It’s hard to believe summer is behind us already, but what a beautiful season it was. We are coming off a peak of golf fundraisers, which started in July when the first annual Toll Brothers’ tournament raised $60,000 for HomeAid, continuing through this September, when our own tournament – combined with Pulte Homes’ and K. Hovnanian’s Trade Partner golf tournaments – raised more than $160,000 to support our mission. This coming weekend, Van Metre’s Annual Cornhole Challenge will raise thousands more, and in November, our 18th Annual Gala & Auction will likely top previous years. All of these funds will go toward supporting those experiencing homelessness in Northern Virginia and will allow us to continue expanding our programs, as well as make spaces safe, efficient, and dignified for those who need them most. Whether we’re renovating or building housing, shelters, or programmatic facilities; collecting diapers, backpacks, grocery gift cards, and household essentials; or treating families to a priceless, memory-making event, together we are making a difference in the lives of others. And, as the primary source of HomeAid’s income, our generous supporters are making it possible for HomeAid to continue this work.
I do think that the source of our income is a point we sometimes forget to make; our focus is so often outward, looking for the next person to help, the next organization to support, the next effort to throw ourselves into. But the fact of the matter is, we couldn’t exist at all, to do any of these things, if it weren’t for this kind of sustaining financial support. We can’t do it alone, and all of these fundraisers allow us to fill funding gaps on our construction projects, pay for our turnover program in its entirety, and fund other programs that support our nonprofit partners in their efforts. In short, it allows us to carry out our mission. Every single day at HomeAid, the generosity of the homebuilding industry and beyond is on display, as individuals and companies again and again show us through their actions how important it is to them to give back to the communities in which they live, work and play. Thank you for continuing to show up for us and, in turn, for those who need the hand up within our community!
With Gratitude,
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Saturday, November 9, 2019
6:30 p.m.
Lansdowne Resort & Spa, Leesburg, Va.
There’s just one more month until we gather for our most heartwarming event of the year – our Annual Gala & Auction – where hundreds of supporters show their love for our community, their commitment to making a difference, and their generosity by supporting our mission. Will you be there? Please join us by registering today for this year’s “Winter Nights”-themed 18th Annual Gala, on November 9!
This celebratory night, at Lansdowne Resort & Spa in Leesburg, will kick off quickly: On your way in, you’ll see collection bins for diapers and baby wipes, which we’ll ask all of our attendees to donate for our littlest citizens in need. Next up, head to a cocktail reception featuring a DJ, signature drink, and sushi bar! Browse the silent auction, which is already filling up with items for every budget and will again feature a paperless-bidding process that will let us go green. Then, we’ll throw open the doors to the main ballroom, where we’ll celebrate our 2019 Presidents’ Circle award honorees over a three-course dinner and drinks from a glow bar. And, of course, you’ll get the chance to raise your paddles for a variety of live auction items and for the auctioneer-led paddle challenge. Last year, our Gala and Auction raised $400,000 for HomeAid. What can we achieve together this year?
Want to make a weekend out of it? We’ve reserved a block of rooms at Lansdowne Resort & Spa; make your reservation today!
This year’s dress code will be formal. We look forward to seeing you there!
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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and in the U.S., an average of 20 people experience intimate partner physical violence every minute. This equates to more than 10 million abuse victims annually.
Source: The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
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HomeAid Northern Virginia and Joy Design + Build, a custom-home builder based in McLean, Va., are teaming up for the first time to update and build out the basement of a townhome recently acquired by Pathway Homes, bringing capacity of the home from three bedrooms to four. Once the project is complete, it will serve as home to four previously homeless adult men, who will pay 30 percent of their net adjusted income in rent and will have access to a wide range of counseling and life skill services provided by Pathway.
In addition to the bedroom addition, which will require enlarging an egress window and refinishing the floors, the team will add a patio and freshen up the exterior landscaping to make it more useable and easier to maintain. The team will also correct interior issues that were found by a home inspector during the acquisition process.
Anna Smith, director of development for Pathway Homes, said that the addition of a fourth bedroom is a critically important component of maximizing capacity in all of their properties, while the overall refresh of the townhome will give a priceless lift to the new residents.
