Friday, March 1, Habitat for Humanity San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valleys (SF/SCV) raised over $250,000, netting over $210,000, for their special Habitat for Heroes veterans program at their annual Habitat Hearts for Heroes Builders Ball. This year’s event honored the Southern California Gas Company and Carl and Jeri Goldman of KHTS AM 1220, two companies instrumental in creating awareness of Habitat for Humanity’s special Habitat for Heroes program in the Santa Clarita Valley.
After hearing four testimonials from different low-income veteran families approved to move into the veteran enriched neighborhoods being built by Habitat for Humanity SF/SCV in Santa Clarita and Sylmar in collaboration with the California Department of Veteran Affairs, guests raised their bid paddles and bid on auction items to help raise enough money to build more than two homes for veteran families in less than a few hours.
Citi Community Development and the Citi Foundation were instrumental in the process as they contributed $110,000 towards the fundraising totals of the night. $100K will go towards a home sponsorship (cost – $100K to build one home) and $10K will go towards Habitat for Humanity SF/SCV’s already successful enrichment program. This program takes homeownership to the next level by not only providing an affordable home to a family with a low-interest mortgage, but also connecting families to organizations like Citibank who bring local branch managers right into the neighborhoods to teach financial literacy classes in English, Spanish and a teen version. Other classes in the program include: health education and screenings, homework help for the children, computer training and veteran-specific services.
Another group helping with a large portion of the proceeds from the night were the Elks, Rotary and Shriners groups of Santa Clarita. They are raising $20,000 to go towards the 87-home SCV Habitat for Heroes “enriched” neighborhood in Santa Clarita. Their contribution is made in honor of a local Santa Clarita hero, Harry Bell. Harry Bell fought in WWII and Vietnam and was a vital member of the early Santa Clarita community. His story will live on in the community and Santa Clarita. Rotary, Elks and Shriners contribution will towards naming the main street in the veteran-specific community after Harry and putting a commemorative plaque in the community’s memorial park telling his story so generations to come will learn of his commitment to our country and the local community the Habitat for Humanity children live in.
The Southern California Gas Company’s Dennis Arriola and Carl and Jeri Goldman were presented with the Hammer of Hope award to honor their commitment to Habitat for Humanity San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valleys, particularly their work raising awareness in the Santa Clarita community by forming an Advisory Council of over 60 members to implement veteran-specific Habitat for Humanity housing programs in Santa Clarita, known as Habitat for Humanity SF/SCV’s special SCV Habitat for Heroes project.
Secretary Peter Gravett of the California Department of Veteran Affairs spoke on behalf of CalVet to express his excitement for working closely with Habitat for Humanity to create the first-of-its kind veteran enriched neighborhoods in North Los Angeles County. He thanked the honorees, board members, CEO, Donna Deutchman and Habitat staff, and all involved in this one-of-a-kind program.
Habitat for Humanity has begun construction on their 12-home veteran community in Sylmar and has received approval from SCV City Planning to move forward with their 87-home veteran community in Santa Clarita. Habitat for Humanity SF/SCV would like to have all families who attended Friday night and spoke about their dream to own their own home, to move in in the next 18 months. Veteran families interested in applying for these homes should contact Habitat for Humanity SF/SCV at (818) 884-8808.