Homes 4 Families honored CBRE at their annual Hearts for Heroes Builder’s Ball this evening. Also honored was Gary Rohr, one of Homes 4 Families’ most dedicated volunteers. The funds raised at the event will be used to complete the remaining 9 homes of a 78-home neighborhood for low-income veterans in Santa Clarita, and to build a 56-home neighborhood for low-income veterans in Palmdale. The event, presented by Lockheed Martin, took place at the Universal Sheraton Hotel in Universal City, CA.
CBRE received the Hammer of Hope Award, the non-profit organization’s highest honor, which is presented to extraordinary individuals or entities who are leaders in their fields and communities, specifically those who serve veterans and low-income families seeking to enter the middle class. Past recipients include Lockheed Martin, Anheuser Busch, Citibank, Home Depot, Princess Cruises, and many others.
Accepting the award on behalf of CBRE was its divisional president, Lewis Horne. CBRE, the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, is being honored for their commitment to employing and training veterans. The award was presented by Retired Major General Peter Gravett, former Secretary of the California Department which partners with Homes 4 Families on some of its Enriched Neighborhoods.
Long-time Homes 4 Families volunteer Gary Rohr is being recognized for his dedication to helping build homes for veterans. After retiring from a 35-year career in the graphic arts and printing industry, Gary decided to lend his artistic eye, leadership, and kind spirit to the Veteran Enriched neighborhood® build site 4-6 times a week.
All proceeds raised will go towards building and providing services to low-income military families through the CalVet REN (Residential Enriched Neighborhood) program. The 56-home Palmdale project is the third of four CalVet RENs built in partnership with the California Department of Veterans Affairs. This program empowers low-income veterans and their families to enter the middle class through affordable, full-equity homeownership combined with holistic services that build resiliency, self-sufficiency and economic growth. Families receive comprehensive wraparound services that equip them to succeed in civilian life, including financial education, therapeutic trauma-informed workshops, services for military children, and veteran-to-veteran support.
This year’s event was chaired by Karen Brown, Sr. Vice President of First Bank. The event was co-hosted by actress Alison Haislip, sideline commentator for ABC’s “Battlebots” and celebrated pop culture TV, podcasting, and webcasting personality as well as Johnathan Fernandez, one of the stars of FOX’s “Lethal Weapon.” Other members of Homes 4 Families’ Celebs4Vets group making presentations at the gala were Sean Maguire, known for his role as Robin Hood on ABC’s “Once Upon a Time,” and Judd Lormand, from CBS’ hit series “SEAL Team.”
Gold level sponsors included: CBRE, The Johnny Carson Foundation, and The Steve Y Kim Foundation/Sand Canyon Country Club. Silver level sponsors included: California Resources Corporation, and Rasmussen Foundation. Bronze level sponsors included: AAA Companies, First Bank, Freedom Financial Funds, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Pacific Coast Civil, Planning Associates, Inc., and Rosenheim and Associates.
About CBRE Military
Approximately 1,800 of CBRE’s employees are current and prior military, and their service experience provides them with valuable specialized skills and experiences. CBRE hires military veterans, guardsmen, reservists and their spouses with experience in HVAC, electrical, plumbing and mechanical experience; maintenance, facility and property managers; accountants and finance professionals; digital and information technology analysts, technicians and managers; security officers; human resources; administrative and support roles.
CBRE, a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2017 revenue). The company has more than 80,000 employees (excluding affiliates) and serves real estate investors and occupiers through approximately 450 offices (excluding affiliates) worldwide. For more information about CBRE in the United States, visit http://www.cbre.us/about/.
About Homes 4 Families
Homes 4 Families (www.homes4families.org) empowers low-income veterans and their families to enter the middle class through affordable, full-equity homeownership combined with holistic services that build resiliency, self-sufficiency and economic growth. Through its outcome-proven Enriched Neighborhood® model, the nonprofit provides servicemen, servicewomen and their families with comprehensive wraparound services that equip them to succeed in civilian life, including financial education, therapeutic workshops, trauma-informed programs and veteran-to-veteran support. With more than ten years of research-backed experience and success, Homes 4 Families works closely with the California Department of Veterans Affairs and others to build permanent, thriving veteran communities.