“We just purchased this townhome,” Smith explained, “and we are excited to provide this home to four men, who had been living in a home we rented. The lease on that house was up, however, and the home was no longer available … so, these men will now have greater stability moving into a unit we own versus lease from another landlord. In addition to the affordable housing, clients will have access to support services such as how to be a good neighbor, setting goals, finding employment, and managing medical needs so they can reach their full potential. Our record is strong – 97 percent of our clients remain housed – so we are excited to provide these four men with a stable, newly renovated home, and we are grateful to HomeAid for doing this fourth project with us, and to Joy Design + Build for choosing to lead their first project for us!”
John Joy, builder, president, and CEO of Joy Design + Build, first learned of HomeAid through a mutual business partner, and, after attending a HomeAid event earlier in the year, wanted to get more involved. Serving as Builder Captain for the Pathway project is the happy result, said Marc Shaw, project manager with the company and the lead for the Pathway renovation.
“We’re looking forward to working on this property,” Shaw added. “Since the owner purchaser had a home inspector come through, we have a list of minor issues we can easily repair, in addition to the bigger job of turning the basement living room and bathroom into a legal living space. We want to make this home more livable and comfortable. Once we gain approval from the HOA for the expanded egress window, we hope to finish within about two weeks, with the help of four to five trade partners.”
Thank you Joy Design + Build for accepting this project – and welcome to the HomeAid family of Builder Captains!
[divider line_type=”Full Width Line” line_thickness=”1″ divider_color=”accent-color”]In Virginia, police estimate there are approximately 31,000 active protective orders on file in the Commonwealth at any given time.
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Third-party charity fundraisers are getting to be a very popular way to show support in a big way for HomeAid, and this month, we were honored to accept not one, but two big donations from K. Hovnanian Homes and Pulte Homes, both of which designated HomeAid as their beneficiary for their recent company golf tournaments. The two organizations together donated more than $50,000 to HomeAid as a result, not only providing critically important funding, but also helping introduce HomeAid to potential new supporters!
“The value of these kinds of fundraisers is really three-fold,” HomeAid Northern Virginia Executive Director and CEO Kristyn Burr said. “The funds raised may be the most visible result, but equally impactful is that from the perspective of our small staff, these efforts quite literally expand our capacity since other organizations take on the event planning and hosting responsibilities, which we know is a heavy lift. Third, they’re helping spread awareness and increase education about our mission and local homelessness to an entirely new group of people, many of whom we may not be able to reach if it weren’t for our common connection with the host company. We’re so grateful for the support and humbled by the gift – special thanks to our friends at K. Hovnanian and Pulte.”
In June, Toll Brothers also held a third-party fundraiser for HomeAid Northern Virginia, with their Charity Golf Tournament raising $60,000 to support our mission!
Thank you to all of the staff, volunteers, and supporters of K. Hovnanian, Pulte, and Toll Brothers, who made these golf tournaments such a huge success! Special thanks to the staff at Darvish Companies, who took on much of the events’ organizing detail!
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Every five days, a Virginian is killed because of domestic violence.
Source: Family and Intimate Partner Homicide Virginia: 1999-2007
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Just five years ago, we raised $40,000 at our 1st Annual Golf Tournament. This year, we more than doubled that, raising $116,000! (Let that sink in a moment … because, WOW.) All five years, we’ve enjoyed sold-out fields, but our sponsors have continued to grow in both number and giving every year, and we knew we were going to be on to something incredible when we beat last year’s total of $94,000 nearly six weeks before this year’s tournament was even held. As always, the funds will be used to support our mission of ending homelessness and giving new hope to those who need it most.
Congrats also to our winning foursome – John Darvish, Reza Jalali, Joe Lucierge, and Tom Kuchan – and an enormous, heart-felt thanks to everyone who showed their support for HomeAid by golfing, serving as sponsors, donating raffle items, and volunteering to organize and carry out this huge event. We know we say, ‘We couldn’t do it without you,’ a lot, but we really mean it. These events take an enormous level of commitment, time, passion, resources, and hard work, and we don’t take it for granted that our supporters show up, year after year. Thank you.
Congratulations to the winners of our 5th Annual Golf Tournament!
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Longest Drive
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See more photos of the event here!
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We’ve talked a lot about golf this issue, having just wrapped up our 5th Annual Golf Tournament, and after having been the grateful recipients of more than $50,000 in donations from two third-party charity events, both of which were golf tournaments. Pulte Homes, in fact, has decided to make HomeAid its sole beneficiary of its golf tournaments, resulting in more than $175,000 over eight years, a decision that was championed by Division President Jarod Blaney. Let’s find out how this Board member first found out about HomeAid, decided to get involved, and felt inspired to make us their golf charity of choice!
