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Project Snapshot: Universal Martial Arts

Cirrus — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:32:48 +0000

The Project: Universal Martial Arts Academy was founded by Professor James Hundon, a veteran martial artist and award winning community leader in San Francisco’s Bayview Hunters Point district. Universal Martial Arts Academy, Inc. was formed with the mission to increase public safety and community health through quality self-protection training for high risk professionals and the general public.

Why We Love Them: In addition to his busy schedule teaching classes and seminars, Professor Hundon is the Assistant Coach for the Sacred Heart Girls Frosh Varsity basketball team in San Francisco. He is a recipient of the 2010 Bayview Hunters Point Community Leadership Award for his many years of work with at-risk youth.

How They Found Us: Having recently heard of our expanding our coverage to provide assistance to small businesses, UMA heard about us and decided to apply.

The Team: Led by Daniel Tsao and Jeremy Baird of Gensler, the crew of volunteers who came out to serve this past year provided able assistance to Universal Martial Arts, repainting the interior and exterior, improving the signage, and installing simple organizational space. Thank you so much for your support!

A big THANK YOU to everyone that helped! Check out more pictures from this project on our Flickr page and don’t forget to “like us” on Facebook!

Project Snapshot: Ms D from the Bayview

Cirrus — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:30:28 +0000

The Project: Ms. D is a longtime Bayview resident who has owned the home she lives in for 35 years. Born in the East Bay & raised in a large family, Ms. D is a true Bay Area native and is no stranger to the realities of living in San Francisco; she still walks up and down her extremely steep street at age 82 (with no complaints, I might add)!

Since losing her husband, some of the larger maintenance of her home had fallen to the wayside. Rebuilding Together did some safety work in her home through our Home Safety program, but the major issues were still outstanding. When she found out that we would be serving her through Rebuilding Day, she was excited but a bit overwhelmed. Since she lives alone, Ms. D is very apprehensive when it comes to letting strangers into her home. However, she developed a great trust in her team, and the experience was an enjoyable and rewarding one for all!

Rebuilding Together’s own AmeriCorps member, Val Ortiz, served as Project Lead, teaming up with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s Kris Greene, Bob Feyer, Delia Moreno and Tony Moreno as Volunteer Captains. Together, along with an enthusiastic and willing team of Orrick volunteers, they were able to replace nonworking appliances, paint the entire interior of the home, and clean up the front and back yards. Volunteers from the Electrician Union Local 6 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program also came out to improve some crucial electrical issues in the home.

Ms. D’s unfailing humor and good attitude combined with the team’s flexibility and willingness to go above and beyond made for an excellent relationship, and one that certainly not ended with Rebuilding Day!

A big THANK YOU to everyone that helped! Check out more pictures from this project on our Flickr and don’t forget to “like us” on Facebook!

Project Snapshot: Ms W from the Bayview

Cirrus — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:25:13 +0000

The Project: Ms. W is 72 years old and has been living in her home in the Bayview neighborhood for 39 years. She purchased the home as a single mother in 1973. ‘The realtor said, “If you got guts enough to buy a home, then I got guts enough to help you do it,” and he did,’ she says.

Why We Love Her: Ms. W worked for the Economic Opportunity Council for 40 years and operated two early childhood development centers in the Potrero Hill neighborhood, one of which was named for her in gratitude to her service. For years, she accepted any child in need of help into her home, as one of her own, for as long as needed, even until adulthood and beyond.

The Need: After so many years and so many children, Ms. W’s house has seen a fair amount of wear and could use a good coat of fresh paint and some work in the bathroom and kitchen.

The Work: Volunteers from Hanson Bridgett, organized by Jennifer Takehana and Laila Louridas, and guided by Tom Buchanan of Hammerhouse Construction, gave a full day of service at Ms. W’s. The largest amount of work was painting, and together the crew repainted almost all of the interior, as well as cleaning grout in the kitchen. Special Thanks to George Salet Plumbing, Inc., member of the PHCC, for installing a new pedestal sink so Ms. Williams can better maneuver in her bathroom.

A big THANK YOU to everyone that helped! Check out more pictures from this project on our Flickr and don’t forget to “like us” on Facebook!

