and funding to the Habitat program.
Find out more about Bank of America's philosophy:
"We believe, very simply, that it is the actions of individuals working together that build strong communities ... and that business has an obligation to support those actions in the communities it serves."
 Diana Solorzano hugging her new home. |
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Welcome the Shuler Family |
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To their new DC Habitat for Humanity Home
Dominic, the 13-year-old eldest Shuler son, was excited about moving into a new home with a big yard where he and his three brothers can play. For many years Dominic, Jerique (7), Tyrique (6) and Kirique (3) were not allowed outside because their neighborhood was too dangerous.
Just one year ago, the Shulers gained custody of the three younger boys, their godchildren, saving them from foster care and potentially being separated. The Shulers were living in a two-bedroom apartment when the three youngest joined the family and Mr. and Mrs. Shuler vowed to do whatever it took to improve the housing situation for their loving and close-knit family.
Mr. Shuler says the family took great pride in working on their home. They completed the required 300 "sweat-equity" hours quickly, saying "We are happy to be putting hard work and money into something that we can call our own."
The home was sponsored by Freddie Mac, which sent more than 1,000 volunteers to help build the house, as well as providing the funding to pay for all building materials, infrastructure and other associated expenses.
Freddie Mac Community Relations Specialist Marion Brunken, pictured above with the happy Shuler family, is the tireless organizer who coordinates the Freddie Mac volunteers for the company.
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Marriott Team Building |
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Marriott Corporation and Marriott Fairfield Inn are co-sponsoring their fourth home on our Northeast Parcel site. Volunteers from area Marriott and Fairfield Inn locations and from the corporate offices worked on the home May 15 - 18. Many of the volunteers have participated in Marriott's Team Building Days all four years and had the pleasure of seeing the homes they worked on complete, occupied, with well kept-lawns and gardens and families prospering as a result of their hard work.
Bruce Reed, Vice President of Franchising,
Fairfield Inn and Fairfield Inn and Suites
Owner and Franchise Services,
is pictured at right presenting soon-to-be-homeowner Barbara Pratt with the suite of furniture that Marriott donates to each family whose home it sponsors.
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| Ruesch Team Building |
Volunteers from Ruesch International traded their pinstripes for blue jeans May 8-9 to help DC Habitat build homes for deserving DC families. The team had a great time as evidenced by their feedback:
"I won on so many levels: I got to work with a cool colleague I would have never otherwise met, tried my hand at doing something new (and did pretty well, thank you) and helped make a positive impact on a neighborhood and peoples' lives. What's not to like?"
Scott Murphy-Neilson
Senior Relationship Manager
Ruesch International
"It isn't often that you get offered the opportunity to learn new skills with great people and all for a good cause. Habitat gave me a chance to do just that, all while working alongside the future homeowner, too. Awesome!"
Daniel Vall-Ilobera
Ruesch International Vertical Markets
"Being able to spend a day working with Habitat for Humanity was a great experience and a wonderful opportunity to engage in some public service. From what I learned I feel as though I am ready to build a house, or at least fix some roofing and flashing."
John Ellison
Marketing and Public Relations Associate
Ruesch International
Ruesch International focuses on helping companies convert from paying suppliers by check to making payments and delivering associated remittance details electronically, on eliminating the need for companies to use multiple payment specific applications to deliver payments in the
U.S. and around the world, and on assisting companies to better control global risk through industry leading market commentary and proven foreign exchange risk management strategies.
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Capital Cooks! Was Hot
The Washington Design Center and HOME & DESIGN Magazine
hosted the 8th Annual Capital Cooks! culinary event on W
ednesday, May 2, 2007, welcoming a capacity crowd of an estimated 900 to the b
enefit for DC Habitat for Humanity.
Celebrity Chef Walter Scheib delighted tasters with grilled shrimp with red curried sweet potato soup.
Participating restaurants
1789 Restaurant, Charlie Palmer Steak, Dish,
Dupont Grille, Michel Richard Citronelle, Perry's Restaurant,
PS 7's, Viridian and
Willow also prepared house specialities.
A spectacular silent auction added to the fun and earned DC Habitat for Humanity more than $20,000.
Many thanks to Merchandise Mart Properties, Washington Design Center, those who donated items for the auction, and those who attended, making the evening both profitable and fun for DC Habitat.
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Mother's Day Build
Honoring and Remembering Mothers by Helping Mothers
Mothers, daughters, sisters and grandchildren joined together May 12 to celebrate Mother's Day, by honoring or remembering the mothers and grandmothers who helped shape their lives by building a home where a mother in need will have the priceless gift of a safe, stable place to raise her children.
The volunteers pictured below made T-shirts commemorating the special women in their lives and the families and homes they built. Building with DC Habitat is a generous way to acknowledge the bounty in our lives by sharing our gifts with others.
Thanks to the following who participated:
Alisa Becker
Rachel Becker
Carol Casperson
Laura Casperson
Janai Cawley (pictured)
Florence Crouch
Kelli Crouch
Patricia McKenna
Patti Macie (pictured)
Jessica North Macie (pictured)
Jani North Saale (pictured)
Cheryl Stultz
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| Visit Our New Volunteer Calendar Online |
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| Volunteering is easier than ever!
Have been wanting to join us at the construction site for an experience you will value forever? It is easier than ever!
Take a moment to register, check the dates when we need volunteers, then sign up. To the right of each date you can see how many volunteers are still needed (5/10 means we have 5 of the 10 volunteers needed already) so you can choose a day with multiple vacancies if you want to come with a friend. Be sure to check back often as more opportunities are added daily.
Groups should not use the Volunteer Hub. Instead, call Nancy Eddy at 202-882-4600 ext 224 or e-mail her at
nancy.eddy@dchabitat.org.
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| Annual Volunteer Appreciation Picnic
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| Join us Saturday, June 2nd, 12:00 - 3:00
It's time to put down the hammers and pick up the plastic forks! DC Habitat for Humanity enthusiastically invites you to our Annual Volunteer Appreciation Picnic on Saturday, June 2
nd from 12:00-3:00PM at our construction site between 55th and 56th Streets NE and Dix and Clay Streets NE.
Please join us for great food, giveaways, awards and games! We will have hot dogs and vegi dogs and all the fixins. You are welcome to bring your favorite side dish to share.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of DC Habitat from committees, to construction to the board of directors. We would like to extend a special invitation to those who have volunteered at least one time since our picnic in June last year. Of course, everyone is welcome!
If you would like to come to the picnic, please RSVP on our online
Volunteer Calendar.
Just sign in to the system and then look for the Picnic on the events calendar.
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