abitat Pinellas builds 25 homes each year and we build every month of the year to meet that goal. It takes 200 volunteers to build a single affordable Habitat home! This summer we are building six homes and we are in the midst of our most challenging time of year for volunteers. It’s called HEAT!

Between May and late September, the summer heat drives our volunteers to their air conditioners. Although our build schedule maintains the same production pace year-round, our summer volunteer force shrinks to nearly half the size of our winter crew.

We need your help.In the summer we adjust our build time – normally 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. – to a 7:00 a.m. start time and 1:00 p.m. close. Not to fool anyone, it’s still hot on the job sites.

You get the picture. We need you to pour on the sweat and help us build during the warmer months. Our job sites are open Tuesday through Saturday. We consider it an additional blessing if you can volunteer on a weekday.

On a cool note, our new ReStore is an air conditioned space. If you can’t handle the heat, get into the kitchen aisle. Volunteer at the ReStore.

Thank you for your support!

We Need You!

c o v e r s t o r y

Calling all volunteers!

Summer Heat Causes “Drought” of Volunteers

Volunteers are the heartbeat of Habitat for Humanity – one of our most important assets. Our need for volunteers is greater than ever during the warmer months. Please help us fill our summertime rosters by volunteering a day or two to help us build for a low income family in our community. Register for a shift online at www.habitatpinellas.org or email volunteer@habitatpinellas.org.

H

Where We’re Building Now:

– Kevin Klucas, Volunteer Coordinator

http://www.habitatpinellas.org/get_involved/volunteer/

St. Pete:1919, 1929 and 1939 28th Avenue N

clearWater:1884 North Betty Lane

3 homes in our Stevens Creek Subdivision

PINellaS ParK:3599 74th Avenue N

Volunteer today!

Come build with us!

Habitat Pinellas homefront | Summer 2012

TEAM PUBLIX AT BLITZ BUILD BANK OF AMERICA VOLUNTEER DAY

Volunteer Kris Nielsen, right, assists our French summer intern, Francoise Morin.

Meet Kris Nielsen

volunteer spotlight Habitat Pinellas homefront | Summer 2012

>> It takes 1,200 – 1,500 volunteer hours to build one Habitat home.

>> Of more than 500 volunteers who helped us with the 2012 Habitat Pinellas “Blitz Build,” 25 % were seniors.

>> Each year since 1984, former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, have volunteered at least a week of their time helping to build Habitat homes in the U.S. and around the world.

>> When you “Like” us on Facebook, you’ll be in the know about current build sites where you can volunteer, Habitat happenings and cool “just-in” items at our ReStore!

points to ponder

ne thing Kris Nielsen has had to say his whole life is, “That’s Kris with a ‘K,’ it’s Danish.” Kris is new to the Habitat volunteer family, and plans on volun-teering for years to come. “You guys make it so darn easy to volunteer,” Kris said. He finds the website simple to navigate and enjoys choosing the time, location, and job to be done that fits in with his schedule and interest.

For 39 years, Kris had a career in the copier industry. He started in Rochester, New York, with Kodak and eventually came to Pinellas County 13 years ago with Konica Minolta as Director of Administration. Konica Minolta purchased Danka, which was shut down a year and a half ago and the administrative offices were relocated to Connecticut. Luckily for us, Kris decided he wanted to stay in the area. He read about Habitat and wanted to get involved. He had done home renova-tions for his family and had an interest in construction. “The world was going by without me. Finally, I said, ‘enough is

enough,’ so I went on your website and signed up.”

Kris has volunteered in St. Peters-burg under the guidance of Site Supervisors Rick Vail and Ron Johnson. “Both guys are great and have taught me so much about new home construction,” Kris said. One aspect of volunteer-ing that Kris enjoys the most is meeting and working next to other volunteers. He has also learned more about Habitat and the process each homeown-er candidate goes through to qualify for, and eventually move into, a new home.

