eNews
Read past editions of our electronic newsletter.
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
20 Years of Neighbors Helping Neighbors
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on January 21, 2008 launched RTP's twentieth anniversary year.
It was the perfect opportunity to honor one of this country's greatest heroes while supporting a community-based organization that has been an important partner with RTP for several years. More than 40 RTP volunteers painted the offices and cafeteria of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Philadelphia's Thrift Store at 901 E Luzerne Street in Philadelphia.
This facility provides low cost necessities - furniture, clothes, household items - to the Juniata Park Community. Stay tuned for information on more 20th anniversary activities as they unfold.
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Fall 2007 Newsletter
Download our latest newsletter, and read about the projects we've accomplished this year.
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Duck for Cover Dodgeball Tournament
Sponsored by KPMG, the 4th annual Duck for Cover Dodge Ball Tournament was held on Saturday, November 10. Orchestrated by nine freshmen taking Management 100 at the University of Pennsylvania, the tournament is a vehicle for increased visibility for RTP on campus as well as for raising money to support repairs for low-income homeowners. Thanks to the Management 100 team, the tournament participants and sponsors, this event raised over $4,000!
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PARTNERSHIP WITH HGTV
Through a national partnership between Rebuilding Together, Inc. and HGTV, local RTP volunteers participated in the filming of an episode of HGTV's "Spice Up My Kitchen." For several days in June and July, a dozen RTP volunteers helped in the top-to-bottom renovation of the kitchen used for Take it to the Streets Food Ministries.
The organization bakes pastries and bread every Saturday and full meals for approximately 300 people every third Sunday out of Sandy Danzy's rowhouse in Southwest Philadelphia. People feast off of their good deeds all over Philadelphia as Levette Humphries leads the group to people in need. "When it's cold we usually go to my church in Chester, PA, but when it's warm, we go wherever the hungry people are at. We never go to the same street corner back to back," says Levette.
The HGTV show more than delivered on its "spice up" promise. What was once an inadequate space – aging, crowded, dark, and poorly ventilated is now a highly functioning, spacious, and beautiful kitchen with loads of storage space and industrial appliances that can handle the volume of activity. Special thanks to our very own Ricky Mitchell, from Elliott-Lewis, who volunteered his plumbing expertise to help the show's construction crew.
All together, HGTV aired four episodes of top rated shows featuring Rebuilding Together affiliates. In addition to the RTP project, RT Metro Denver was featured on an episode of "Carter Can;" RT Metro Chicago was featured in an episode of "Design on a Dime;" and the RT Southern California Coordinating Council had volunteers in an episode of "Over Your Head." All programs aired in November.
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MITZVAH MANIA
Rebuilding Together Philadelphia was one of five major partners in the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia's Mitzvah Mania 2007 project. On Sunday, October 21, hundreds of volunteers from the Jewish community performed "mitzvahs" (good deeds), simultaneously, all over Greater Philadelphia. Through the Federation's partnership/sponsorship, together with its Real Estate Group, Mitzvah Mania volunteers helped 11 senior homeowners in South Philadelphia to make essential repairs for and weatherize their homes. Volunteers also completed a landscaping/cleanup project at Mifflin Square, a community park. For more information and a photo slide show, visit The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.
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| 2007 PHILADELPHIA DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
Congratulations to all of the participants in this year's Philadelphia Dragon Boat Festival. With two boats full of RTP supporters and beautiful weather, this year's event was energizing. Thanks to the paddlers and Keystone Mercy Health Plan for joining forces to raise both money and awareness for RTP! We were able to have great fun together and spread the word about RTP to the Philadelphia community.
Photos from the event can be found here.
Special thanks to our Dragon Boat sponsors for donating prizes to the paddlers that raised the most funds, and to their friends and family for their support. This event raised over $15,000 for RTP - enough to sponsor 5 houses this spring!
You can visit the official website for race results and photographs.
To order a 2007 team t-shirt ($10 - shown below), mail this form with a check to our PO Box.
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Spring 2007 Newsletter
Download our latest newsletter, and read about the outstanding contribution of volunteers to RTP.
