San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2026 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember John Harabedian of District 41. “It is a great honor,” said Bryan Wong, Chief Executive Officer of SGV Habitat. “This recognition is a testament to the commitment of our staff, volunteers,…
Win the One-of-a-Kind Fender Custom Shop Altadena Stratocaster® Built from Altadena. Built for Altadena. This guitar was created using wood from a historic Altadena tree that fell during the devastating Eaton Fire in January 2025. What was once lost has been transformed into something beautiful — a reminder that even after tragedy, there is still…
Turn your volunteer hours into something memorable Volunteering already feels good—now it comes with a little extra reward. The Volunteer Stamp Card Program is a fun way to track your impact, celebrate your time, and stay motivated as you build alongside us. Each shift earns you a stamp, and every stamp brings you closer to…
Rooted in Altadena: Music, Wood, and the Power of Rebuilding When the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena on January 7, 2025, homes and beloved trees were lost in the flames. It was a heartbreaking chapter for the community. Yet Altadena has never been defined by hardship — it is defined by resilience, creativity, and neighbors…
SGV Habitat Marks 100th Homeownership Milestone in El Sereno In August, SGV Habitat celebrated seven first-time homebuyers who are the first to purchase renovated Caltrans properties in El Sereno. The event, hosted at Calvary Church, also marked a historic milestone—our 100th family to achieve homeownership through SGV Habitat. Since May 2024, the organization has been transforming former Caltrans lots into affordable…
LA Clippers Team Up with SGV Habitat to Rebuild After the Eaton Fires San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, The LA Clippers, Comcast NBCUniversal, Pechanga Resort Casino and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles have teamed up to launch a transformative community initiative aimed at rebuilding neighborhoods across Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley.…
Global Emergency Relief, Recovery & Reconstruction (GER³) San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity partnered with Global Emergency Relief, Recovery & Reconstruction (GER³) to support families in Altadena impacted by the Eaton Fire. Through this collaboration: GER³ provided licensed expertise in disaster response, including testing, smoke remediation, and debris removal. SGV Habitat led the next phase…
New beginnings for Mary For more than 40 years, Mary has called Altadena home. It’s where she raised her children and built her life. But when the Eaton Fires swept through the community earlier this year, her house was left badly damaged—and her future felt uncertain. “I didn’t know whether I was going to walk…
Volunteer Spotlight: Luke This summer, I had the chance to volunteer for the first time with SGV Habitat for Humanity during a Build Day in El Sereno. I was excited and a little nervous since I had never been on a construction site before. But within minutes, the SGV Habitat staff and other volunteers made me…
Three Homes. Three Generations. One Devastating Day. Forty-one years ago, Ken and Carol Wood were a young couple with two small kids—baby Jenine and her big brother, Ken Jr. Family meant everything, so they moved to Altadena to be closer to Carol’s parents. Carol’s parents bought a cozy home on Pine Street, and just a…
San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity was honored to be recognized as Nonprofit of the Year at Congresswoman Judy Chu’s 2025 Congressional Leadership Awards, a celebration that recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations making a meaningful impact throughout California’s 28th Congressional District. The awards ceremony was held at the Arcadia Community Center and brought together community…
Thank You May Volunteer Groups! La Salle High School & Christian Assembly Church In May, the Pasadena ReStore welcomed a hardworking group from La Salle High School, who helped organize and clean the salesfloor in preparation for a new shipment. Despite having to reschedule due to recent fires, the students showed up with smiles and…
USC Alumni Group As part of their Annual Alumni Day of Service, 17 members of the USC Trojan Family joined SGV Habitat to help rebuild a home in the El Sereno neighborhood. Volunteers learned how to safely reframe deteriorating interior walls under the guidance of patient and knowledgeable on-site supervisors. While working on affordable housing,…
Volunteer Appreciation 2025An Evening to Appreciate Our Volunteers 0April 2025 Volunteers 0April 2025 Volunteer Hours 0April 2025 Volunteer GroupsAn Evening to Appreciate Our Volunteers On April 24, 2025, SGV Habitat celebrated Volunteer Appreciation Week with a special evening dedicated to the incredible individuals who give their time and talents to support our mission. Our Volunteer…
In response to the devastation of the Eaton Fire, which resulted in the loss of more than 9,000 structures, the event was reimagined as Women ReBuild.
