A Fond Fare-Welcome!

You say "Hello" and I say "Goodbye"

How often do you get to say, Fare-Welcome? As we bid a fond farewell to Satish Rishi, our distinguished outgoing CEO, we welcome the talented Catherine Stihler to the team in her new role as Habitat CEO.

A Word from Satish...

In my time here, I've had the privilege of witnessing the lives of deserving families changed forever... Every time we told a family they had been chosen for a home, I got to see the tears of joy and shock on their faces. To be a part of the Habitat journey for these people has truly been one of the great honors of my life.

As I reflect on how the organization has grown in my four years here, I am also reflecting on my own journey. I have been humbled by the community that supports this organization and humbled by the hard work of our staff and volunteers. Having come to the nonprofit sector for the first time in my career, what I've learned is that the mission truly drives the work - people roll up their sleeves and do whatever job is needed to meet the moment. I personally have swung a hammer, dug ditches, hauled mulch, painted siding, you name it. I am proud to have given my own sweat equity to the Habitat homes we built while I was here.

I retire, knowing that my efforts have made a difference, proud of what I have accomplished alongside a team of inspiring dedicated staff, volunteers, and community partners. Thank you all for the journey and the memories.

A Word from Catherine...

I have only been on the job for two weeks now, and already I can see that it's the people who make Habitat a community of hope. I'm delighted to have joined this dedicated team of volunteers, hardworking and motivated staff, engaged and thoughtful Board Members and stakeholders, internal and external, who literally ‘love’ what we do. It means that each day, I wake up feeling excited about the difference we can make together to support local working families build and purchase their own affordable home. 

Affordable home ownership is the issue of our time... and there is almost nowhere in the country this is felt more greatly than in our beautiful yet expensive Monterey Bay Area. Building high quality, sustainable, affordable homes to buy is where Habitat stands out. Through building beautiful homes, not for renting but for qualifying families to own, we change lives for the better and the long term. I am so proud of the work so far and the work to come. Thanks to everyone for making me feel so welcome during my first couple weeks in the role. I look forward to building more affordable homes for ownership in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. 

Rodeo Creek Court Celebration

A Day to Remember!

Saturday, June 22 was a day of joyous celebration at Rodeo Creek Court (RCC). We celebrated the completion of the entire project, welcomed the Hart Family to their new home, and inaugurated the Ron Buswell Memorial Garden.

We broke ground at RCC in August 2020. After four years and 967 volunteers contributing 41,700 hours, the project is complete. We are immensely grateful to our many volunteers, businesses who donated labor and resources, and community partners who made it all possible. 

Brian, Veronica, and Santi Hart are the final family to move into RCC. They received their keys from Senator John Laird, who was in attendance to welcome the family and to honor Habitat's 35 years of accomplishments. Also in attendance were Santa Cruz County Supervisor Manu Koenig and Santa Cruz City Councilmember Sonja Brunner.

The event was heartwarming throughout, but no other moment brought tears to as many eyes as when we honored the late dear Ron Buswell and cut the ribbon on the Ron Buswell Memorial Garden. Almost 150 community members attended to celebrate. We were humbled by the outpouring of support and joint elation in the community we have built.

Congressman Jimmy Panetta Tours RCC

Congressman Jimmy Panetta has been a strong public supporter for affordable housing, and in August 2020, he attended the groundbreaking for Rodeo Creek Court. With shovel in hand, he joined our volunteers, construction crew, and other community leaders, believing in the mission and power of Habitat's work. At the height of the pandemic, we forged ahead and began work on this important community which now houses eleven families including: Eighteen children, one born just recently; four teachers; two city workers; a chef; independent small business owners; single parent households; and two families who lost their rental homes in the 2020 CZU fires. As Satish Rishi, outgoing Habitat CEO, pointed out, “This community truly represents the diversity of Santa Cruz County.”