Q: How did you first get involved with HomeAid? What intrigued and inspired you enough about the organization to want to get involved?
A: I was introduced to HomeAid by my mentor and the president of Stanley Martin Homes, Steve Alloy. Steve was one of the organizing members of HomeAid Northern Virginia and an ardent supporter of the organization. I was similarly passionate about supporting those who need a helping hand, and I immediately connected with HomeAid’s mission and vision. Throughout my time at Stanley Martin, I remained committed to supporting, donating, and being involved with projects wherever I could. In 2016, I began my career at PulteGroup, where I began to serve alongside Steve on the Board. Given the resources and professional skillsets that we have in the homebuilding industry, it’s a perfect charitable fit. We can utilize our resources and connections to do what we do best while helping our communities become better places to live each day. The D.C. area is blessed with a healthy economy and abundant resources, allowing us to miss the large numbers of homeless communities, people who need a temporary support system, or people who need a helping hand. One of the best things that HomeAid does is that it partners with many charitable organizations that support our communities directly. To make lasting change, it takes a “village,” a collective effort of organizations and individuals working together to support those in need. The work is rewarding and directly related to PulteGroup’s mission, “to build consumer inspired homes and communities to make lives better.” It’s a blessing to be able to do that with both our business and charitable endeavors.
Q: What are you most proud of in terms of HomeAid’s accomplishments?
A: As a member of the Board, we are entrusted to make as large a positive impact as we can with the donations and services that we are provided. While on the Board, we have focused on 1) growing the project count and services that we provide to the community, 2) building a sustainable and financially stable organization, and 3) staying connected to our mission and core principals and beliefs. We have worked hard and improved upon each of those items over the past few years. We have a solid financial position, allowing us to execute our mission, weather any cyclical events, and grow our operational reach. We have spread our service levels from pure construction/remodeling of dwellings, to turnover projects where we remodel shelter homes for new occupants, to baby/school/life supply provision. Finally, I believe we have done a great job staying connected to our mission and what matters, focusing on who we are serving and what we can continue to do as an organization. Kristyn Burr and the team have done a commendable job finding avenues for growth and remaining committed to the community through outreach efforts and being observant of the community in which we live. In the future, we plan to continue focusing on ways that we can more aggressively deploy funds to grow our impact within the region.
Q: HomeAid is now the sole beneficiary of the Pulte Golf Tournament, which is a very big deal indeed! Why did you make the decision to focus funding on HomeAid?
A: HomeAid’s mission is closely aligned with PulteGroup’s mission, while allowing us to utilize our professional skillset to do what we do best. HomeAid is fortunate to have many of the D.C.-area homebuilders’ strong support. While we are competitors in many ways, we are all very much aligned with HomeAid and doing our part to make our communities better every day. We have been fortunate, in that our annual Golf fundraiser has allowed us to provide over $175,000 to HomeAid over the past several years, and we are thankful to have such a wonderful organization with which to partner. There are many other organizations doing their part to support HomeAid in their own way, and it’s great to see such support and alignment among the D.C.-area homebuilders. Given HomeAid’s success in achieving their mission, and PulteGroup’s capabilities, we plan to continue supporting HomeAid as long as we are able to.
Q: Golf tournaments are a great fit for third-party charity events, but everyone is drawn to golf for different reasons; what do you most love about the game?
A: I took up golf at a young age. As primarily a team sport athlete, I loved the individual component of golf. It really is a game against yourself in many ways. The game is difficult enough from a technical perspective, but it is made even more difficult by the thoughts and temperament that you bring to the course. It’s a game that demands focus, integrity, and the enjoyment of beautiful places, all while allowing for a close connection with a small group of people. It’s a game of small victories and amazing failures at any given time, where you can play the best round of your life, only to follow it up with your worst round. It’s incredibly frustrating at times, but that mental and physical challenge is what draws me back to the course. You learn a lot about people on the golf course, and it’s a game that allows you to play as you age. As my kids have grown older, I find it more difficult to carve out a few hours to play golf, but when I do, I use it to relax and recharge my mind. There is nothing better than an early morning walk on a golf course and seeing your footsteps behind in the dew.[divider line_type=”Full Width Line” line_thickness=”1″ divider_color=”accent-color”]Turnover Program Continues to Grow
HomeAid and trade partners recently put the finishing touches on another turnover project in September, bringing our turnover total to six during this year alone! The turnover program is designed to help organizations quickly prepare units that simply need a refresh before new tenants can move in; in addition to painting the interior, the flooring is updated, most often by replacing carpeting with vinyl planking, which has a higher upfront cost but is far more durable and easier to keep clean. Since the program’s launch in 2018, we’ve completed 11 turnovers, saving shelter and affordable housing organizations more than $58,000. And, since the turnover program is fully funded by HomeAid, turnovers can be completed quickly, and a new family has the opportunity to find stability and safety in a short period of time. Contact us for more information!
