WOMEN WHO BUILD

Habitat Women Who Build

HABITAT RULES: There is an incredibly strong link between women and homes. Women are the “gatherers,” the ones who nurture and support the family. This is why we have a passion to support Habitat for Humanity’s mission and eliminate poverty-level housing worldwide.

WOMEN WHO BUILD: Formed in the fall of 2008 by HR expert and longtime Habitat board member Alice Waagen, our group — a growing grassroots effort that works under the umbrella of Habitat for Humanity Northern Virginia — is determined to bring together women from all walks of life to help build the newest Habitat for Humanity of Northern VA project at Maple Ridge in Fairfax, VA.

OUR GOAL: We have grand plans for what we want to accomplish (we are a bunch of determined women, after all). To build a house for each family in need, for instance, we need to raise $180,000. That’s a tall order, we realize, so our first goal is to raise $5,000 — enough to sponsor one workday. Please help us by making a donation!

OUR PLAN:

Step 1: Create cool artwork / logo. We asked award-winning Northern VA freelance illustrator Michael Gibbs to come up with a fun, creative icon and logo that would help us grow our idea. At holiday time, he presented us with “Habitat Rosie, the Souped-Up Riveter” (pictured here). Mission accomplished!

Step 2: Buttons as fundraiser. Our friend Stacy Schalk of Zingify promotional products helped us turn the art into funky 3×4-inch buttons that we’re now selling for $5 each (tax deductible). She sent the finished product in early January! Mission accomplished!

Step 3: Outreach! Women’s Groups Welcome. Now our team of Founding Mothers is working to get the word out. We are reaching out to women’s groups from around the region in hopes that they will purchase our buttons in bulk and share them with all of their members.

NOTE: A donation makes you eligible to participate in our build day!

JOIN US: To have a ball and help this build this wonderful cause, contact our founder, Alice Waagen, at alice@workforcelearning.com. For more information, please visit our website, www.habitatwomenwhobuild.org.

FOUNDING MOTHERS: Alice Waagen, Barbara Mitchell, Cornelia Gamlem, Hope Katz Gibbs

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Illustrator Michael Gibbs, Zingify’s Stacy Schalk