Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian Housing Ministry working world-wide to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make a decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. Habitat for Humanity Greater Garland, Inc. began in 1994 and since then has built or renovated 45 homes in the greater Garland area. Plans are to build additional homes in 2002. How does it work? Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials. Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit, and financed with affordable, no-interest loans. The homeowner's monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses. Habitat is not a give-away program. In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest 300 hours of their own labor-“sweat equity” into building their Habitat house and the houses of others. As families work on the home they will own, a sense of ownership is realized. Dignity is restored through their work and hope is revived through manageable payments. How does Habitat work with the government? Habitat for Humanity Greater Garland welcomes partnerships with government to help “set the stage” for the construction of homes. State-setting funding and gifts might include land, houses for rehabilitation, infrastructure,(streets and utilities) and administrative expenses. Habitat works through the Garland Housing Authority which provides lots and enhancements to the basic Habitat houses. How are the partner families selected? Families living in the Garland and surrounding communities (Dallas County area) may call the Garland Habitat for Humanity office at 972-279-4482. The family selection committee chooses homeowners based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay the no-interest loan. Every affiliate follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing the families who receive Habitat houses. . On March 2, families braved the wind, ice and snow to apply for their Habitat home. The Board of Directors will choose 3 families for homes they hope to build in 2002. Many thanks to all the volunteers who came in that day to explain the program and hand out application packages. What is Habitat for Humanity International? Family Selection Day Volume 1, Issue 1 Love Thy Neighbor What is Habitat History How does it work? Govt Involvement Family Selection Meet a Habitat Family Volunteer Highlights and Special Thanks 2 Habitat Kyrgyzstan Foundation And Presidents Corner 3 Did you know? You can Become a Habitat Volunteer 4 Constructing Larger Gifts President's Corner 5 How to be a Donor 6 Inside this Issue Habitat for Humanity Greater Garland, Inc. April, 2002 Joan Jagielski Joan has four children and eight grandchildren, one dog and will celebrate 50 years of marriage to John in June. Joan enjoys making porcelain dolls, sewing and helping people through Habitat. She is the chairperson for the Family Selection Committee, Volunteer Coordinator and a member of the Construction Committee. She has been with Habitat since 1999 and on the Board of Directors since 2001. People would say about me: I'm an extrovert, hard working, fun loving, and persistent. My favorite books are: Five Smooth Stones by Ann Fairbairn. My role model could only be one person-my husband, John People I would invite to my fantasy dinner: Babe Dickerson, my grandmother, Mike Madano, and John Kennedy. The wildest thing I've ever done: Jumped off a bridge into a creek to go swimming. Meet Two Volunteers that help to make it possible Page # Love Thy Neighbor After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan experienced a major population shift as ethnic Russians fled back to Russia and the rural population moved to cities looking for work. The result, a huge housing shortage. Cities' infrastructure have received little or no maintenance in the last 10 years, causing a sharp decline in standards of living. The Habitat Kyrgyzstan Foundation was founded in February 1999. Soon after their inception, they were given a large parcel of land by the local city government, which was re-named “Habitat Region”. This land, a former apple orchard, contains plots of land for fifty houses and a small park. As it is worldwide, families are selected by the family selection committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The families are selected based on their housing need, their ability to pay back the loan Habitat gives them, and their willingness to work with Habitat and build their own house as well as the home of their neighbors. Family Story: Bekter and Ryskul are typical of Kyrgzstan's young, educated professionals. Both are doctors who work long hours and who want the best for their family. Because of rising inflation and budget cut-backs at their state sponsored hospital, their income barely keeps them out of poverty. Some months, the government pays doctors with bags of surplus flour or potatoes instead of money. Other months they aren't paid at all. Rent payments for their cramped, one room apartment takes up forty percent of their combined income. School fees for their one son take another large percent, leaving little money for food and other necessities. When the Usunbaeve family moves into their new Habitat house, they will have nearly twice as much space as they currently have, at a fraction of the cost. “I want to have a big family,” says Bekter proudly, “at least five sons. But first, I need a good home for them to live in.” Habitat is helping Bekter and his family get that good home. The Garland Habitat wanted to be a part of this dream and tithed $2,000 in 2001 to the Habitat Kyrgyzstan Foundation. Habitat Kyrgyzstan Foundation Page # Volume 1, Issue 1 P.O. Box 460338 Garland, Texas 75046-0338 1833 Plaza Drive Suite 100 Garland, Texas 75041 Habitat for Humanity Greater Garland, Inc. Phone:972-279-4482 Fax: 972-279-0792 John Jagielski