Kris has volunteered on three homes so far. He recently helped put up a roof and did inte-rior framing, from which he says he still has blisters. Kris admires how the organiza-tion operates on the job sites. “They really utilize their volunteers. You’re not sitting around; there’s no boredom. There’s a lot of work to keep

you busy.” He added, “It’s also good to see that Habitat values staff who have been around for a long time and utilize their knowledge.” Kris was referring to

Habitat employee David Morris, who is a great-grandfather of four and is in his mid-eighties.

Someone who is willing to get their hands dirty and listen to instruction is the key, Kris feels, to being a good Habi-tat volunteer. Kris will have to cut down on his volunteer hours as he just started working at Home Depot in Clearwater. In his free time, Kris enjoys making his own lures and fishing from his flats boat.

One complaint Kris has about volun-teering at the job site is the summer heat. He would like it if the air condi-tioning could be put into the homes first … Kris with a ‘K,’ we’ll work on that.

Kris Nielsen

VALUED VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

– Mary-Ellen Howells, Habitat Pinellas Board

O

sponsor spotlight Habitat Pinellas homefront | Summer 2012

Lokey Raises the Roof for Three Habitat Families

Thrice as nice!

Habitat Pinellas V.P. of Development Steve Lightburn speaks for the Gerlach Estate during the triple home dedication for the Clark, Eborda and Geneus families.

n the Spring of 2010, Lokey Automotive Group incorporated Lokey Charities as the giving arm of the company. Lokey Charities’ mission is to help children and youth reach their full potential by providing for basic needs such as food, shelter, medical care and positive mentoring.

There is no doubt that this aligns well with Habitat – our mission and vision.

Through their commitment to Habitat Pinellas, benefit has come to three families whose homes were spon-sored by Lokey, and also to a budding neighborhood in the Habitat Pinellas Stevens Creek subdivision!

Since October 2011, Lokey Automotive and Lokey Charities have given their all for Habitat Pinellas, with volunteer involvement on four Habitat homes and sponsorship of three of those houses! And when we say volunteer involvement, we’re speaking of over 900 hours! It takes 1,200 to 1,500 volunteer hours to complete a Habitat home. To put this into perspective, another couple hundred hours and Lokey would have logged enough hours to complete a single home on their own!

During their 30-day “Roof-Raiser” in April, Lokey’s Nissan and Volkswagen general manager Jim Surrett worked, ate and slept on the roof of the VW dealership to bring attention to their fundraising effort for

Habitat Pinellas. Throughout the campaign, Lokey made a $500 donation in the name of every cus-

tomer who purchased a vehicle at their Nissan, Kia, or VW dealerships.

Lokey’s “through-the-roof” effort provided for three family homes, which included one of our Blitz Build homes!

Through all of Lokey’s efforts, Habitat Pinellas and the families we serve have been the center of attention. It has been a pleasure to work with Lokey management and staff. Thank you Lokey Charities!

Lokey COO T.C. Staton speaks during the dedication of one of the Lokey-sponsored homes. Below, Lokey volunteers work on the roof of a Habitat home.

– Steve Lightburn, Habitat Pinellas V.P. Development

ot once, but twice, has the George Arnold and June Marie Gerlach Estate sponsored a set of three Habitat Pinellas homes.

In 2010, the bequest gift sponsored three homes for the Davis, Giraldi and Washington families on 33rd Avenue in St. Peters-burg. In February 2012, three more families celebrated their home dedications nearby on 23rd Avenue, courtesy of the Gerlach estate. Like the first three homes, the Clark, Eborda and Geneus family homes were built side-by-side. A unique aspect of building three homes at the same time and side by side was that the homeowners were able to help build each other’s homes, furthering the ties that bind them as neighbors.

