This year I spent about 40 hours as a volunteer, creating a fundraiser for my alma mater high school, which is recognized for its excellent performing arts program, in particular, their yearly musical productions. High school can be a tough time for young people, and I think the arts have grounded many teenagers, including me as I went through those years.
I modeled the fundraiser on one I saw in Ventura County, called Dancing with Our Community Stars (that effort has raised over $174,000 for local nonprofits in only four years.) Though I knew the high school would not raise that level of funds, I followed the basic model of getting leaders at the school - the teachers! - to volunteer as 'Stars', and paired each Star with a student dancer, and the competition has begun! Each Star is competing to 'win' by raising the most money, and $1 equals 1 vote. We convinced the 3 Vice Principals, an Art Teacher, and an English Teacher to dance, and the spirit of the event has already been great - everyone on campus cannot wait to see these teachers dance. The competition will take place January 14th, at the school's annual Dance Concert; funds raised will benefit the Performing Arts Fund and create a new Scholarship Fund to give to a graduating senior(s) who participated in at least 2 years in one area of performing arts.
Thank you for your consideration and generosity
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Story of Giving from Heather Brunst
I was so touched to receive your Stories of Giving card in the mail. Truly this is what Christmas is all about! People always amaze me with the love and hard work they put into making the world a better place.
The group that I volunteer is Kidcare International. Kidcare is a USAID registered organization located right here in Claremont, CA. Over the last fifteen years, the people of KidCare International have reached out with compassion to serve many desperately disadvantaged children in our own community as well as throughout the world. They are not necessarily a large organization as far as number of people or dollars, but they are big as far as impact.
Domestically, Kidcare offers a local foodbank, has just given out thousands of Kidpacks filled with goodies for Christmas, and offers a weekly Study Buddies program. Internationally, they support kids with food, supplies, and medical needs. I personally know people who have accompanied supplies all over the world, and this year they have made numerous additional trips to Haiti to bring food, supplies, and medical help.
Thank you for all you do!
The group that I volunteer is Kidcare International. Kidcare is a USAID registered organization located right here in Claremont, CA. Over the last fifteen years, the people of KidCare International have reached out with compassion to serve many desperately disadvantaged children in our own community as well as throughout the world. They are not necessarily a large organization as far as number of people or dollars, but they are big as far as impact.
Domestically, Kidcare offers a local foodbank, has just given out thousands of Kidpacks filled with goodies for Christmas, and offers a weekly Study Buddies program. Internationally, they support kids with food, supplies, and medical needs. I personally know people who have accompanied supplies all over the world, and this year they have made numerous additional trips to Haiti to bring food, supplies, and medical help.
Thank you for all you do!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Story of Giving from Robert Gastineau
Three years ago Phyllis and I moved to Lytle Creek to live in our log cabin Tim helped us finance. Last October we were at the corner across from the mailboxes when we saw three chihuahua dachshund mix dogs. The girls playing in the front yard said someone in a red jeep threw them out of the truck. Phyllis said, "Pick them up!" We were able rescue a male and a female. A couple of days before Halloween, the Mommy Andromeda, or Andy for short, had seven puppies. In the mean time we've adopted out four of the three girls and three boys. Let me know if you have a home for a chi-weenie puppy.
Bob and Phyllis
Please contact if interested in adopting a rescued puppy:
Story of Giving Gary Smith
It is easier to write a check, but more satisfying to give your time. I manage a club soccer team that gives high-energy boys from low-income families an opportunity to play competitive soccer. The training sessions, the games, and the team parties bring together families from different neighborhoods, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds and, I hope, teach the boys about the rewards from hard work and how to win joyfully and lose graciously.
Gary Smith
Foothill Storm BU11
http://www.foothillstorm.org/
Gary Smith
Foothill Storm BU11
http://www.foothillstorm.org/
Thursday, November 11, 2010
It is that time again!
Once again, it is the season for giving thanks. Last year, we invited our clients, friends, family and colleagues to share their stories of giving with the hope of honoring volunteers in our community and to remind us that working together, we make a difference in the world.
The stories were so touching, that I decided that Stories of Giving would be a yearly tradition.In the spirit of community and giving, I invite you to share your story of thanks and good will from 2010 to be posted here on our Stories of Giving blog. What are you grateful for? What type of community or volunteer work do you enjoy? Please send us your story! To do so, send an email to Brooke, our in-house Marketing Specialist, at Brooke@HLCTeam.com. Please keep your story to 200 words or less and submit before December 31st.