John, loving and wonderful husband of Joan shares the same four children and eight grandchildren and dog. He plans to take Joan to Ireland to celebrate their 50th anniversary in August. John enjoys woodworking, yard work, watching the grandchildren play softball and baseball, and fishing. John has been with Habitat since 1999 and currently serves as the “foundation and site man” for the construction committee and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2001. People would say about me: I'm quiet until you get to know me, patient and a hard worker, meticulous and has to do it right the first time. My nickname is “Mr. Quality”. My favorite books are: wood working magazines My role model would be my dad. People I would invite to my fantasy dinner would be: Rita Hayworth, Joe Stafford, John Wayne and Msgr. George Casey. The wildest thing I've ever done: Body surf in 10 foot waves. You can help to preserve the American Dream by becoming a Habitat Volunteer Page # Love Thy Neighbor You may have provided for your family's future by investing in stocks, bonds, or mutual funds over the years. If so, you may find that the best way to make charitable gifts is in the form of marketable securities that have increased in value. Double Tax Benefits One of the economic advantages of making a gift of securities is what might be considered a “double tax benefit.” when you give securities that have increased in value and have been owned long enough to qualify as long-term property, you are entitled to a federal income tax deduction based on the current fair market value of the security, regardless of what it originally cost. For a gift of $1,000 in securities, this savings along could amount to as much as $396 or more, depending on your income tax rate, income, and number of personal exemptions. Give more at the same cost To arrive at the total tax savings for a gift of appreciated securities, count both the charitable deduction and the capital gains tax bypassed. Thus the net cost of giving can be significantly lower when the gift is made in the form of appreciated property rather than cash. Example If Mrs. Wood gives $1,000 cash to Habitat for Humanity and is in the 39.6% income tax bracket, her net cost of giving is $604 ($1,000-$396 savings). If Mrs. Wood gives $1,500 of securities (which cost $350) to Habitat, she can give them at a net cost of $676, very close to the cost of giving $1,000 cash. When Should I Give Securities? The timing of your gift of securities will typically be determined by your desire to give, the needs of the charitable recipient, and/or when tax considerations indicate the gift will be especially advantageous. The value of your investments may also play a part in determining when you should give. Ideally, for maximum tax benefits, you should give securities you would otherwise plan to sell. If you have a substantial capital gain in a security and would be taxed heavily if you sold it, consider giving this to Habitat for Humanity. Through such a gift, you would not only make a significant contribution to Habitat, but you would also bypass the capital gains tax that would have been due if you had sold the security. If your securities have decreased in value, it is usually wise to sell them and then give the proceeds. You may then receive tax benefits from all or a portion of the capital loss. Giving and “keeping” Securities Do you own a security that is performing so well you are hesitant to give it away? There is a way you cane make a charitable gift with such a security and, in effect, “keep” it at the same time. Supposed you give the stock to Habitat. When you make the gift, you bypass capital gains tax on the stock's increase in value. You can then use the cash you might have donated to Habitat to repurchase shares in the same stock. You will then own the same amount of stock with a new, higher cost basis. How do I Complete the Gift? Making a gift of publicly traded securities is easy. There are several ways to do it, but the basic procedure involves completing a form your stockbroker can supply and then notifying the charitable recipient of your plans. For further information, consult with your financial broker. Or write to Doris M. Pierce-Hardy, Manager, Gift Planning Habitat for Humanity International 121 Habitat Street, Americus, GA 31709-3498 1-800-422-4828 Ext 2199 Dhardy@hfhi.org. (Please indicate the specific Habitat you wish your donation be given, Habitat for Humanity Garland,) Constructing Larger Gifts .. Did you know Page # Volume 1, Issue 1 What can you, your church, youth group, Women's /Men's organizations, company do for Habitat? The Garland Habitat needs help with: Construction - Roofing - Plumbing - Painting - Heating & AC - Electrical - Concrete Finish - Framing - Foundation Prep - Finish Carpentry Committees - Family Selection - Family Nurture - Public Relations - Help us to get the word out about Habitat - Volunteer Recruitment - Food Coordination for volunteers on site. Construction/Material Donations It takes $50,000 to build a Habitat home. Do you know someone who can donate or discount the following: - Lumber, nails, duct work - Bricks, mortar, concrete - Appliances - Dry wall, tape, plaster - Water heater, bathtub, commode bathroom and kitchen sink and plumbing materials - Windows and doors - Air conditioner, furnace, ceiling fans - Land for homes - Landscaping - Mini-blinds - Floor covering, i.e. tile and carpeting - Roofing materials - Rental equipment - Tools - Kitchen and bathroom cabinets We appreciate your kindness but only new appliances, cabinets, and bathroom fixtures, please. Other - Printing services (brochures and newsletters - Donated lunches for volunteers while working on a home - Webmaster - can you create an innovative and exciting web page? Fund Raising - If you are a company, what a great way for a team building exercise. - Organizations can organize 3K, 5K etc. runs - Benefits - plays, choirs, etc. - Plan an antique car show, sports car show, collector card show in the name of Habitat. We will help you with the location. - Golf Tournament-we are in the process of planning a tournament on September 30th , 2002.