The Cornerstone Newsletter March Issue | 2025 | | |
Dear Friends of Habitat,
As we welcome the first days of spring, I’m reminded of the season’s promise—renewal, growth, and the potential for transformation. At Nevada County Habitat, we see that same spirit reflected in our work and in the incredible support of our community. Together, we are building not just homes, but lasting impact for the future generations to come.
This month, we celebrate a truly inspiring milestone—Tammy, our first Habitat homeowner in Penn Valley has made her final mortgage payment! This is an incredible achievement, demonstrating the power of affordable homeownership in transforming lives. Her dedication and perseverance are a testament to what is possible when we come together to create opportunities for stability and success. We also celebrate progress on our latest construction project, bringing us closer to providing safe, affordable housing to four families.
Additionally, we acknowledge a transition within our organization. We warmly welcome Tai Batov as our new Associate Director and extend our deepest gratitude to Bill Croker for his years of dedicated service on our Board of Directors. His leadership and commitment have been instrumental in advancing our mission.
The need for affordable housing in our community remains urgent, but so does our resolve. Every volunteer hour, every donation, and every act of support makes a difference. As we move forward this year, I invite you to stay engaged—whether by swinging a hammer, shopping at the ReStore, or spreading the word about our work. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Your generosity and dedication are the foundation upon which we build hope.
With Gratitude,
Lorraine Larson
Executive Director
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Tammy Pays Off Her Habitat Home — A Milestone Worth Celebrating!
Nevada County Habitat for Humanity is thrilled to celebrate a major milestone—Tammy, our very first Habitat homeowner, has officially paid off her mortgage!
Tammy’s journey began in 1997 when she was selected for a Habitat home. Before that, she and her two children lived in a cramped apartment, struggling with financial instability. Today, she stands as a proud homeowner, grateful for the stability and opportunities her home has provided.
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“This program works. I can’t imagine where we would have been all these years without this home,” Tammy shared. “It’s a foundation for my family’s future, and I’m forever grateful.”
Tammy’s story is a testament to the lasting impact of affordable homeownership. Since its founding, Nevada County Habitat has built homes for 44 families, helping over 190 individuals. With rising housing costs, our work is more critical than ever.
Join us in making homeownership a reality for more families—whether by volunteering, donating, or spreading the word. Together, we can build more than houses—we can build futures. Learn More About Our Work
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Welcoming Tai Batov to Our Leadership Team
We are excited to announce that Tai Batov has joined us as our new Associate Director!
Tai is a passionate advocate for community-driven social impact, bringing over a decade of experience in advancing nonprofit initiatives. She has held key leadership roles in four California-based social service organizations, specializing in program development, project management, and strategic fundraising. Since 2021, Tai’s efforts have helped secure $900,000 in funding, ensuring critical services reach those who need them most. In her new role, Tai will focus on expanding fundraising initiatives and strengthening our leadership capacity to further our mission. Read More
| | Momentum is building at our Ventana Sierra project! Crews are making great strides, installing sewer and water services to support four future Habitat homes. Once completed, this development will feature homes of varying sizes, thoughtfully designed to meet the unique needs of our homeowners. Every step forward brings us closer to welcoming families into safe, stable, and affordable housing. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue making homeownership a reality! | | |
Thank You, Bill Croker! Celebrating 8 Years of Dedication to Habitat
Habitat would like to express our sincere appreciation to Bill Croker who served on Habitat’s board for 8 years. Bill’s dedication, insightful contributions, and unwavering commitment have been truly invaluable, and we are deeply grateful for his service. There isn’t an area of the organization he hasn’t had, and will continue to have, a positive impact on.
During Bill’s long tenure, he served in many roles, including 2 years as Board President. He played a key role in guiding the organization to growth an excellence. “Working with Bill has been an honor for all these years, and I am fortunate that he is sticking around to keep making a difference. He has helped me grow as a leader, and our community is a better place because he lives here. We had some fun with the Great Race events too!”, says Lorraine Larson, Executive Director.
The good news for Habitat is that Bill is not leaving the organization and will continue to be very involved as Chair of our Building and Engineering Strategy Committee working with key leaders of the organization to innovate and grow our building capacity. Bill has worked for many years to improve our ReStore and continues to be involved in planning the strategy of the ReStore into the future. If you see Bill when you are out and about, please thank him for his service on the Board of Directors.
Check out our Board of Directors page to see the dedicated individuals who help guide our mission and impact our community!
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Loyalty Peeps meet Chuck Smith!
He is our Donations Lead here at the ReStore. He is a third generation Grass Valley property owner, and has been at the ReStore now for over 2 years. Many of you know Chuck as a former teacher and educator here in Grass Valley, and some of you will surely remember him as a coach, working with teams all the way up to the professional level. Chuck keeps our Donations Staff and department humming along, as well as serving as our official ReStore good will ambassador. Come by and catch up with Chuck while you drop off your donations at the ReStore! We want to thank Chuck for all that he has done for our community, and for all of the amazing leadership he shows here at the ReStore!
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