According to Kathryn Miles Fenton, daughter of Mr. Gerlach, this is the precise spirit of community and friendship that her parents hoped to foster. “I encourage them to maintain the friendships that are now beginning to blossom,” said Kathryn. “These families have worked very hard to realize their dreams of homeownership and now they will reap the benefits of that labor.”

Thank you to the Gerlachs, whose foresight and generosity have provided a lasting legacy for six very appreciative local families.

– Robin Macar, Habitat Pinellas Communications Director

N

I

home sponsors

Record Number of Homes Built during the 2011-2012 Fiscal Year!June 30th marked the close of our 2011/2012 fiscal year, a busy year filled with many highlights and successes. Most notable? We built 26 homes – more newly constructed homes than any other year in the 27-year history of Habitat Pinellas!

As 26 more Pinellas County families live their dream of homeownership and enjoy a secure, stable environment to raise their children, we wish to thank our corporate sponsors and individual donors, as well as our countless volunteers, who together made it all possible. Thank you!

OUr

2011•2012

FaMIlY

HOMeOWNerS

Sponsoring Hope and Community

Home Sponsors:Bandfield EstateBank of AmericaCatalina Marketing Charitable FoundationChapman Family FoundationChaseGeorge Arnold and June Marie Gerlach (3)HSNInterfaith House: Central Christian Church, Islamic Society of PInellas County, and Temple B’nai Israel Lokey Charities (3)

NISSANNorthwood Presbyterian ChurchPublix Supermarkets CharitiesTech DataWells FargoRoy and Ana Zellars Family Foundation

Thank you to our home sponsors whose generous support helped Habitat Pinellas reach its 2011-2012 fiscal year goal of increasing the number of families we are able to help each year.

A team of Publix employees gather in front of the home Publix Supermarkets Charities sponsored for Rashidat Okuboye and her daughter during Habitat’s Blitz Build 2012 event in February.

Land Sponsors:AchievaCity of ClearwaterCity of LargoCity of St. Petersburg

JPMorgan ChasePinellas CountySunTrust BankWells Fargo

habitat builds! Habitat Pinellas homefront | Summer 2012

>> GOlFING FOre HabItat Friday, November 16, 2012Following the success of our inaugural golf tournament in 2011, we will hold our second annual “Golfing Fore Habitat” event at the Seminole Lake Country Club.

Thank you to Proficio Mortgage, which returns for the second year as our exclusive event sponsor, and to lee roy Selmon’s, our lunch sponsor!

Please contact Steve Lightburn at (727) 536-4755 or at develop-ment@habitatpinellas.org if you are interested in supporting us with a sponsorship or hole sign.

Check our website “Events” page for more details.

TAMARA DAVIS

HerO

A tribute to one of our many extraordinary Habitat supporters!

HabItat

Tamara Davis and Habitat Pinellas V.P. of Development Steve Lightburn on the set of “Positively Tampa Bay” with Lissette Campos of ABC Action News.

With an effervescent smile on her face and much love in her heart, Tamara Davis is one of our most active and dedicated advocates.

A Habitat homeowner herself, Tamara knows firsthand how the Habitat program impacts a family and makes a difference in the community. After laying down her hammer nearly two years ago when she and her three children moved into their home, Tamara continues to devote “sweat equity” hours to Habitat in other ways. She gives her time to serving on the Habitat Pinellas Board of Directors and supporting our events and homeowner programs. She also regularly participates in home dedications, sharing her experiences and present-ing house keys to other excited homeowners. One of our biggest cheerleaders, Tamara was asked to speak about her Habitat experience on a television broadcast of “Positively Tampa Bay” with host Lissette Campos of ABC Action News this spring. She represent-ed Habitat Pinellas with grace and poise. She was awesome!

And yes, she still picks up a hammer from time to time to help out on a build site.

Thank you, Tamara! You are a true Habitat Hero!