Project Snapshot: Ms T from the Bayview

Cirrus — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:24:19 +0000

The Project: Ms. T has a long history in the Bayview neighborhood. She has lived comfortably in her home for many years. Over the past 16 of those years, her husband’s struggles with Alzheimer’s disease have made home maintenance difficult as her primary concern has been his care.

How She Found Us: Ms. T welcomed RTSF into her home on Rebuilding Day many years ago and she is very grateful for the work that was done in her home. It still looks great! And there is more to be done.

The Work: A crew of volunteers from Wells Fargo organized by Diana Stauffer-Ramirez, and Cesar Arevena and led by RTSF board member Tim Dupre, long-time volunteer Jim Deasy of James Deasy Construction, and Orlanda Wilson of That’s Women’s Work, cleared and repaired the kitchen, organized the basement, and repainted the guest room, hallway, and kitchen.

A big THANK YOU to everyone that helped! Check out more pictures from this project on our Flickr and don’t forget to “like us” on Facebook!

Project Snapshot: Ms S from the Bayview

Cirrus — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:17:55 +0000

The Project: Ms. S is 69 years old and has been living in her Bayview home for 22 years. In 1966 Ms. S left Louisiana for San Francisco, where she found work in the housekeeping department at Children’s Hospital. She held that job for 41 years, retiring in 2010.

How She Found Us: Ms. S is an active member at IT Bookman Senior center, where she heard about Rebuilding Together via a 2012 Rebuilding Day client and friend. For six months, the friend encouraged Ms. S to turn in a Rebuilding Day application, which fortunately for us all, she finally did.

The Need: Although Ms S is very active, some simple safety modification, such as a grab bar in the bathroom could greatly improve her comfort. And after so many years and so many children helped, her house has become quite full of memories which could use some organization.

The Work: Volunteers from New Community and ReImagine with direction by Scott Haluck, Melanie Hopson, Adam Klein, and RTSF’s own Stephanie Lilla came together to clear and organize the back porch and garage, and to repair and repaint the interior. They also repaired windows and cleared the backyard.

A big THANK YOU to everyone that helped! Check out more pictures from this project on our Flickr and don’t forget to “like us” on Facebook!

Project Snapshot: Ms D from the OMI

Cirrus — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:16:25 +0000

The Project: Ms. D has had a long and shared history with San Francisco. For more than 50 years, she has lived at the same Ingleside home in which she currently resides.

The Need: After 50 years in the same home, the house had become a repository of memory, perhaps a few too many. RTSF was glad to help Ms D unclutter and organize her garage and provide some needed landscaping and stair repair to her backyard.

The Work: Volunteers with KKR & CO. L.P. (KKR), organized by Mariko Uyeda, and Katie O’Brien were led by an all-star team of long-time volunteers: Mark Elliot of Elliott Remodeling, Pat Loughran of Loughran Construction and Todd Bowen of Absolute Inspections & GCS. Together they tackled the work at Ms D’s home, fixing and installing new locks, uncluttering the garage, installing new light fixtures, and painting the interior. Special thanks to Paul Hayes of Hayes Home Healing Services, who installed a new furnace for Ms. D after identifying that her current one was a serious safety risk!

A big THANK YOU to everyone that helped! Check out more pictures from this project on our Flickr and don’t forget to “like us” on Facebook!

Project Snapshot: Ms L from the OMI

Cirrus — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:14:36 +0000

The Project: Ms. L lives in her childhood home after returning there to care for her aging mother as dementia set in. Now that her mom resides in a long-term care facility, Ms. L will benefit by an RTSF team willing to give her home a long-overdue tune-up.

The Need: Ms L’s house needed a fresh coat of paint and some minor clutter clearing and electrical repairs to ensure that the house which she knew so well as a girl becomes now the home of her own.

Partners: With leadership by Mark Rosen, Sandra Nelson, and Geoffrey Hicks, a crew of volunteers with Federal Home Loan Banks provided a full day of service for Ms L, replacing light fixtures, installing a new doorbell, installing smoke detectors, and painting throughout. Electrical repairs on this project were provided courtesy of the Electrician Union Local 6 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program. Thank you so much!

A big THANK YOU to everyone that helped! Check out more pictures from this project on our Flickr and don’t forget to “like us” on Facebook!

