Habitat for Humanity SPBC’s 2019 WOMEN Build Brings Together Generations of Women for Community “Camaraderie-of-a-Rare-Kind
Sisterhood of the Pink Hard Hats Raises More Than $322,000 to
Underwrite Cost of Construction Materials for Habitat Home They Built
In the days leading up to Mother’s Day, more than 200 women spent a collective 800 volunteer builder hours during Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County’s 2019 WOMEN Build to literally “raise the roof” on a new home and revitalize three neighboring homes and a community asset: Missionary Baptist Church. Raising more than $322,000 to underwrite the cost of construction materials for the Habitat home, the WOMEN Builders spanned three generations hailing from Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Gulfstream, Ocean Ridge, the island of Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter and as far south as Deerfield Beach and Fort Lauderdale.
The women-exclusive initiative that annually combines fundraising with experiential “camaraderie-of-a-rare-kind” was driven this year by mother/daughter co-chairs Beverly Raphael Altman and Robyn Raphael-Dynan who lead RCC Associates, the largest revenue-generating women-owned business in the state of Florida. They were supported by a committee of 12 mission-focused women philanthropists, business owners and community advocates to support another hard-working mother/daughter, the future homeowners of the “2019 House that Women Built” in South Palm Beach County. Mother Ilomane is a housekeeper at Abbey Delray South, a senior living community; daughter Jessie is an oncology nurse at Delray Medical Center.
Mother/Daugther WOMEN Builders (from left) Pam Begelman, Lauren Begelman, Robyn Raphael-Dynan, Beverly Raphael Altman, Marcia Tabatchnick, Ricki Auerbach
Under the guidance of more than 30 Habitat construction professionals and crew leaders throughout the three-day initiative, crews of WOMEN Builders raised 32 roof trusses, secured more than 50 sheets of plywood and hammered more than 3,000 hurricane strap and roof nails. Others participated in Habitat’s “Brush with Kindness” revitalization of homes to deliver a Women Build “Block of Impact”, raising brushes and climbing ladders to cover homes with 120 gallons of primer and paint in welcoming shades of buttercream, sage, ecru and sky blue accents.
Dream Girls Team Members: From left, Standing-Deanna Wheeler, Team Captain Bonnie Kaye, Marta Batmasian; Seated-Barbara Spiller, Marci Yunes, Lisa Vander Ploeg
The build was an enthusiastic blend of individuals, corporate and social teams boasting fun names like Girl Power!!!, Dream Girls, Pam’s Power Women, Alisa’s Angels by the Sea(gate), Beauties Who Can Build, etc. As a member of the 2019 “Sisterhood of the Pink Hard Hats” each WOMEN Builder raised a minimum of $1,000 to qualify for the rare opportunity to learn how to wield a nail gun and hammer like a pro as they met and worked alongside other dynamic women and the future homeowners.
A crew of WOMEN Builders team up to bring in one of 32 roof trusses raised in the HFHSBPC’s 2019 “House That Women Built” in South Palm Beach County
“As empowerment drivers, these WOMEN Builders delivered significant impact that enriches lives and communities, one home, one family at a time, from generation to generation,” shared Kari Oeltjen, HFHSPBC Vice President & Chief Development Officer who also was a “hands-on” WOMEN Builder, lifting roof trusses and hammering nails in hurricane straps and plywood panels on the roof.
Getting ready to build, Alisa’s Angels by the Sea(gate) team, from left: Alisa Cohen, Arlene Herson, Pamela Weinroth, Gloria Hosh, Eda Viner, Sylvana Halperin
More than 30 sponsors supported the third annual WOMEN Build, including Presenting Sponsor Iris Smith; RCC Associates; “Heart of the Home” (kitchen) Sponsor Marilyn and Jay Weinberg; Oceans 234; Republic National Distributing Company; Ocean Properties, Ltd.; Boca Raton Resort & Club; Paradise Bank; BB&T; Moraca Builders; Kaufman Lynn Construction; Wells Fargo; Aldora Aluminum & Glass; FPL; Cheney Brothers; ADT; CenterState Bank; Allegiance Home Health; Kaye Communications; Marcia Tabatchnick; Home Depot; Comerica; Sunflower Landscaping and Maintenance; Recycle for a Cause; Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza-Delray Beach; EDENS; Woolbright Development; VJB & Associates; Minuteman Press Boca Raton; Bloomingdale’s and Cohen Laser and Vision Center.
From left: Kari Oeltjen, Marilyn Weinberg, Habitat Homeowners Jessie and Ilomane, Robyn Raphael-Dynan, Beverly Raphael Altman
In the days leading up to Mother’s Day, WOMEN Builder Pat Thomas added a few new construction skills to her tool belt, when coming out to build onsite alongside her daughter Debbie Leising.
Crews of WOMEN Builders literally “raised the roof” during the three-day experiential fundraiser. Once the trusses were up, crews of builders ascended to the roof scaffolding to nail hurricane brackets and plywood sheeting.
Host Committee members included Beverly Raphael Altman, Robyn Raphael-Dynan, Pam Begelman, Cheryl Budd, Alisa Cohen, Georgette Evans, Susan Fixel, Bonnie Kaye, Kari Oeltjen, Danielle Rosse, Marcia Tabatchnick, Judi Temple, Ethel Isaacs Williams and Bonnie Young.
Headquartered at 181 S.E. Fifth Ave., Delray Beach, the HFHSPBC nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization brings people together to build homes, community and hope in the cities of Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, Florida. The nonprofit depends upon volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money, materials, services and property to fulfill its mission.
To learn more about HFHSPBC’s 2020 WOMEN Build sponsorships, registration as a builder or team captain, contact Kari Oeltjen, HFHSPBC Vice President and Chief Development Officer at koeltjen@hfhboca.org or (561) 819-6070 or visit www.habitatsouthpalmbeach.org.
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