A Year of Gratitude
large and small hands holding paper house
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DECEMBER 2017  
Executive Director's Corner
Kristyn Burr welcomes a sold-out crowd to HomeAid's 2017 Gala & Auction.
I read this quote today - "Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." So, let me be sure to say, "Thank you." As 2017 comes to a close and I look back on my first year as HomeAid's executive director, I'm struck by so many acts of generosity and kindness that our supporters - YOU - have shown. Sponsorships and event attendance routinely broke records this year. New partnerships were formed, while organizations and individuals who have been with us since we were founded continue to show up, day after day, year after year. Donations for our Helping Hands program have come from all corners of the homebuilding industry, and our relationship with NVBIA continues to deepen and grow. Everywhere I look, I see people generously giving - of themselves and of their organizations. Our Gala & Auction event, held last month, felt like not just a celebration of a year well-spent, but also a celebration of the hundreds of people who are inspired to give every day, in a multitude of vastly different but equally important ways. I am in awe of you, and I am grateful that you are part of our HomeAid family
. From all of us at HomeAid, happy holidays to you and yours!
 
In gratitude,
 

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Annual Gala & Auction Raises $250,000 for HomeAid
More than 450 supporters took stock of HomeAid's impressive accomplishments over the past 16 years as they walk the "Time Tunnel entry" toward the Annual Gala's cocktail reception and silent auction.
Feeling suave and sophisticated in the cocktail-hour photo booth!
A sold-out crowd of over 450  
supporters and guests turned out for HomeAid Northern Virginia's  16th Annual Gala & Auction on November 4 and raised more than $250,000 through donations, sponsorships, attendance, and live and silent auctions.

The new venue - Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg - was an extremely popular choice, and the night buzzed with electricity as hundreds walked the "T
ime Tunnel entry," where they learned about the history of HomeAid on their way to the cocktail reception and silent auction; listened with rapt attention to keynote speaker Jas Boothe, founder and president of Final Salute, Inc., as she shared her powerful story of what it means to be a woman veteran struggling with homelessness; raised their paddles to participate in The Paddle Challenge, raising a total of $120,000, thanks also to a matching gift from Doug and Ann Smith; and celebrated the generosity and tireless commitment that our 2017 Presidents' Award honorees give to at risk families in our communities. Intercoastal Mortgage Company served as the presenting sponsor of the event for the second year in a row.  
Presidents' Circle Awards Honor
Community Lodgings, Buhl Electric, Brian Davidson

Nonprofit Service Provider Project of the Year Award:
Community Lodgings

HomeAid President Jerry Berman (left) and Awards Sponsor John Buhl, Jr. (middle), present the Nonprofit Service Provider Project of the Year Award to Lynn Thomas, executive director.
Trade Partner
of the Year Award:
Buhl Electric Company, Inc.
 
HomeAid President Jerry Berman (left) presents the Trade Partner of the Year Award to John Buhl, Jr.
Presidents' Award:
Brian Davidson
Van Metre Homes  
 
Brian Davidson
Presidents' Award Recipient Brian Davidson addresses the crowd after receiving one of HomeAid's highest honors.
Got Photos? Be sure to check out more photos of the Annual Gala & Auction - and download your photo booth best shot!  

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Final Salute: Our 2017 Reality Check!
A meeting of the minds: HomeAid's expert partners tour the Final Salute home inch-by-inch, plans in hand.
We've all had that moment when a well-laid plan unexpectedly heads south, and in home construction, it's an everyday experience. How many of us have set out to replace, say, an appliance, only to discover that the wiring behind it is bad or the floor beneath it damaged by water damage? Suddenly, a simple project becomes bigger - and more expensive.
 
At HomeAid, we have these moments all the time, particularly during larger renovation projects that go well beyond cosmetic updates - and while they may be cause for some headaches, they also serve as excellent reminders of why HomeAid's deep bench of industry experts can make all the difference to our nonprofit partners.
 
When Jas Boothe, founder and president of Final Salute, Inc. , first came to us in 2015 about renovating a home her organization had purchased in order to house up to 10 veteran women and their children, it seemed like a pretty straightforward project. Soon enough, though, we learned that ...
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It's a Wrap!
2017 HomeAid Northern Virginia Impact
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Partner Donations Make Big Difference for Helping Hands Program  
According to Charity Navigator, the American charitable sector is the largest in the world, with Americans contributing nearly $400 billion in 2016 plus $260 billion in volunteer time. And, it's estimated that between 40 and 50 percent of those totals come during the winter holidays!
 
At HomeAid Northern Virginia, we see significant giving all year long, with major grants and in-kind donations from partners of all sizes; but during the holidays, we too see a welcome uptick in contributions, particularly to our Helping Hands program, which encourages grocery gift card and household essential donations for individuals and families moving in to recently completed HomeAid projects.
 
