Winter 2016 President’s Message Hope will define and refine us. It’s no secret that 2016 is punctuated by a question mark, and This past December nine families moved into new homes in yet Habitat for Humanity Edmonton remains optimistic because Neufeld Landing, the largest Habitat build in Canadian history. optimism is embedded in our DNA. It’s in times like these that There are 49 families now living in a stable situation and 15 more our program is needed more than ever. We are blessed to have families anxiously awaiting their keys! We also welcomed home an amazing group of donors, volunteers and community partners two families in Hinton and one in Leduc. Over all of 2015 we who stand proudly behind our mission and walk with us through served 50 families! these uncertain times. 2016 marks our 25th anniverary, and so As we move deeper into 2016, we will continue building at Neufeld we celebrate all that has been accomplished since 1991 and be Landing, six homes on each of the Gift Lake and East Prairie Metis excited about all that lies ahead of this year! Settlements, a duplex in Wetaskiwin, single family homes in each Habitat for Humanity builds homes, but we also build hope. One of Slave Lake and Grande Prairie. We’ll also begin projects in Cold of the great aspects of our program is that you can see, hear, Lake, Fort Saskatchewan and Edmonton’s Laurel community. smell, taste and touch it. The results are tangible. Hope becomes Of course we will continue to build walls, stairs and floors in our tangible. It becomes tears of joy at a key ceremony, the sound Prefab Shop, and operate each of our four ReStores (three in of a hammer echoing across a build site, the smell of freshly cut Edmonton and one in Grande Prairie). wood, the taste of a shared meal during lunch break, the feel of a Thank you for supporting the vital work done by Habitat for warm “thank you” embrace, and the excitement of a door opening Humanity. We are so glad to have you on board as we continue to for the first time. build homes and hope. May we allow hope to define and refine us We build homes. We build hope. It’s what we do. It’s what we’ll in 2016 and beyond. always do. Sincerely, For a community to be whole and healthy it must be based on people’s “ love and concern for each other. Millard Fuller, Founder Habitat for Humanity International” Alfred Nikolai President & CEO Building Homes. Building Hope. Winter 2016 Blueprint 1 Women Build Women Power One hundred women raised $153,700 and each spent a day building homes in the Prefab Shop. One hundred ladies took over HFH’s Prefab Shop the week of November 16th for the First Annual WOMEN BUILD FUNDRAISER! All the ladies were equipped with power tool training before they set off to put their skills to work building walls, floors and stairs. What a fantastic job they did! The women slammed the ball out of the park by raising a jaw- dropping $153,700! Their challenge was to raise $100,000 - talk These ladies kicked off the Women Build on Monday. The groups were led about going above and beyond! Thank you, ladies, for your by Susan Green and Deb Manz. dedication, commitment and hard work. Tuesday was a great day with loads of excitement. The groups were led by Wednesday was rocking as we hosted the biggest Women Build group Mary Cameron and Louise Gibson. on site. The groups were led by HFHE Past Chair Carolyn Graham and Donna Sylvester. Thursday rolled in with two more phenomenal groups led by Marg Sebzda The closing groups were a lot of fun and put in a great work day. They and Christine Dirksen. were led by HFH Board Chair, Jan Mulligan, and Brenda Gillingham. Building Homes. Building Hope. Winter 2016 Blueprint 2 Celebrating Home Happy in Hinton A hard-working Hinton committee celebrated with two families. The spirit of neighbour-helping-neighbour was alive and well in Hinton on December 14th. Supporters gathered with the Hinton HFH committee for a special presentation of keys to two local families. There were joyful tears, smiles and hugs all around as families shared about the journey that led them to HFH’s door. Special thanks is due to the hard-working committee who made the celebration possible and paved the way for Jennifer, Tracy and their families to create a promising and exciting future. It was Tracy and her daughters had been waiting to receive keys for a long time. definitely a happy day in Hinton. Mick Burrows and Jason Winacott (l-r) of CN had the honour of making their dreams come true. A crowd of supporters gathered in Hinton to wish the two HFH partner Charlene Parker and Les Rushfeldt of Shell Canada had the delight of families well on December 14, 2015. handing keys to a grateful Jennifer and her children. Loving in Leduc Tristate Homes gives back. When Arash Vahdaty, President of Tristate Homes, handed house keys to Muhammed, Shumaila and their children, it was a very special moment for him and the team at Tristate Homes. This home is the second home that the company has donated to HFH. “We believe that having the ability to own a home is a key staple to a family’s feeling of security and wellbeing,” said Vahdaty. He and his team wished the family a lifetime of happiness, fond memories and an abundance of love. Vahdaty pledged the home to HFH during Habitat Day in the Capital Region. HFH is grateful for the spirit of generosity in the Arash Vahdaty and the team at Tristate Homes had the pleasure of Home Builder community, and that Tristate Homes has been such welcoming a partner family into their new HFH home. Tristate Homes an incredible supporter of the Habitat program. pledged the home to HFH during Habitat Day in the Capital Region. Building Homes. Building Hope. Winter 2016 Blueprint 3 Neufeld Landing Home for the Holidays Nine families’ hearts were warmed on a frigid December morning. The day was icy cold, and as the morning progressed the mercury in the thermometer dropped even lower. However, frigid temperatures cannot freeze the Habitat spirit, whether at a home dedication ceremony or during a build. Nine families and over 100 Habitat supporters huddled together to celebrate newfound home ownership. The celebration was filled with encouragement and inspiration as families shared their HFH experiences and held high their shiny keys! Nine families received keys to their homes in this Neufeld Landing nineplex We are grateful to each and every volunteer, donor and community in December 2015. partner who helped each of these families attain their dream. HFH Edmonton is proud of our community and the hearts of those who lend their hands to enrich the lives of others. Construction is ongoing at Neufeld Landing, the largest build in Canadian history. Fifteen homes are currently under construction at the development and 49 families are already living in their homes! For more information, please visit HFH.org. NEUFELD LANDING IN 2015 2,110 volunteers 23,734 volunteer hours 3,405 volunteer construction shifts Krysta (l) was elated to receive her new HFH home for her and her children, THANK YOU! Madison and Bryson. Don and Kae Neufeld, namesakes of Neufeld Landing, gladly welcomed Krysta to her new home. MCAP is a national supporter of HFH’s work in Canada. Marc Prefontaine, Sean and Jackie Tayler (r) of the Kristie Charitable Foundation had the Senior Director of the Development Finance Group for MCAP, celebrated honour of handing keys to Kerri and her son Caleb. with Sarah as she warmly accepted house keys for her and her daughters Winta and Seana. Building Homes. Building Hope. Winter 2016 Blueprint 4 Neufeld Landing Genet and Isaac (l) were excited to finally be home! Scott Riddell, Branch James, Rita and their daughter received their key and a big smile from one Manager at ATB Financial, celebrated with them after presenting them of the founding members of HFH Edmonton, Dave Hubert. with their house keys. Miki Vanderpool and the team at Owens Corning brightened the day for Fahma and her children, Murbarak and Munira, had been waiting patiently Omar, Dalia and their beautiful children. House keys it is! for key day. Colin Wilson, Sales & Marketing Manager, Qualico, Was on hand to hand keys to Fahma. Qualico had a key role in making the land at Neufeld Landing possible. Iris Gillis (r), President of the REALTORS® Community Foundation, Hugh and Glenda Wyatt (l) have been volunteering with HFH for many and Charlie Ponde (r), Governor of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, years and in many different capacities. They had the joy of welcoming presented keys to Cassandra and her daughter Adisyn. Heluf, Etenesh and their children into their Neufeld Landing home. Building Homes. Building Hope. Winter 2016 Blueprint 5 Our Supporters Affiliate Supporters D.D. Thompson Life Insurance Habitat Studio Rescom Inc. Agency Ltd. Hahn, Daryl & Bonita Ridge, Irene G. Diamond $100,000+ EcoAmmo Sustainable Haven Management Ltd. Riopel, Janet Alison B. Rice Foundation Consulting Inc. Henkel Canada Rocky REA City of Grande Prairie Edmonton Oilers Community Heppleston, Irene Ruth, Micki & Thomas Government of Alberta Foundation Hine Wilson, Betty Sekhon, Daljit Kristie Charitable Foundation, The F. Andersen Drywall Holy Family Columbus Club Seniuk, Janet REALTORS® Community Frank J. Flaman Foundation, The Homeward Trust Edmonton Sisters of Holy Cross Foundation Giebelhaus, Bill & Karen Horn, Margolee Slugoski, Darrin & Karen Sterling Homes (Edmonton) Ltd.