The year started out with us building 5 homes and fundraising for all 5…

Women Build Home!- 659 Gifford Street is the home of the Ulrfe family. Their house was dedicated on Sunday October 23rd, 2011

SU Build Home! 653 Gifford street is the home of Kimmie Simmons-Wilson and her family! Their home is yet to be dedicated but stay posted!

Veterans Build Home!- 113 Fitch Street is lacking about  $7,000 in funds before we can move in the disabled Veteran and his spouse…. Stay posted!

Veterans Build Home!- 115 Fitch Street is lacking about $35,000 in funds before we can move in the disabled veteran and her small children… Stay posted!

Interfaith Build Home-655 Gifford Street has yet to break ground and has yet to have a family selected…there is $55,000 lacking in funds to have completion of the house..stay posted!

The Syracuse Women Build Chapter has been fortunate to be honored with a $5,000 grant from Lowe’s in support of the Women Build Project and National Women Build Week.  Located 659 Gifford, the home being constructed will be built by predominately women .  Since this national program has begun in 1998, more than 1,800 Women Build homes have been built.  This will be the fourth Women Build house constructed by Syracuse Habitat for Humanity. 

On May 7, 2011, Syracuse Habitat for Humanity Women Build and Syracuse University volunteers have teamed up to complete drywall, landscaping, and appliance installation.  Join us starting at 9:00 am to evoke change within the community, empower women, and advocate for affordable housing. 

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity and the Women Build program, click here.

House Dedications:

We had the pleasure of dedicating three houses this year. First, was the Hodges’ home on 214 Merriman Ave. in April. That same month, we dedicated the new home we built in partnership with Elizabeth Cruz and her family at 214 Elliot Street. Lastly, in July we held a dedication for Celesse Reece and her family, also on Elliot St., at 227.

Elizabeth Cruz and family at their house dedication.

Summer Family Picnic:

We had a fantastic turnout at our 4th annual Picnic Fundraiser, held July 16th at Long Branch Park in Liverpool. Over 125 friends, family and community members came out for BBQ, games and live music from local band Bluesa Nova.

SHFH staff and friends socialize at the Picnic Fundraiser.

The Golf Tourney:

Members of the community came out in August for one of Syracuse Habitat’s most entertaining fundraisers – the Golf Tourney, held at the Pompey Golf Course. Participants hit the links while raising money for Syracuse Habitat!

Golf Tourney participants hit the course for Syracuse Habitat.

Mr. Habitat Auction:

October brought our biggest event of the year – The Mr. Habitat Auction 2010! A group of gentlemen walked the stage at the Syracuse Sheraton Hotel to auction of donated goods and raise money for Syracuse Habitat. The event was a fun success!

Mr. Habitat contestants pose for a photo. Bill Brod (center in a tux) won the honors that night.

Thank you to everyone who came out to our events and worked with us in 2010! Be sure to stay tuned for all our events and fundraisers in the next year. As always, with your help we will continue working to eradicate substandard housing in Onondaga County!

Additionally, SH4H launched its first Veteran’s Home, a new initiative to assist U.S. Military Veterans and their families in finding affordable and adaptable housing post-deployment.  The home will be built on Fitch Street with a target completion date of Spring 2011.

Here is a listing of his upcoming prizes. Congrats to Mr. Brod! Remember, we’re always looking for gentlemen interested in competing for Mr. Habitat 2011!

November- two tickets to WCNY “The Party” held on Friday December 31st

December- A nights stay at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel on SU hill.

January- A couples massage from Elan Therapeutic Massage

February-Golf Gift Certificate at Hickory Hills Golf club in Baldwinsville for a round of golf for two with cart! Market America Dinner Gift Certificate to local restaurants

March- Golf Gift Certificates from Orchard Vali Golf Course, Rome Country Club and Timber Banks

With over 200 silent auction items, ranging from Vera Bradley purses, gift cards to local shops and restaurants, resort vacations, and artwork, bidders helped fund raise $11,000 for Syracuse Habitat for Humanity.  The real treat of the afternoon was watching 12 men walk in a live auction, emceed by Kathy Rowe and Big Jim Donovan from Y94FM.  Bidders were awed with bodybuilders offering personal training sessions at local gyms, dance lessons with a local dancing celebrity, landscape designers and our very own AmeriCorps VISTA walking the stage.  Energetic, devoted, and filled with skills guaranteed to benefit the final bidder, audience members all enjoyed the afternoon while supporting Women Build and Habitat’s overall mission to eradicate substandard housing in our community.

Mr. Habitat 2010 was Mr. Bill Brod, publisher of the Syracuse New Times.  The winner of his services collected over $2,000 of advertising space in the New Times, local restaurant certificates, and tickets on the 50 yard line to see the Syracuse Orange football team take on the University of Connecticut.

Check out our photos from the event:

A Golf Tourney participant swings big.

Every Thursday Syracuse Habitat for Humanity will look through our photo collection and post a Photo of the Week. You can participate too! If you have a photo or story that you would like to share, please send an email to pchile@syracusehabitat.org

Thank you and enjoy the pictures!

What can you expect from this event? First, you have to know that the highlight, must-see feature is the MAN AUCTION. Yes, that’s right; Men will walk the stage with a donated good or service and audience members will have the opportunity to bid on these items. This MAN AUCTION is a unique, one-of-a-kind event rarely seen in major auctions. It gets better: the man with the most bids wins the title of Mr. Habitat and receives VIP gifts for a year!

Mr. Habitat 2009 - Dan Josephson

Second, the SILENT AUCTION will offer an expansive and diverse collection of donated goods and services from local businesses and generous individuals in the area: gift cards, prize packs, vacation passes, high-end retail – the offerings are limitless.

Bid on hundreds of donated goods and services!

Third, all proceeds go towards the Syracuse Habitat Women Build. This program provides local women with job skills at our build sites. Mr. Habitat is one of the key events that raises awareness as well as important funds towards this program.

Finally, we really need our attendees to RSVP for the event. You can do so by filling out a quick online form here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z7J22XD

So come out to this unique and fun event! For more information, please visit the SHFH website here, the Women Build website here or check out us on Twitter and/or Facebook.

See you Sunday!

Thank you and enjoy the pictures!

Ground Blessing, a Habitat for Humanity tradition.