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Habitat for Humanity to Build More Families’ Dreams

Photo courtesy SGVHH
Glendale residents Kevin Garcia and Magaly Duarte Garcia pose with their three sons at the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity home dedication ceremony last year. The family is celebrating one year of living in their own home.

It’s been nearly one year since San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity helped Magaly Duarte Garcia and her family move into their forever home in Glendale, but the mother of three boys can still hardly believe their good fortune.
“I wake up every day, just so grateful to be able to call it my home and knowing we have security for my family. It’s taken so much stress away,” Duarte Garcia said. “This pandemic has been very stressful, but owning our own home and having space for the boys to study and have their own rooms, it has been a blessing.”
Before Duarte Garcia and her husband, Kevin Garcia, were chosen as homeowners to partner with SGVHH, they and the boys shared a two-bedroom apartment with her mother and sister. The family was constantly trying to stay quiet and out of the landlord’s sight for fear of eviction for overcrowding; at night, the two parents would anxiously shush the busy boys to not jump or run or disturb the neighbors. One of her sons, who is autistic, had a hard time being confined in such a small space and would try to run away.

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Habitat for Humanity to Build More Families’ Dreams

Photo courtesy Habitat for Humanity
San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Mark Van Lue takes a selfie with attendees at the Lomitas Avenue home dedication ceremony in Glendale, where the nonprofit built six town homes. Soon, SGVHH will launch its ambitious “Expanding the American Dream” initiative to serve 100 families over three years.

It’s been nearly one year since San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity helped Magaly Duarte Garcia and her family move into their forever home, but the mother of three boys can still hardly believe their good fortune.
“I wake up every day, just so grateful to be able to call it my home and knowing we have security for my family. It’s taken so much stress away,” Duarte Garcia said. “This pandemic has been very stressful, but owning our own home and having space for the boys to study and have their own rooms, it has been a blessing.”
Before Duarte Garcia and her husband were chosen as homeowners to partner with SGVHH, they and the boys shared a two-bedroom apartment with her mother and sister. The family was constantly trying to stay quiet and out of the landlord’s sight for fear of eviction for overcrowding; at night, the two parents would anxiously shush the busy boys to not jump or run or disturb the neighbors. One of her sons, who is autistic, had a hard time being confined in such a small space and would try to run away.

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Habitat for Humanity Builds Bigger Goals, Broader Reach

Photo courtesy Habitat for Humanity San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity’s former Executive Director Sonja Yates handed off the reigns to new executive director Mark Van Lue in July. Van Lue is making a big push to dramatically increase SGVHH’s impact.
Photo courtesy Habitat for Humanity
San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity’s former Executive Director Sonja Yates handed off the reigns to new executive director Mark Van Lue in July. Van Lue is making a big push to dramatically increase SGVHH’s impact.

When Katie Bradshaw gets the keys to her family’s newly built bungalow through the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity in June, she knows exactly what she wants their first move to be.
“I know it’s super cheesy, but I hope my husband carries me over the threshold like in the old movies,” said Bradshaw, who along with husband Mark and two young children, are counting the days until they move into the sparkling new home from their rental, a small third-floor walkup.
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At Habitat for Humanity, It’s the Giving Season

Greg Barsamian
Greg Barsamian

Nearly 75 San Gabriel Valley families are grateful — on Thanksgiving and every other day — for San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, which afforded them the opportunity to own their own homes.
Since it was founded in 1990, the San Gabriel Valley affiliate of Habitat for Humanity has made homeownership, and all its benefits, possible for those families.
“It’s pretty incredible,” said La Cañada Flintridge resident Greg Barsamian, who is the managing principal for Glendale-based Coldwell Banker Commercial Alliance and president of Habitat’s volunteer board of directors.
“On the commercial side, a lot of times when I move companies into a new building, the employees dress better, morale goes up, people just feel a sense of pride,” Barsamian continued. “This is like 10 times that. For someone who’s coming out of South Central L.A. where they heard gunshots every night, and they have little kids, or they’re immigrants — their sense of pride in their home, it’s off the hook.” Continue reading “At Habitat for Humanity, It’s the Giving Season”

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Dilbeck Agents Help Build Nine New Habitat for Humanity Homes

Those on hand to help build nine Desiderio Bungalow Homes include (in wheel barrow) Tanner Arden, along with (middle row, from left) Pam Heiberg, Julie Ann Martin, Kali Lamarine, Diana Kronfli, Andrea Kaufman and Kathleen Boss. Back: Greg Cowell, Jeff Arnott and Mark Dilbeck, president of Dilbeck Real Estate.

Dilbeck Real Estate and the Dilbeck and Associates Charitable Foundation teamed with Habitat for Humanity to help build nine new, affordable homes in Pasadena on April 20.
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