Each year, I appreciate the blessings of my life more and more. As we approach this holiday season, I send warm and sincere wishes to all of you now and through the next year for a safe, abundant and healthy year to come.
We greatly appreciate our community partnerships, including...
Rotary International
The HLC Team of Broadview Mortgage sponsored a Shelterbox to Haiti. Shelterboxes each contain a 10-person tent, bedding, utensils, cooking equipment, water purification assistance, tools, books, radios and more. The Rotary Club of Claremont sponsored three additional Shelterboxes. Through Rotary, we have assisted in the selection of the participants of the Teen Leadership Camp. Tim feels fortunate to be the TLC Chair and to select from a group of amazing kids to pick the students who attend this educational trip each year.
Claremont Community Foundation
We work directly with the CCF to offer financial, technical and administrative support for Art and Community Impact Projects funded by the Foundation. The HLC Team of Broadview Mortgage sponsored an art exhibition at the Foundation featuring work from local high school students.
Chamber of Commerce
We have been delighted to participate in the Best Bet Grants Program that helps local teachers fund much-needed programs in their classroom.
Lenders Who Care
Through this national non-profit, we offer education to benefit consumers on homeownership topics. These courses include public events, an ongoing education series for our industry partners, and on-site classes for employers and Human Resource Departments. All events are free.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
'Tis the Season for Giving Thanks and Good Will
The holidays are a treasured time of year for me, as I give thanks for all good people in my life and in my community, including you. I appreciate gathering with the people I care about most to offer a simple moment of gratitude for all that we have in our lives. This holiday season, I would like to invite you to share your story of thanks and good will with me.
During these historic times of change and, for some, true hardship in our nation and in our own towns, I would like to focus on the many acts of kindness and generosity that I have witnessed in my community, and nation-wide:
•Through the Claremont Community Foundation, the HLC Team has offered financial, technical and administrative support for both Art and Community Impact Projects funded by the Foundation.
•Through the Claremont Chamber of Commerce, we have been delighted to participate in the Best Bet Grants Program that helps local teachers fund needed programs in their classroom.
•Through our local chapter of Rotary International, we have assisted in the selection of the participants of the Youth Leadership Camp and helped to organize both trips and events for award recipients and their parents.
•Through our national non-profit service and education partners Lenders Who Care and Herocare, we have created free, non-sales, monthly education programs and we have developed special services to thank our Local Heroes who create and sustain the quality of our lives. Local Heroes include the following: our active and retired educators; first emergency responders; military (including reserves); medical support and hospital employees; non-profit and charitable organizations; and all government workers.
I have been greatly heartened by these community partnerships and by the level of volunteer commitment I have seen benefit our neighbors and those in our community who are less fortunate and who may be struggling.
Now, I would like to reach out to YOU. What are you grateful for? What type of community or volunteer work do you enjoy? Will you send us your story? Please send an email directly to Brooke, our in-house Marketing Specialist at Brooke@HLCTeam.com. Please keep your story to 200 words or less and submit it before Monday, December 21st.
We will automatically enter your name for a drawing to win either a $100 gift certificate to the local restaurant of your choice OR a donation of $500 to your favorite charity in your name.
These stories encourage all of us to remember that, in working together, we may make a difference in the efforts that are important to us.
My family and I have lived and worked in this community my entire life. Each year, I appreciate the blessings of my life more and more. As we approach this traditional holiday season, I send warm and sincere wishes to all of you now and through the next year for a safe, abundant and healthy year to come.
With warm regards,
Tim Harrison
...on behalf of the entire HLC Team at Broadview Mortgage
During these historic times of change and, for some, true hardship in our nation and in our own towns, I would like to focus on the many acts of kindness and generosity that I have witnessed in my community, and nation-wide:
•Through the Claremont Community Foundation, the HLC Team has offered financial, technical and administrative support for both Art and Community Impact Projects funded by the Foundation.
•Through the Claremont Chamber of Commerce, we have been delighted to participate in the Best Bet Grants Program that helps local teachers fund needed programs in their classroom.
•Through our local chapter of Rotary International, we have assisted in the selection of the participants of the Youth Leadership Camp and helped to organize both trips and events for award recipients and their parents.
•Through our national non-profit service and education partners Lenders Who Care and Herocare, we have created free, non-sales, monthly education programs and we have developed special services to thank our Local Heroes who create and sustain the quality of our lives. Local Heroes include the following: our active and retired educators; first emergency responders; military (including reserves); medical support and hospital employees; non-profit and charitable organizations; and all government workers.