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RTP at Wharton
Read about the history of RTP in the February 19, 2007 issue of The Wharton Journal. Thanks to all of our volunteers from The Wharton School for their years of support and leadership!
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2007 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY PROJECT
More than 60 RTP volunteers participated in the Martin Luther King Day of Service at New Creation Community Center in the Fairhill/Lower Kensington section of Philadelphia. In just one day, volunteers cleared debris, removed tattered shelving and cabinets, painted walls and woodwork, and installed a new dishwasher and microwave/convection oven in the kitchen. Special thanks to Lutheran Settlement House for collaborating with us on this project, and to Delaware Investments for
their financial support. Click here for some photos.
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| 2006 DELAWARE INVESTMENTS CHARITY CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT
Rebuilding Together Philadelphia is thrilled to announce that the Delaware Investments second annual Charity Classic held in October 2006 raised more than $120,000. Half of these funds will be directed to RTP. The theme of the event - "Your strong drive can make a difference" illustrates the tremendous impact the fund raiser will make on low-income communities. RTP will direct funds toward three special initiatives in 2006-2007. RTP will add funds to its special projects allocation in order to help with homeowners' urgent needs throughout the year. Proceeds also will help pay for an independent contractor to focus on public relations, fund development, and outreach on behalf of RTP. Finally, RTP conducted a special Build Day project in April 2007 sponsored by Delaware Investments. Thanks to all of our supporters at Delaware Investments!
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FALL 2006 NEWSLETTER
Download our Fall 2006 newsletter here.
RTP has our eyes on the prize. Read about how our house management teams are helping us move forward.
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SPRING 2006 NEWSLETTER
Download our Spring 2006 newsletter here.
Read about our dedicated volunteers, inspirational homeowners and sponsors, and the Senior Collaborative.
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2006 DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
Congratulations to Team RTP, bronze medal winners at the Philadelphia Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, October 7. Held on the Schuylkill River in Fairmount Park, this annual event featured community, corporate, and student teams. RTP's dedicated crew of 21 paddlers practiced during summer sessions on the river at Boat House Row. The RTP Tent was filled with supporters on the day of the Festival, despite the cold and rainy conditions. We made some new friends, and found some new RTP supporters.
You can find the race results, photographs and information about the Festival at the official website www.philadragonboatfestival.com.
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PEDAL FOR THE PEOPLE 2005-2006
In October 2005, Jake Decker, John Ellis, Caleb Morris, Jeremie Schatz, and Justin Seweryn set off from San Diego on a 10,000-mile bicycle tour through Central America to Tierra del Fuego (the southernmost tip of Argentina). Although the tour officially ended in Peru in March 2006, their tour will forever shape their worldview and daily travels. They met local characters and international celebrities; sweated in the desert and froze on glaciers; swam at sea level and trekked in the highlands; and witnessed two presidential elections. Overall, it was a successful journey that broadened their scope of language, food, and life.
As "missionaries" for community activism and sustainable travel through grass-roots fund raising and promotion, these five friends also raised awareness and funds for three nonprofits, including Rebuilding Together Philadelphia.
RTP received more than $8,000 from donations given in support of Pedal for the People. To learn more, visit their blog.
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BIKING BRIGADE 2004
After 63 days and 3,385 miles on the road from coast to coast, Steve, Justin, and Peter Seweryn arrived to a waiting crowd of family, friends, and beachgoers. Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio and Tourism Commission Chairman David Farina presented the Seweryns with a Key to the City Award.
Following Lewis and Clark's route (only in reverse) and taking only what they could carry on their bikes, the cyclists averaged 13 miles per hour, braving 16 states, howling winds, torrential rain, steaming heat, chilling cold, mountain passes, and rough terrain. They biked through deserted areas often occupied by grizzly bears, coyotes, and other animals. Despite the erratic weather and rather unorthodox eating and sleeping accommodations, however, the Seweryns said the trip was more than worth it. Father and sons bonded. They saw amazing sites and the natural beauty of the country, including unbelievable sunsets. They met very supportive people, including the inhabitants of a bar in Mineola, Iowa where they were treated as celebrities.
The trip raised more than $30,000 for RTP.
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