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October, 2015 - In This Issue
We were proud to recognize some of our amazing staff who reached tenure milestones this year. Together, they represent 55 years of dedicated service to our mission of working together with low-income families to build and sustain healthy homes and communities.

From left to right: James Clark, Rehab Specialist - 15 years; Felipe Casas, Self-Help Housing Manager - 5 years; Rudy Quintana, Loan Processor - 25 years; and Carlos Garcia, Construction Superintendent - 10 years.
JOIN OUR TEAM
Self-Help Enterprises offers an exciting work environment where you can bring your high caliber skills to a true career opportunity and impact the world around you.

We have an opening for a  Real Estate Development Project Manager responsible for working on affordable housing development projects throughout Self-Help Enterprises' eight county service territory.

COMPETITION AND CAMARADERIE 
Self-Help Enterprises joined the City of Visalia Parks & Recreation Department for the seventh annual Visalia Corporate Games, where local businesses and organizations compete for points and medals.

Staff on Self-Help Enterprises' HOME Team participated in athletic sports ranging from soccer to volleyball and displayed their mental mettle in Family Feud and Trivia over the Games' two week competition.

The HOME Team took gold in the 5K run and Trivia! Staff also scored high in Tug of War and Texas Hold 'Em. 
 
The City of Visalia offers the Corporate Games as a way for employees to stay active, promote wellness and recreational activities, and build teamwork through the competitive spirit.

View photos from the 2015 Corporate Games here .
STAFF RECOGNITION
Self-Help Enterprises is honored to have been recognized at the California Water Center Water for Justice Celebration. The event's theme "Leaders in the Face of the Drought" celebrated community leaders and efforts in the movement for water justice.

Self-Help Enterprises' staff members Paul Boyer, Program Director for Community Development, and David Mendez, Drought Project Manager, were presented a plaque for their work in facilitating the installation of emergency water tanks and pursuing long-term solutions for residents with dry wells.

Michael Prada, President of the Sultana Community Services District, City of Famersville Mayor Gregorio Lopez, and Martha Guzman, Deputy Legislative Secretary for Governor Brown's Office were also honored for their efforts to ensure communities have access to water. 
BIOLA FAMILIES RECEIVE FREE SOLAR PANELS ON HOMES
Eight families in Biola, CA can now enjoy the benefits of having solar panels on their self-help homes. Self-Help Enterprises partnered with nonprofit solar installer GRID Alternatives for the sixth annual Solarthon. During the two day Solarthon event, held October 23rd and 24th, solar panels were installed on the homes by volunteers and trainees from local job-training programs.
 
This partnership increases the support of low-income communities by giving them access to greener, more efficient power and lowering the utility costs for individuals and families.
 
The eight homes were constructed by low-income families under Self-Help Enterprises' mutual self-help housing program. Through the program, families provide over 70 percent of the construction labor. These labor hours, or "sweat equity", are used as the down payment on their new home.
 
Over the past several years, Self-Help Enterprises has worked closely with GRID Alternatives to provide rooftop solar to over 100 self-help homebuilders in the San Joaquin Valley.  

COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Recent generous donations  from banks, local businesses, and community organizations help ensure that our work to assist low-income communities continues.
 
Bank of America presented a check for $30,000 to support our drought relief efforts in the San Joaquin Valley. We appreciate the donation from Bank of America, which will make a difference in the lives of drought-stricken families.

Ross Stores, Inc. donated $500 to our Resident Services program. The donation will support programs that foster academic achievement and employability skills. 
The Cub Scouts Pack 80 from Visalia held a water collection drive to help families whose wells have gone dry. The scouts collected over 90 cases of water and over 80 one-gallon bottles of water! The donated water is being distributed to residents in rural San Joaquin Valley communities.
 
We are very thankful for these donations and our ongoing partnerships. Donations - of all amounts - help fund a range of programs that build and sustain healthy homes and communities. If you would like to make a contribution to Self-Help Enterprises, visit our donation page. Thank you for your support!   

VOLUNTEERS HELP BUILD HOMES
IN CORCORAN
On October 10, a group of eighteen students from the Rotary Youth Exchange program and five adults worked alongside families who are building their new, safe and affordable homes in Corcoran.

The high school students are hosted by local Rotary Clubs and engage in community volunteer projects during their academic year. With assistance from an onsite construction superintendent, the volunteers, who are from countries including France, Brazil, Portugal and Belgium, helped 10 families with framing the walls to their homes.
 
The homes are constructed under Self-Help Enterprises' mutual self-help housing program with low-income families providing over 70 percent of the construction labor.
 
We thank the volunteers for committing their time to help families achieve the dream of homeownership.
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8445 W. Elowin Court, Visalia, CA 93291		 All Rights Reserved.
559.651.1000