Making a Difference
On September 24, volunteers from Women in the Building Industry (WBI) and HomeAid staff put together care kits which were delivered to local tent encampments and emergency shelters. The kits were full of essentials including bottled water, AA and AAA batteries, sunscreen, dry shampoo, plastic tarps, protein and granola bars, baby wipes, lip balm, and small-denomination gift cards for food purchases.
Van Metre has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for HomeAid Northern Virginia through its Annual Cornhole Challenge, and we are excited to again be named a beneficiary of this always very successful event! Please join us at the Brambleton Fall Festival this Saturday, October 5, to support colleagues and friends as they vie for the coveted cornhole trophy and support HomeAid!
On November 6, 2019, NVAR Cares, a committee of the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors, will join together at the Carlyle Club for their 2nd Annual Party for a Purpose, for an evening of dancing, music, fun, drinks and hors d’oeuvres – all to raise money for HomeAid and four additional non-profits. We hope to see you there!
Thank You
Some of our youngest community members need the most help, and we’re putting our hands together with gratitude for NVBIA, whose members donated diapers for our Builders for Babies Initiative at the NVBIA Oyster Roast on September 26! Diaper donations are a critical component of helping young mothers in need; diapers aren’t allowable expenses under federal assistance programs, and a child usually needs between six and eight diapers a day, at a monthly cost of about $75.
Feld Entertainment once again gave the gift of happy family memories through their generous donation of 50 tickets to this year’s Disney on Ice show – Mickey’s Road Trip Adventures – at Eagle Bank Arena on October 2. The tickets were distributed to children and their families living in HomeAid partner shelters, and everyone had a great time at the show. Thank you!
Help Us Keep Our 5-Star Rating!
GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews about nonprofit organizations, first named HomeAid Northern Virginia a Top-Rated Nonprofit in 2013, and now is our chance to ensure we keep our prestigious five-star rating! The ratings are based on the large number of positive reviews HomeAid receives, and it’s easy to vote and weigh in! Please head over to GreatNonprofits.org and share your thoughts about HomeAid — if we gather 10 positive reviews by October 31, we’ll retain our place on the Top-Rated Nonprofit List!
In Memoriam
The HomeAid Northern Virginia community said a sad goodbye to a beloved trade partner, Darren Martineau, formerly of Builders Floor Service, who passed away very unexpectedly in September. Darren was an ardent supporter of HomeAid, always brought out the best in all who knew him, and was a true joy to work with. The homebuilding community lost one of its shining stars; please join us in remembering Darren as we send our love and support to his family. In lieu of flowers, contributions to his daughters’ college fund would be appreciated.
Van Metre Cornhole Challenge – Saturday, October 5, 2019, 12:00 p.m., Brambleton Fall Festival, Ashburn, VA (Benefiting HomeAid Northern Virginia!)
NVBIA Great American Living Awards (GALA) – Thursday, October 10, 2019, 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, McLean, VA
NVBIA Food Truck Festival – Wednesday, October 23, 2019, 3:00 p.m., Ferguson Enterprises, Chantilly, VA
NVBIA Future Leaders Oktoberfest– Wednesday, October 30, 2019, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Mustang Sally Brewing Company, Chantilly, VA (Collecting grocery store gift cards for Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Month.)
HomeAid Northern Virginia 18th Annual Gala & Auction – Saturday, November 9, 2019, 6:30 p.m., Lansdowne Resort and Spa, Leesburg, VA
GolfAid: A TopGolf Fundraiser for HomeAid Northern Virginia – Thursday, March 5, 2020, Top Golf Loudoun, VA
In this newsletter:
Executive Director & CEO Corner
Winter Nights are Coming: Are you Ready?
HomeAid, Joy Design + Build to Launch New Project for Pathways
K. Hovnanian and Pulte Homes Donate $50,000 to HomeAid
HomeAid Golf Tournament Tops $100K
HomeAid: Pulte’s Charity of Choice
