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THE BRICK AND MORTAR MAY 2016

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Cover Photo Credits: YoungAdventuress.com http://youngadventuress.com/2013/04/cordoba-spain-may.html

When you look closely at Brian Ching’s professional career as soccer champion—the

takeaway? Well, you see some very impressive awards. He was the first player from

his native Hawaii selected in the MLS Draft, and he led the Houston Dynamo in back-to-

back MLS championships in 2006 and 2007.

But there’s a side of Brian Ching you don’t see. When he talks about his mom raising he

and his three brothers as a single mother, you can sense his deep respect for her

experience.

“She was my example of what it was like to work hard.” He said his mom actually

pitched in to coach his soccer team, because he was a shy kid. “I didn’t want to play

unless she coached.” He said his mom Stephanie was respected as no-nonsense

woman who ran an agricultural research company and provided well for her three boys.

It’s that example his mother set that’s prompted Brian to give back through Houston

Habitat for Humanity. “I think that’s what Habitat is all about. Single parent families are

just trying to get ahead in life, and Habitat is providing that affordable home.”

His most inspiring moment with Habitat was when he worked on Teresa Urbano’s home.

“Just seeing their faces and hearing how having their own home had transformed their

lives. It makes me feel good to give back and help other families.”

http://www.habitat.org/lc/hw/archived/stories/common-goal/

Brian Ching with Habitat Homeowner Teresa Urbano The UrbanoFamily

~ BRIAN CHING: MAKING THE AMERICAN DREAM AFFORDABLE~

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~ HOUSTON HABITAT WELCOMES FUTURE HOMEOWNERS TO THE PROGRAM~

Our new Families had their first construction training class in

April, which is one of the classes they must take to be in good

standing with the program.

For more information about how you can

become a Habitat Homeowner, go to:

http://houstonhabitat.org/homeowners/

2016 Houston Women Build Gallery

THE UNSTOPPABLE WOMEN of our 2016 Houston ‎Women Build! A shout-out to the teams from Lowe's

Home Improvement, Vaco Houston, H-E-B, and Toni Jackson. Thank you for helping future homeowner

Chandra realize her dreams of owning a home. From April 28th through May 7th, over 100 Women Build

volunteers showed their grit, determination and sheer strength – literally raising Chandra's roof!

"Can't wait to get into my new home! ‎2016 HOUSTON WOMEN BUILD LAUNCH: Women

Build volunteers work alongside future Homeowner Chandra on her ‎‎Habitat‎ home in Harrel

Park. "First thing--I'm going to have a big Sunday dinner for all of my family!"

First Lady Cecilia Abbott visited Houston's Harrel Park

and picked up her hardhat and hammer to help Chandra

build her ‎‎Habitat‎ home!‎ ‎Women Build‎ volunteers

REPRESENT!

"We see the differences made in peoples' lives."

Former ‎Habitat‎ Board Member and General

Counsel, Toni Jackson celebrated her birthday in

a truly unique way – inviting a dozen girlfriends

to a ‎Women Build‎ day! She worked right

alongside future Homeowner Chandra to build

her home in Harrel Park. Toni first got involved

with Houston Habitat for Humanity with the

Jimmy Carter Build in 1999. "I can do something

to give back, and see the real results of it.”

HAPPY, BIRTHDAY, TONI! You rock!

Chandra is joined by Toni (right)

decked in her Birthday Hardhat!

Over 30 Houston-area Lowes Heroes‎ joined Chandra as

she went about building her ‎‎Habitat‎ home in Harrel Park!

These women know how to BUILD and have fun. "I've

never seen this much WOMEN POWER!" said Chandra.

"LET'S DO THIS!" ‎‎Lowes Heroes made it happen during ‎‎Women

Build week. Volunteers came from all across Houston to help future

Homeowner Chandra build her new ‎Habitat home in Harrel Park.

During National Women Build Week, more than 17,000 women

across the U.S. are building or repairing homes alongside 650

families. It's Habitat and Lowe's Home Improvement's goal to help

1,000 families have safe, stable homes by the holidays.