Special thanks to the following partners for your generosity this month!
  • frontpoint volunteers Frontpoint Security dedicated its most recent staff Happy Hour to us - and we received 20% of all proceeds and a collection of household essentials for our Welcome Home baskets.
  • SEVA Truck is meeting us at the Prince William County Drop-In Center parking lot this Saturday, December 9 from 11:00am to 1:00pm, to serve hot meals while we distribute backpacks filled with winter essentials - including hats, blankets, sleeping mats, and socks - to those living in a tent city in Woodbridge. We learned last year when we scheduled this event on a weekday that many tent city residents work - but due to the high cost of living in the Northern Virginia region, as well as other barriers to housing, they still can't make ends meet and have no other stable housing option available to them. This year, we've planned our event for a Saturday and hope it will allow us to reach more in need!
 
Want to help before the year is out? It's not too late!
  • Shop with Amazon Smile: If you're planning to do your holiday shopping on Amazon this year, designate HomeAid as your beneficiary (search for Housing Trust Fund of Northern Virginia, Inc.), and Amazon will donate a portion of each purchase to us at no cost to you.
  • We are always looking for volunteers to coordinate drives for grocery cards and household essentials; learn more about our Helping Hands program.
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Jerry Berman Looks Back on Rewarding Year and Forward to Exciting Future
Jerry Berman
Jerry Berman 
Jerry Berman initially heard about HomeAid through his involvement with NVBIA, and the more he heard, the more he began to think that becoming involved with HomeAid would not only be good for his company's team members, but that it would also be a good way for his company to give back to the community. As builders, they were in a unique position to help.
 
"Eventually, one thing led to another, I ended up on the board, and I have loved it ever since," he said. With his term as 2017 president winding down, he reflects on his year and looks forward to many additional years volunteering with HomeAid. "This year has been a tremendous honor," he said. "I am really lucky to have had this opportunity, and I am thankful for it."
 
Q Q&A graphic : With your term as president of HomeAid's Board coming to a close, what would you say has been your favorite thing about serving?
 
The way the HomeAid board is structured, every board member has an opportunity to contribute, and every member really does contribute. So, serving as president is really not that different than serving on the board. One thing that I really enjoyed as president, though, was the chance to work with other nonprofits and community organizations ...
   
In This Issue
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If you know someone who is struggling to find housing, please visit our
for help! 
Announcements
Support HomeAid's Annual Fund Drive!
We receive no government funding to fulfill our mission and therefore depend on the generosity of individuals, companies and foundations for their generous donations; can you help us today with your year-end donation ? Help us make a difference for the more than 5,000 homeless men, women, and children living in Northern Virginia!
Thank You
Hats off to The Knutson Companies , for stepping up as Builder Captain to renovate Loudoun Hunger Relief 's Food Bank in Leesburg! The organization serves 11,000 individuals each year, and the renovation will refresh the waiting room and turn the food pick-up area into a more grocery store-like atmosphere, giving families more autonomy over their selections and more privacy while they shop. The result? More dignity and less waste, with fewer families getting things they won't use.
 
Enormous thanks to Jon Adler and Katherine K. Hanley, for your combined 16 years of service on our Board of Directors! We will be sorry to see you transition off of our Board, but we will never forget the insights and energy you brought over the course of your long tenure!
Salute to Service 
There was a familiar face on the Today Show in November: Major Jas Boothe, founder of   Final Salute Inc. , who shared her powerful story with a live audience. Thank you for your service and for your dedication to helping homeless female veterans. We are so proud to partner with you!
 
We're Hiring
Do you know a great contractual grant writer? We're looking for recommendations, so please email Kristyn Burr if you have someone in mind! We're also looking to hire a part-time communications whiz to help with a variety of marketing and communications duties.  
Giving Tuesday
#GivingTuesday is a global movement to celebrate and encourage giving back after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and many of our supporters made a gift to support our mission on this year's Giving Tuesday on
November 28.
Thank you to all! 
 
 
Calendar
Custom Builders Council Holiday Mixer
December 7, 2017
Chima Steakhouse
 
We will be collecting blankets and warm socks to distribute to men and women living in the woods in the tent cities of Woodbridge, VA.
HomeAid &
Seva Truck
December 9, 2017
The Prince William County Winter Shelter
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HomeAid Northern Virginia's offices will be closed Monday, December 25, 2017, through Monday, January 1, 2018. The office will reopen with regular business hours on Tuesday, January 2.
2018 Point-in-Time Count
January 25, 2018
 
We will be collecting blankets and warm socks to distribute to men and women living in the woods in the tent cities of Woodbridge, VA.
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