July Habitat Highlights

THE NEWBERG BUILDING HOPE GALA IS SLATED FOR OCTOBER 10

Jacob Breazile is overseeing the coordination of the Newberg Area Habitat for Humanity (NAHFH) of the Building Hope Gala fundraising event slated for October 10 at the Sherwood Center of the Arts. “I’ve had experience doing smaller fundraisers in the past… That smaller event helped us evaluate what we did well and what we still needed to learn.” They learned that a larger event requires community sponsors, and Chehalem Wine Growers Association has agreed to partner with NAHFH to make this event happen.

As a current board member of the Newberg Area Habitat for Humanity, Jacob stressed that the dinner and auction has a two-fold purpose: to raise funds for Habitat construction projects within the NAHFH service area and to expand awareness of the importance of volunteering to help with the mission of affordable housing for citizens that need our support.

Although most of the affiliate’s construction and ReStore volunteers live primarily in the Newberg area, the Gala is an opportunity to bring community members and businesses together throughout the entire service area of Newberg, Dundee, Sherwood, St. Paul, and Dayton. General admission tickets are $50.00 per person. This includes entry to the Gala, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, complimentary wine, and access to all the night’s activities.

The dinner features beef tenderloin with wine glaze and horseradish peppercorn sauce, plus a variety of side dishes, including many gluten free and vegan options. In addition, ticket holders have the chance to raise their paddles in the live auction and are invited to participate in the silent auction and raffle.

If you invite members of your business or invite seven of your friends to share in the evening, there are opportunities to sponsor a table at one of four tiers with specific perks…

The Resource Committee, under Jacob’s direction, has been planning this event since the fall of last year. Like table sponsorships, the live auction, silent auction, and raffle tickets provide opportunities for purchase at different price points…

The live auction has big ticket items: a Cabo San Lucas 7-night trip for 2, a Lake Michigan nautical home for 8 guests, a Lake Nicaragua private island retreat for 8 guests, a Serene Safari in South Africa’s Waterberg region for 2 guests, and an historic apartment in Tuscany for 4 guests. In addition, art pieces, courtesy of John Cummings, will be staged around the venue for attendees to bid and win.

If you have an item you would be willing to donate, NAHFH would appreciate your support. The cut-off date for receiving donations is September 10. Contact events@newberghabitat.org to contribute.

If the Gala clears $50,000, it could fund framing for two new homes. At $100,000, those funds would cover foundational work for one new home. “I would like people to understand that when people donated to our Habitat for Humanity affiliate in 2024, 97% of all donations went to home building and repair projects,” Jacob stated. “That can’t be said for all organizations and donations.”

The Gala will be cocktail attire or semi-formal. Signature Affair Catering Inc. will provide the meal. “We would be happy if 130–150 bought tickets, but our venue can accommodate up to 250 guests. We are planning to have this as an annual event so we want people to have fun in order to grow it for next year.”

The event website has gone live. Through the site, tickets and sponsorships may be purchased. The night will also allow attendees to meet Habitat families who helped build their homes through sweat equity and community partnership. “Building Hope” is not just a phrase—it’s their story.

CITY AWARDS EXCISE TAX GRANT TO NAHFH

At the Newberg City Council meeting on June 16, the council awarded a grant of $380,615 to NAHFH. The funds came from the construction excise tax fund. The city has granted hundreds of thousands of dollars through a competitive process in the last two years.

NAHFH had to provide detailed application information: project description, housing need, benefit to low-income households, and capacity to complete the work. A realistic budget and timeline were also required.

The Newberg Construction Excise Tax (CET) was adopted in 2020, and sunset in July 2023. It required that 35% of taxes on residential improvements go toward affordable housing incentives and programs. This also applied to commercial, industrial, and mixed-use developments. The grant will address housing affordability for both renters and homeowners.

THANKS TO OUR CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS