Letter From the Chair

Welcoming in a new year is a relief to many. We have survived and learned a great deal through the past year. Was it all bad? Certainly many have struggled day to day and month to month. We have had to find new ways to define and reinvent ourselves, but this humbling time has also been a gift. I think many of us would be able to say that we were able to spend more quality time with our families and that we used our time to help others and to get to know each other as people. Our relationships are stronger, even if our bank accounts are lighter. We have always been an industry of giving and each member of this industry has not wavered in their willingness to help this past year. I am impressed with the continued drive of our industry members, no matter what the odds, which gives me confidence that we can look ahead and plan for a brighter future.

My favorite quote from Apollo 13 is Failure is not an option! and everyone in the industry has demonstrated that they will not give up. Whether you were an active member, a member in transition, semi-retired, or considering joining the BIA you have all contributed. HomeAid is grateful for the generosity of monetary donations, in-kind donations and the incredible donation of time. HomeAid has continued to build for our Service Providers this year by adding a new Multi-purpose room to the Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento, with thanks to Kevin Carson and his amazing team. We have added beds at the new Senior Safe House, led by Lennar Homes, we have provided much needed improvements to aging facilities at Options for Recovery, led by Shea Homes, and we have remodeled the Bannon Street Shelter to now house families thanks to Mark Eglington and Standard Pacific Homes. Our great members have also gone outdoors to provide landscaping for Advocates for the Mentally Ill Housing, led by Fusion Development Group, and we are delighted to have teamed up with the BIA Workforce Development team to improve the conditions at the Myrtle Avenue Apartments run by Volunteers of America. We successfully completed five painting projects for Painting a Better Tomorrow and as I write we are rallying volunteers to refurbish 35 Bungalows at Mather Campus for St. John’s Shelter so we can have families off the streets before Christmas, volunteers Mitch Young and Mark Eglington, have led this fantastic effort. This year has undoubtedly been a huge success.

We are headed in a very positive direction for providing support and beds to more care providers again in 2010. As we look for an uptick in our industry, we will continue to support even more projects. Our site selection committee is always looking for projects so that we can serve our community to the fullest. The marketing committee is focused on making HomeAid a stronger known entity in our community and our FUNd Development Committee will continue to be creative in its pursuit of raising money while having FUN. If we could add one member obligation, it would be to attend the HomeAid Trap Shoot held ’the third Friday in August for the rest of your life’. This has to be the most exciting event of the year. An opportunity to shoot a gun, strive for a personal best, a team best and great prizes while spending time with your colleagues and trade partners for a real blast, don’t miss it!

I also want to thank Greg Grant, our departing past chair for his incredible years of support and ongoing dedication to HomeAid. I want to especially thank Kevin Carson, our 2009 Chair, who has shown phenomenal leadership this year. He has maintained a positive outlook while guiding us through various challenges and I admire his calm demeanor and strong passion for the great work we do and look forward to continuing to serve with him again. Joining us will be Christeen Mazza our 2010 Vice Chair who brings great enthusiasm to FUNd Development and Leena Gurtis who will join the Executive Committee as Secretary/Treasurer and has been instrumental in leading our site selection committee. To our entire board I want to thank you for your participation and commitment to serve this great organization, without your dedication we could not serve those in need as successfully as we do.

I would be remise if I did not express the boards gratitude to John Orr our Founder who’s vision made this gift of housing a reality; to Pam Herman our Executive Director whose passion for housing the temporarily homeless while striving to make HomeAid a household name, and to Emily Lambert our Marketing and Special Events Manager, who is our upfront and behind the scenes miracle worker who makes what we all do possible. Thank you!

We would like to ask you to make HomeAid your personal charity of choice and your company’s charity of choice. We know there are many worthy charitable organizations in our community as we help so many of them, so please remember you can help organizations such as VOA, Children’s Receiving Home, Options for Recovery, Peace for Families, and many more by giving to your Industry’s Charity, HomeAid.