August 2020 Groundbreaking: From left to right:

Ron Buswell - 2020 Board Chair

Julie Mahowald - CFO, Housing Trust Silicon Valley

Satish Rishi - Habitat CEO

Bud Colligan - CoFounder MBEP

Susan True - CEO, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County

Jimmy Panetta - U.S. Congressman

Reed Geisreiter - ex-Housing Advisory Commission member

On Friday, July 19, Rep. Panetta came back to tour RCC and met some of the families living there. It was a full circle visit, and he was impressed with the completed development. “Lack of housing supply and our community’s high cost of living puts homeownership out of reach for too many families in California’s 19^th Congressional District,” said Rep. Panetta. “Projects like Rodeo Creek Court and the work of Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay are vital in our work to alleviate these issues and provide working families with the transformational benefits that homeownership can provide. I applaud the leadership of Habitat and their team of volunteers and community advocates who demonstrate the commitment needed to ensure all of our neighbors can continue to call our community home."

Habitat Volunteers Honored at the

Be the Difference Awards

Golden Hammer Crew and Pat McVeigh

On May 8, Habitat was proud to see the hard work of our volunteers recognized at the Be The Difference Awards presented by the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County. Two awards were presented. One was for the Golden Hammer Crew, a group of experienced, skilled volunteers who have been volunteering on Habitat build sites since the first Habitat home builds in Santa Cruz County, more than four decades ago. We are grateful for the selfless commitment, hard work, and good humor (perhaps due to the dozens of donuts and coffee consumed during their time together), of these esteemed volunteers.

The second award was for a stellar individual volunteer, Pat McVeigh. Pat, now in her late eighties, has been a consummate volunteer in our community, donating her time and talent to more than a dozen organizations, 4-5 days per week. A humble woman, she is fearless to take on new, unfamiliar tasks, and to mentor less experienced volunteers. She has been a regular at Habitat build sites, and never misses volunteering during Women Build.

The Golden Hammers received special recognition from State Assembly Member Gail Pellerin, Assembly Member Robert Rivas, Senator John Laird, and Santa Cruz Mayor, Fred Keeley. It was truly a special day!

Cars for Homes: Thank You, Gregor and Julia

The Cars For Homes Program is a unique way for donors to support Habitat's mission to create affordable housing. It's simple: Donate your car, truck, boat, RV, motorcycle (the list goes on!), the vehicle is sold and the funds go to supporting the work of your local Habitat affiliate. Every once in a while, we get to hear from donors on what the donation meant for them. Gregor and Julia shared their car's journey and their choice to donate to Habitat.

"We are so sad to have our dear Harriet go. This was the first car my wife and I bought when we moved to California. We bought something small and simple to get us by in the first few months, but the car was so amazing that we fell in love with it, so much so that we named her. We didn’t get any other car until very recently! It took us to many parts of this beautiful state and beyond, it always brought smiles to our faces when driving it. We couldn’t just sell it to a random person, we felt that us parting ways should be meaningful We decided to donate it for the wonderful cause that Habitat for humanity stands for, as we believe housing to be an inalienable human right.

Cheers,

Gregor & Julia"

If you have a vehicle you are thinking of retiring, please consider a Cars For Homes Donation. Last year, we earned $108,000 from vehicle donations - everything from 20-year-old loveable "junkers" to a $20,000 2014 Tesla have been donated. You can make a big difference!

If you love this program, would you consider a lawn sign?

Contact us to get one for your lawn.

ReStore Volunteers Needed

We need your help! Our Habitat for Humanity ReStores in Seaside and Watsonville are in desperate need of volunteers on weekends. Whether you have a few hours or the whole day, your time can make a significant difference. Volunteers are needed between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM to assist with various tasks. Join us in supporting our mission to build homes and hope in our community. To sign up, click below to pick a shift. Your help is greatly appreciated!

SCCAR Mardi Golf

Tournament to Raise Funds for Habitat

Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors is hosting their Annual Charity Golf Tournament and this year they have selected Habitat Monterey Bay as a beneficiary organization. We are delighted to take part!

Come out and play! Enjoy a day of golf, sunshine. and supporting a cause you care about. Hope to see to see you there!

Hucks Fore Homes

Thanks everyone for playing!

Your support helps us continue our mission to build homes, communities, and hope. We look forward to seeing you all next year for an even bigger and better event!

We are thrilled to announce that our first-ever Hucks Fore Homes Charity Disc Golf Invitational was a fantastic success! With the enthusiastic participation of 75 players, we raised an impressive $8,000 to support Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay. The event, held on June 8th, brought together disc golf enthusiasts, community members, and local businesses for a day of friendly competition and fun. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated, volunteered, and sponsored the event.