"I LOVED it! Nothing but Women Power out here!" Chandra

(pictured above on the right) couldn't help but smile

when ‎Lowes Heroes‎ arrived on her ‎‎Habitat‎ home build site

in Harrel Park. "They're singing and swinging their

hammers!" Good attitude, right? She's the 2016 ‎‎Women

Build‎ recipient. This is one ‎determined‎ and ‎‎empowered‎

mom! Her daughter's a strong student at Lamar HS, and

her son attends San Jacinto College. GO, Chandra!

"Watch me, Watch me!" Ok, guys--who doesn't like to

dance during a‎ ‎Women Build‎ water break?! These

women know how to BUILD and have fun.

Thank you, Lowes Heroes!

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See who was building with us in April!

SM Energy

Phillips 66

Marriott Houston Medical Center

Unicomer

~ LOOK WHO’S BUILDING!~

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“It’s‎like‎a‎light‎in‎the‎darkness.‎It’s‎a‎real‎blessing‎for‎me.” Home is something that David Thang

uniquely cherishes. He fled the political strife in his home of Mindat, Burma to come to

Houston.

“For‎10 years,‎I‎never‎had‎a‎chance‎to‎call‎a‎place‎‘home.’”‎He‎said‎that‎before‎he‎came‎to‎

America, he first lived in Malaysia as a refugee. “We‎were‎scared‎of‎police‎and‎gangs.‎It was

not safe. When I got here to Houston, it was really better. Houston‎is‎a‎good‎place‎to‎settle.”

After David arrived in Houston, he was given a small amount by the government – only $245 to

rent an apartment. “The‎water‎was‎not‎hot. There were roaches and rats in my

apartment. People‎were‎drinking‎outside.‎”

That’s‎when David jumped at the opportunity to learn more about Houston Habitat for Humanity

– and to apply for a home.

“I’ve‎learned‎a‎lot‎through‎the‎program.‎I‎have‎a‎chance‎to‎fix‎my‎place‎by‎myself.‎I‎also‎went‎

through the credit workshop. It’s‎a‎really‎good‎experience – not only building the house, but

learning‎about‎the‎city‎more.”

Earlier this year, David helped the Houston Habitat for Humanity at the True Value Convention at

the‎GRB.‎He‎says‎he‎loves‎to‎volunteer‎because‎he‎learns‎more‎about‎what’s‎happening‎in‎

America.‎He’s‎also‎learning‎about‎the‎nuts‎and‎bolts‎of‎building‎and‎repairing‎his‎own‎

home. He now works two jobs, and still manages to put in the volunteer hours for a Habitat

home‎on‎Houston’s‎Northeast side.

“America‎is‎giving‎me‎a‎better‎opportunity. Home‎means‎everything‎to‎me.‎It’s‎a‎place‎where‎I‎

will‎be‎happy.”

SHELTER OF LIGHT By Alison Medley

3750 N. McCarty St. Houston, TX 77029

Houston Habitat for Humanity, with community minded sponsors and volunteers, has built over 1,000 homes for hard-working, low-income Houstonians. Our Partner Families contribute 300 hours of “sweat equity” including financial and home ownership training including helping to build their own homes. They purchase their homes with zero-interest mortgages. Houston Habitat has also helped countless other families preserve their homes by providing critical home repairs. For more information about Houston Habitat for Humanity and the Houston Habitat ReStore – a nonprofit home improvement store and donation center open to the public, go to www.houstonhabitat.org, or call 713-671-9993. Houston Habitat for Humanity is a tax-exempt 501(C) (3) nonprofit organization. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.

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Habitat for Humanity is so honored to be named the 2016 Social Services Nonprofit

“Brand of the Year” by Harris Poll EquiTrend. This is the second year in a row Habitat has

received this recognition.

Makes a difference

every

one

every

hand

every

gift

Habitat homeowners build

their own homes alongside

volunteers.

Donate today