I have been greatly heartened by these community partnerships and by the level of volunteer commitment I have seen benefit our neighbors and those in our community who are less fortunate and who may be struggling.
Now, I would like to reach out to YOU. What are you grateful for? What type of community or volunteer work do you enjoy? Will you send us your story? Please send an email directly to Brooke, our in-house Marketing Specialist at Brooke@HLCTeam.com. Please keep your story to 200 words or less and submit it before Monday, December 21st.
We will automatically enter your name for a drawing to win either a $100 gift certificate to the local restaurant of your choice OR a donation of $500 to your favorite charity in your name.
These stories encourage all of us to remember that, in working together, we may make a difference in the efforts that are important to us.
My family and I have lived and worked in this community my entire life. Each year, I appreciate the blessings of my life more and more. As we approach this traditional holiday season, I send warm and sincere wishes to all of you now and through the next year for a safe, abundant and healthy year to come.
With warm regards,
Tim Harrison
...on behalf of the entire HLC Team at Broadview Mortgage
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Story of Giving from Joanne Distaso
Almost everyday...I thank God for our home. For one...that we have one in this day and age and that we are fortunate enough to live in such a wonderful community like la verne. the home we live in is very special to us because it was the home i grew up in. When my folks told us they were ready to sell six years ago...it was sad for us. We had just been through one of the roughest patches of our lives (hopefully!) our baby girl, Avalon, had been born with a rare heart defect and spent the first two months of her life..fighting for her life. She was airlifted to Children's Hospital Los Angeles and underwent emergency open heart surgery at the age of 8 weeks old. she remained on life support for two months post surgery with possibility of needing a heart transplant. we finally were able to bring her home with us in January of 2004. at the time we were living in Chino HIlls in a very small home...with just enough room for Avalon and us. We couldn't stand the thought of the la Verne home being sold (my folks home). We called tim...he did his magic. We moved into my childhood home in may of 2004. Avalon had just started crawling.
I look back and wonder how we were able to do it. we put our trust in Tim and his team and knew if it was meant to be for us...it would be. I cannot express how thankful I am to be in this home...to have the land we have...to live in the city we live in and most importantly...to have my now six year old daughter Avalon thriving and living life to the fullest. We are blessed, we are fortunate, we are lucky, lucky people! Sometimes i really need to pinch myself to believe it all is real.
Children's Hospital Los Angeles is an amazing, amazing place and we again are fortunate to live where we live and be able to utilize their care. Every year on Avalon's anniversary of her heart surgery, we visit the CTICU where Avalon lived for 2 months. We bring toys, blankets, hair bows, food, donations...whatever we can to give to the other children and their families and the hospital. We give blood and I also offer my photography and design services for their fundraising events. We will never be able to express how grateful we are to that hospital and their wonderful staff. It's impossible!
Ok...I think I may be reaching the word limit...we are thankful...grateful and blessed! Thank you to Tim (and his staff) for being the wonderful, honest and awesome people that they are and for getting us into this home! home is where the heart is and Thank you God...WE have four very healthy ones under the roof!
with warmest regards,greg, joanne, avalon (6) and Max (3 1/2) distaso
I look back and wonder how we were able to do it. we put our trust in Tim and his team and knew if it was meant to be for us...it would be. I cannot express how thankful I am to be in this home...to have the land we have...to live in the city we live in and most importantly...to have my now six year old daughter Avalon thriving and living life to the fullest. We are blessed, we are fortunate, we are lucky, lucky people! Sometimes i really need to pinch myself to believe it all is real.
Children's Hospital Los Angeles is an amazing, amazing place and we again are fortunate to live where we live and be able to utilize their care. Every year on Avalon's anniversary of her heart surgery, we visit the CTICU where Avalon lived for 2 months. We bring toys, blankets, hair bows, food, donations...whatever we can to give to the other children and their families and the hospital. We give blood and I also offer my photography and design services for their fundraising events. We will never be able to express how grateful we are to that hospital and their wonderful staff. It's impossible!
Ok...I think I may be reaching the word limit...we are thankful...grateful and blessed! Thank you to Tim (and his staff) for being the wonderful, honest and awesome people that they are and for getting us into this home! home is where the heart is and Thank you God...WE have four very healthy ones under the roof!
with warmest regards,greg, joanne, avalon (6) and Max (3 1/2) distaso
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