Building Hope – June 2015

In the Spotlight

Register Today for Builders & Friends BBQ

2014 bbq crowd shotA crowd enjoys networking and catching up at HomeAid’s 2014 Builders & Friends BBQ

HomeAid’s 6th Annual Builders & Friends BBQ, on Thursday, June 25 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., is shaping up to be another outstanding event, so be sure to register today! This year’s new venue — at The Barn at One Loudoun, 20405 Savin Hill Drive in Ashburn, Va. — will give us the space needed for lawn games, on-site BBQ grilling, wine provided by Potomac Point Winery, beer provided by Old Ox Brewery, and, of course, plenty of networking one-on-one with some of Northern Virginia’s top homebuilders. Adjacent and nearby parking will also be available along North Park Drive, Savin Hill Drive, and in the Loudoun One shopping center.
HomeAid will announce the 2015 Trade Partner of the Year at the BBQ and recognize all of the people who make our work possible. Registration is $35, and each registrant will receive one free raffle ticket for a chance to win one of many donated items, including golf foursomes, tickets to sporting events, family-friendly summer outings, and restaurant gift cards. 
This year, we are also offering two complimentary admission tickets to any trade partner, sub-contractor, manufacturer, or supplier who has participated in a project this year; contact HomeAid to register complimentary guests. Special thanks to our many sponsors!

In Your Neighborhood
New Builder Captain to Renovate Home for Artemis House
VM Home Solutions, a strategic partnership between Van Metre Homes and Home Design Elements, has stepped up for the first time to serve as Builder Captain of a new HomeAid project for Artemis House, operated by Shelter House. VM-Home-Solutions-logo
VM Home Solutions and its trade partners will fully renovate one of Artemis’ leased homes and add safe egress from the basement, which will allow Artemis House to serve three additional families facing life-threatening crises.
“In Fairfax County, the number-one cause of homicide is domestic violence,” said Dani Colon, director of Artemis House, “but we’re the only 24-hour shelter in Fairfax. We have multiple facilities, but we can only support a combined total of 34 individuals in a county of one million. We serve survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking, and we only take in those whose lives are in imminent danger. By this I mean if we don’t bring them in, we fear they’ll be killed. It’s that serious.
“So this renovation—which will help us increase capacity from two families to five families—is critically important. We currently have a large basement that can’t be used for bedrooms, and we have a master bedroom and two small bedrooms upstairs that would be better configured as two master suites. This whole renovation will be about providing more space for more families, in a safe and secure atmosphere.”
Families at Artemis House are typically in transition, learning to live independently and become self-sufficient while at the shelter. The average stay is 45 days. Artemis House leases the property from Christian Relief Services.

HomeAid Northern Virginia received a $6,000 grant for this project from the MASCO Corporation Foundation, through HomeAid America. Thank you!

In Your Community

Make New Memories at the 5th Annual Night at the Ballpark!

Make a difference in a family’s life today. It won’t take much time, and it won’t cost much: A tax-deductible contribution of just $100 will send a family of four to HomeAid’s 5th Annual “Night at the Ballpark” on Friday, August 14, 2015! For many, it will be their first trip to a ballgame and a rare night out with family. In addition to watching the Potomac Nationals take on the Wilmington Blue Rocks, guests will enjoy free concession vouchers and backpacks stuffed with goodies; kids will have a chance to run the bases and have their picture taken with Mascot Uncle Slam; and one lucky attendee will throw out the first pitch.

christa - first pitchChrista with Potomac Nationals Coach Sean McCauley, after she threw out the first pitch in 2014.

Last year, HomeAid hosted its biggest crowd yet, giving out 300 tickets to the game. One guest, a little girl named Christa, had never been to a baseball game and felt a little shy when she was asked to throw out the first pitch. Still, she bravely agreed to throw the ball as hard as she could, beamed with happiness when she later met Coach Sean McCauley, and was thrilled to learn that the ball was “for keeps.” It was a night to remember for Christa and her family, and your donation this year could mean the same for another family. Please donate today!