- be a sponsor or donate a gift. Be a volunteer the day of the tournament. More news to follow. - Bake sales - Craft shows Habitat Guarantee: We as an organization promise to appreciate all donations, large and small and to use them to “build a home and construct a dream” for a selected family. Please fill out this form and return to Habitat for Humanity Greater Garland PO Box 460338 Garland, Texas 75046-0338 YES! I want to help Habitat's ministry of eliminating poverty housing in Garland! Enclosed is my gift of: _____ ($5) _____ ($10) _____($25) _____ ($50) _____ ($100) _____ ($Other) (Make checks payable to Habitat for Humanity Greater Garland) Name: Address Phone ? All gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law ? Find out if your employer has a matching gift program that will double or triple your gift ? This gift is donated in honor of ? This gift is donated in memory of __________________________________________ ? Send acknowledgement to: (amount of gift will not be mentioned ) Name Address City State Zip . Habitat for Humanity of Great Garland's audited financial statements are available upon request. Name: Address: Phone Cell: Pager Email: For further information on volunteerism email carolrus@earthlink.net or call the Habitat for Humanity Garland office at 972-279-4482 Did you know … Tom Thumb Food and Pharmacy is in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Greater Garland through their Good Neighbor Program. Your “Reward” card application allows you to choose the charity of your choice to receive a percentage of what you spend on your purchases at Tom Thumb Food and Pharmacy. If you already have a Reward card and haven't done this, please go to the Cashier's or Customer Service office and add “Garland Habitat for Humanity's code number 7660”. If you don't have a reward card, please apply for one. Quick, easy and painless. Javier and Isabel have been married for 11 years. Javier came to this country in 1985 and received his citizenship in 1997. Javier is an air-conditioning apprenticeship program as a helper. They learned of Habitat through a friend and applied for a home. After completing the application and being accepted, Javier and Isabel put in their “300 Sweat Equity” hours and moved into their home in January 2001, about a year later. Javier chose to continue building homes with Habitat. He says, “I'm so just so happy with this team of people I'm working with, and I like helping others get a house. Habitat is very fortunate to have Javier not only as a homeowner but also as a member of the Board of Directors. Special thanks to the following for their contributions of extraordinary hours, materials, land, services, and other gifts. 84 Lumber Acme Brick Cooper Industries Clayton Fuchs Cinco Media Communications City of Garland Dale McPherson Dean VanHorn Epps Realty, Gayle Dunn Esther Beeson Garland Housing & Finance Dallas Morning News Grace Fellowship Church Hector and Mary Cardenas Inlet Specialties, Inc. Jim Campbell Jim Lawrenz John Jones Marilyn Field Metropolitan One Mortgage . George Human Board President President's Corner Habitat for Humanity has been a labor of love for me. My first involvement was to help build the home for Javier and Isabel Ramirez (story is on page 1). We worked side by side to build their home. Knowing the family you are working to build a home for, makes it more rewarding. Right after the tearful dedication ceremony, I was asked to consider joining the Garland Habitat Board. After serving on the Board for three months I was elected President in October, 2001. Since August, 2001 the Board has appointed seven new members including a CPA who has worked untold hours to get our bookkeeping up to date. We have begun construction of our 46th house, have rehabbed one and are in the processing of developing three lots on land donated at the corner of Avenue D and Hopkins Street. We have developed goals for fund raising, construction of three homes in 2002 and four homes in 2003. We are most grateful to St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Richardson for having providing funding to start our current home construction and for providing so many loyal volunteers and leaderships. We have been fortunate to have many active and committed Board members and dedicated committee leaders carrying out this ecumenical Christian housing ministry of Habitat for Humanity. Meet a Habitat Family Pete Hataluk Ralph Sivley St. Joseph Catholic Church Suzy's Quilt Shop Tiger Paw Texas Instruments Coop Tom Thumb UTD Fraternity Valspar Vernon Showers Village of Eastgate Apts - Jim Roberts A very special thanks to St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Richardson for both their substantial financial assistance as well as providing the largest number of volunteers. Habitat begins home On March 9th, Habitat volunteers came together to raise the walls on the newest Habitat house located at 1108 Rio Rita in Garland. Around 50 volunteers were there to raise the walls and begin to “build a home and construct a dream” for a qualified family. They came together individually and in groups from the University of Texas, Texas Instruments, and St. Josephs. If they didn't know how to swing a hammer before they came, they were “pros” when they left. Thanks to all! City of Garland Executive Officers John Jones, Treasurer Jennie Pollard, Secretary Directors Jim Campbell Frank Dickson Jim Dunn Bill Hill Joan Jagielski John Jagielski Jeff Muzzy Javier Ramirez Bill Shipp Ralph Sivley Staff Carol Ruszkowski Gerald Beeson