Project Snapshot: Ms J from the Bayview

Cirrus — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:12:58 +0000

The Project: Ms. J is a longtime Bayview resident. For the past 39 of her 94 years she has lived at the home which she shares with her daughter, Ms. McDaniel. Her late husband served in the Army and was a WWII vet and was part of Laborer’s Union 261. Ms. McDaniel is an active member in her church and teaches music classes in her community.

Why We Love Her: In 2004 RTSF had the pleasure of serving Ms. J’s family and looked forward to doing so again. Ms. J has been limited both financially and physically, preferring the assistance of a wheelchair and walker to get around.

The Need: A fair amount of organizing needed to be done at Ms. J’s home, including uncluttering several bedrooms, so that badly needed patching and painting could be done. Two dumpsters full of refuse were hauled from the house, garage and backyard! Additionally, the home was in need of new outlets, light fixtures, toilets, faucets, kitchen appliances and flooring. There was also a window that needed to be replaced, a dangerous balcony that had to be demolished and stairs that needed to be shored up.

The Rebuilding Day Team: Volunteers from Lick Wilmerding High School, organized by Alan Wesson and Jack Crawford, and led by Michael Saks, came to Ms. J’s home four weekends in a row! Together they cleared clutter, repainted the interior, cleared the backyard, and installed new fixtures and furnishings. Electrical repairs on this project were provided courtesy of the Electrician Union Local 6 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program. Thank you so much!

A big THANK YOU to everyone that helped! Check out more pictures from this project on our Flickr page and don’t forget to “like us” on Facebook!

Project Snapshot: Ms G from Visitacion Valley

Cirrus — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:10:06 +0000

The Project: Ms. G is a 60 year old Visitacion Valley resident who has owned her home for 8 years. She is proud of the home she shares with her nephew Mr. C, but since having lost most of her vision several years ago as a result of a violent attack, she has suffered a series of hardships which have made it difficult to maintain the level of safety and comfort she needs.

The Need: Not only was the backyard so tangled from difficulty of maintenance as to be unusable, the scope of work included several things indoors designed to improve Ms G’s safety and quality of life: removal of clutter, removal of old carpet, repainting, installing a new handrail to the front door, and reviving a moribund shower. The previous owner of the house had decided to turn Ms. G’s shower into a linen closet. We helped he reclaim the shower by removing shelving, stripping paint and reinstalling missing shower fixtures.

The Rebuilding Day Team: The Professional Property Management Association of San Francisco (PPMA) came out in force with a crew of volunteers headed by JJ Panzer and lead by long time volunteer Cl Lo of Cy Lo, Builder. Together they uncluttered and organized Ms. G’s garage, repainted the interior, and cleared out and beautified the backyard, removing old play equipment, installing new fencing, trimming shrubs, and laying down mulch. Thank you so much!

A big THANK YOU to everyone that helped! Check out more pictures from this project on our Flickr and don’t forget to “like us” on Facebook!

Project Snapshot: Mr S from the Excelsior

Cirrus — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:05:55 +0000

The Project: Mr. Skovron is 74 years old. He lives in his childhood home in the Excelsior, which he inherited from his parents. Married twice but never divorced, Mr. S. outlived not only both of his spouses, but the rest of his entire family as well. As a result, Mr. Skovron’s home is a repository of collectibles, collections, family heirlooms, machining tools, and photography equipment. He served 3 years in the army with an honorable discharge, and 22 years in active reserves. Mr. S says he’s in retired reserves, “but can be recalled anytime!”

An extensive amount of work needed to be done at Mr. S’ house. In fact, it has taken 2 Rebuilding Days to complete everything that needs to be done. In October 2012, with support from Sears Heroes at Home program, we rebuilt the front stairs, repaired the back stairs and fixed a gaping hole in the kitchen ceiling. We also installed anchor bolts in the garage level to help secure his home during earthquakes.

This past April, again with the help of Sears, we were able to provide more needed repairs, safety modifications, and beautifications.

The home of Mr. S got a great spruce-up thanks to St. James and St. Mary’s Episcopal Churches of San Francisco, with a dynamite team headed up by Roger Wickstrom, Grant Paul, and David Sullivan. The project was overseen by Josh Graber and Margie Lehnen-Holtz who ensured a fantastic job was done getting Mr. S’ home painted, shelving installed, damaged furnishings replaced, and the backyard cleared and groomed.

A big THANK YOU to everyone that helped! Check out more pictures from this project on our Flickr page and don’t forget to “like us” on Facebook!