NVBIA Triple Play Tailgate
NVBIA-logo NVBIA will host a pre-game tailgate at 5:30 p.m. on August 14, just inside the stadium gates. The Triple Play tailgate will feature hamburgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, sides, dessert, and soda (beer available for separate purchase). Tailgate tickets are $31.50 for adults; $29.50 for youth (ages 6-12); and $11 for children (ages five and under) and include entry to the 7:05 p.m. game. 
A portion of proceeds raised by the tailgate will support HomeAid’s “Night at the Ballpark,” and sponsorship opportunities are available – contact Christy Eaton (571-283-6320) for more information. Contact Lee Ann Belletti for tailgate information and/or to purchase tickets.

Helping-Hands

Put Big Smiles on Homeless Students’ Faces: Join HomeAid’s Summer Backpack Challenge

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It takes a village, and HomeAid Northern Virginia is turning to its countless supporters for help with this summer’s back-to-school drive, the HomeAid Backpack Challenge
HomeAid’s goal is to give a backpack to every child who attends the Night at the Ballpark event in August, and we are now seeking companies to host backpack drives in July, as well as take part in a friendly competition to see who can collect the most backpacks.

Using social media and other marketing tools, HomeAid staff will help promote participants’ efforts, and the winning company will receive free tickets to the NVBIA tailgate and HomeAid Night at the Ballpark on August 14, as well as the opportunity to distribute the backpacks to kids and earn marketing recognition. Any extra backpacks will be donated to children served by the Volunteers of America Chesapeake network.

For more information or to participate in this year’s Backpack Challenge, contact Faith Boruta at 703.953.3525.

Announcements
Meet HomeAid Northern Virginia’s Summer Interns

spring 15 internsNick Benincasa, Sophia Belletti, Mireille Farijila

Communications:
Sophia Belletti, rising sophomore at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), studying mass communications with a concentration in journalism.

“HomeAid’s mission to build and renovate houses for the homeless is a great opportunity and something I want to be a part of. After meeting staff at previous NVBIA events, I knew they were a great group of professionals with whom I would enjoy working! I also really want to enhance my communications skills and earn real-world experience, and through this internship I hope to expand my network and create connections for the future.”

Marketing:
Nick Benincasa, rising senior at Radford University, studying business marketing.

“I selected HomeAid because I strongly support the cause, and I feel I am making a difference through this internship. I was also intrigued that this was a real marketing position; I’ve worked in positions unrelated to my major before, and since I am interested in a career in advertising, this internship is like a crash course in the field, along with other aspects of marketing. I hope to gain universal skills for my future career, whether it be in sales, consulting, advertising, or public relations. Having an office job for the first time has been eye-opening, and I look forward to working here the rest of the summer!”

Shelter Projects:
Mireille Farijila, graduate of Training Futures, a six-month, intensive program of NVFS that trains students for administrative skills. Mireille holds a bachelor’s degree from France.

“As part of the Training Futures’ program, I did an internship at Stanley Martin Homes, and for me, selecting HomeAid was a way to give back and volunteer during the summer. HomeAid and Women Giving Back (WGB) were so helpful to us at Training Futures, and I hope through this internship to gain more insight into how a non-profit works. I feel really blessed and lucky to work with Kristyn Burr-Venus, HomeAid’s program and operations manager, on the shelter care projects.”

Thank You
…to our recent donors. Names in red indicate donations of $2,500 or more.

Individuals

Amy Bowers
Beth Cox
Marcia Gattoni
William and Carol Hanes
George and Nicole Washington

Companies

United Way of the National Capital Area
Winchester Homes

Special thanks to…

…the Van Metre Foundation, for their $10,000 donation to the upcoming HomeAid/Alexandria Women’s Shelter Project

…John Monacci and Winchester Homes, for your $5,000 donation to HomeAid Northern Virginia.

winchesterJohn Monacci, Winchester Homes and Christy Eaton, HomeAid Northern Virginia

*Monetary contributions April 15 – May 14, 2015

READ: Register for the Builders & Friends BBQ, New Builder Captain to Renovate Home for Artemis House, 5th Annual Night at the Ballpark, Join the Summer Backpack Challenge, Meet Our New InternsThank You to Our Donors