Woodbury University: The Woodbury University Habitat for Humanity Chapter had an incredible experience during their Build Day with San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity! It was a truly enriching opportunity that allowed many members to connect with the real-world impact of architecture, beyond what they typically encounter in the studio. Their chapter president, Armen said…
Meet the women in construction who make up the panel for the 2025 Blueprint for Success event Tammy Tosounian is the Rockwork Engineering Manager at Walt Disney Imagineering where she oversees the structural engineering of specialty elements within theme parks. She earned a Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Southern California and has…
Thank You Group Volunteers Thank you to all the incredible volunteers who joined us at the Pasadena ReStore and El Sereno construction sites in January! Your teamwork and dedication help build stronger communities, hope, and brighter futures. Volunteering with colleagues, classmates, or friends is not only rewarding but also a fantastic way to foster connections…
As wildfires continue to impact our community, we want to take a moment to let you know that you are in our thoughts. The safety and well-being of our neighbors, supporters, and volunteers mean everything to us. The Eaton Fire alone is currently estimated to have damaged or destroyed approximately 7,000 structures. San Gabriel Valley…
Honoring a LegacyIn Memory of President Jimmy Carter, 1924 – 2024 San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity joins the world in mourning the death of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and joins observances around the world to remember his life of service. He and Rosalynn Carter have served as Habitat for Humanity’s most famous volunteers…
On December 6th and 7th, in honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity hosted a special “Hammer for Heroes” build event in El Sereno honoring veterans in the community for their contributions to this country. The event not only brought people together but served to recognize the sacrifices made by…
Thank You Group Volunteers Thank you to all the incredible volunteers who joined us at the Pasadena ReStore and El Sereno construction sites in November! Your teamwork and dedication help build stronger communities, hope, and brighter futures. Volunteering with colleagues, classmates, or friends is not only rewarding but also a fantastic way to foster connections…
“Raise the Roof” celebrates and supports fundraising for San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity’s mission, which uplifts low-income families through affordable homeownership. The highlight of the evening will be hearing from SGV Habitat families who have struggled with affording a decent place to live. With the support of sponsors like you who participate in fundraisers…
I would like to apply for affordable home preservation first and last name address of home for repair request Zip Code of Home Repair Location phone number email address repairs being requested I have reviewed the maximum income guidelinesyes I am the homeowneryesnoSubmitReset
the little sedan that could Vanessa and her daughter, Josefine, stand next to the family’s old sedan. After a few years of reliable service, cars begin to show their age. This is the story of a four-door sedan that served its family well – and is now on its way to serve even more families! …
Be Like Elizabeth: The 8-year old girl who donated her savings To help families like hers have a safe and affordable home (left to right) Executive Director, Bryan Wong, Elizabeth, Board President, Christine Silverstein, and Alejandro Elizabeth, the daughter of San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity homeowners, Alejandra and Gilberto, donated $117 to help families…
Since March of this year, humanity has come together during the COVID-19 crisis to help one another. Locally, small businesses are struggling, and yet some continue to give back. Vroman’s Bookstore is one of these businesses.
Teen Surrounded by Goodness The symphony of hammering at the Olive Ave. house echoes from room to room. The melody is hope, the harmony is stability, and it is performed by the many volunteers who are writing the song of a brighter future for homeowners Brenda, Gerardo and their three children. Among the volunteers is…
Red Cross Day at the ReStore On Saturday, June 8th, San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, Pasadena ReStore is joining forces with the American Red Cross to host Red Cross Day, a community event focused on education, preparedness, and giving back. This collaborative effort aims to empower individuals and families in Pasadena and surrounding areas…
New Law Offers Hope to Homebuyer There was no shortage of love and support for future San Gabriel Valley Habitat homeowner, Kiana when family and friends gathered in Baldwin Park on Saturday, Feb. 10th to work side-by-side building Kiana’s dream: a home of her own. At 25 years old, Kiana will be SGV Habitat’s youngest homeowner,…
Tragedy turned to joy for Xochitl, a mother of two Xochtil, is the mother of two children, Daisy (17) and Robert Jr. (13). Last year the family suffered a tragedy. Robert, Xochitl’s husband and father to Daisy and Robert Jr. passed away after battling an illness. Xochitl, who was a stay-at-home mom, was now faced…
Free to be outside, finally, says Manuel Manuel, 80, was enjoying his retirement years living in Duarte. In the past year, he faced difficulty with the loss of a cherished relationship and his beloved dog, who was his daily companion for 20 years. The challenges he faced kept him secluded inside his home, with little…
Liz Experiences Dignity and Repairs with Efficiency Thanks to the Critical Home Repair Program, we are helping elderly in our community age in place. Liz, a vibrant, 81-year-old Pasadena resident, lives in a 1930’s bungalow on a fixed income. Liz was recently faced with several repairs she was unable to afford. This past summer was…
Women Build 2024 honored the late Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady and champion of volunteerism, and celebrated Women’s History Month.
You Can Change the Lives of 200 Families – Framing the Future Understanding The Advantages Habitat for Humanity has long understood the advantages of building equity through homeownership, and over the last 33 years, 362 families have achieved this dream through affordable homeownership and home preservation with our local organization. By offering the opportunity to…
Habitat for Humanity’s Most Famous Volunteer Happy President’s Day to former U.S. President Jimmy Carter In celebration of President’s Day, we’d like to acknowledge the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter. James (Jimmy) Earl Carter, Jr., has always had a voice for affordable, decent housing for all. In March of 1984, President Carter…
Veterans – Serving Those Who Have Served Recent studies suggest approximately 320,293 California veterans live in homes with one or more major problems of quality, crowding, or cost.* In addition, housing affordability is the greatest housing problem among veterans. San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity is making addressing this problem a priority. Prior to becoming…
Homeownership Dreams Coming True with 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom under construction in Baldwin Park The first SB9 lot split project is underway in Baldwin Park. This new law has enabled us to offer two first-time homebuyer opportunities on what was one lot (and is now two). The home that already existed on the front of the lot…
With the unusually wet weather California experienced, this was the first year of the annual event where Women Build took place entirely inside and off-site of the intended home address.
The first in person event since the pandemic, Women Build provided the opportunity to honor the generations of trailblazing women and girls who have built our nation.