HABITAT BOARD MEMBERHOMEOWNERVOLUNTEER

Isn’t It Iconic?Mark Your Calendar!

habitat builds! Habitat Pinellas homefront | Summer 2012

Although we’ve always known that she is indeed “iconic,” this spring our CEO and President, Barbara Inman, was officially named the “2012 Iconic Non-

profit Woman of the Year” by the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce.

In fact, our Habitat Pinellas affili-ate was spotlighted several times in

the past year by organizations in the Tampa Bay community and

nationally. We were named the “Nonprofit of the Year” by the Pinellas Park/Gateway Chamber of Commerce, and we were also named a finalist

at the Tampa Bay Business Journal “2012 Nonprofit of the Year” awards luncheon.

Charity Navigator. For the sixth straight year, Habitat Pinellas

has earned Charity Navigator’s presti-gious 4-star rating. Charity Navigator bases its ratings on metrics that include how funds are spent, administration, fun-draising, accountability and transparency.

Former Habitat Pinellas Board Chair Charles Franckle with Barbara Inman at the Iconic Woman Awards.

Renovating your home? Recycle your home items by donating them to our Habitat ReStore.

Donate It! If you’re renovating your home or office, don’t send reusable items to the Pinellas County landfill. Instead, recycle them by donating them to our Habitat ReStore. Because ALL proceeds from ReStore sales benefit Habitat Pinellas, your donations will help build affordable homes for low-income families in our community.

The Habitat Pinellas ReStore accepts a wide variety of items including kitchen cabinetry, appliances, plumbing and lighting fixtures, doors and windows, gently used furniture, working

appliances, and construction material. To donate built-in items like

cabinetry or windows and doors, have your contractor “un-install” the reusable items and the ReStore will pick them up for FREE. For home demolitions, the ReStore staff will come out

to assist with “deconstruction.”

Donors get tax deductions while “going green,” buyers save money, and it all works to help Habitat build more homes for low income families in Pinellas County!

$10 off Your next purchase of $40 or more!

ALL proceeds from ReStore sales help build Habitat homes in Pinellas County.

13355 49th Street North, Clearwater, FL 33762(corner of 49th and Ulmerton) 727-209-2196Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 am - 5 pm, Sat., 9 am - 4 pm

ReStore@HabitatPinellas.org

13355 49th Street North, Clearwater, FL 33762(corner of 49th and Ulmerton) 727-209-2196Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 am - 5 pm, Sat., 9 am - 4 pm

ReStore@HabitatPinellas.org

HOME IMPROVEMENT RETAIL CENTER

Don’t Dump It!

reStore Habitat Pinellas homefront | Summer 2012

ReStore supervisor Glenn Cooperman and manager Doug DuPont pose near

donated kitchen cabinets.Go to HabitatPinellas.org to learn how to donate, become a volunteer, or for more reStore info.

This year’s Hammers & Heartstrings Gala has an exciting new attitude!

• DinnerbySandpearl’sexecutivechefSteveJordan• Casino-stylegamesandprizes• Musicanddancing• Liveauctionfeaturingsuchfabulousitemsasa San Francisco trip including a night at Clint Eastwood’s home, a trip to Paris and a golf vacation in Ireland!

Saturday, September 22, 2012Sandpearl Resort, Clearwater Beach

$150 per person • Caribbean Cocktail attire

rSVP at www.HabitatPinellas.org by September 15th!

Please consider supporting us as a patron! Find more details on our website, or call Kristy at 727-536-4755, ext. 220.

Mistress of Ceremonies:Deiah Riley, AnchorABC Action News

250th Habitat home!celebrating our

This marks an important milestone in our Habitat Pinellas history that has helped 250 families,including 635 children, escape the downward spiral of substandard or poverty housing.

13355 49th Street NorthClearwater, Florida 33762

727-536-4755

Visit us at www.HabitatPinellas.org to register as a volunteer, make a donation or learn more about our reStore!

what you can doto help our families

and Habitat...

• VOLUNTEER!• DONATE!• SHOP our ReStore!

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