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Halo Award recognizes and rewards volunteers and non-profits that improve communities

 Los Angeles, CA – Dec. 27, 2011: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (HFH GLA) and one of its most dedicated volunteers, Marty Greenberger, have been selected as one of the 2011 Halo Award recipients. The Carl and Roberta Deutsch Foundation created the Halo Award to recognize and reward volunteers who go above and beyond to improve their communities, as well as the non-profit organizations whose work inspires and supports such volunteers. HFH GLA and Marty will each receive a separate award. Funds provided by the Halo Award will be used by HFH GLA to strengthen and sustain its volunteer programs with new technologies that will improve outreach, training and recognition.

“A strong volunteer program and committed volunteers, like Marty, are the reasons why we have been able to build more than 700 homes locally and worldwide,” said Erin Rank, President & CEO of HFH GLA.  “We engage nearly 10,000 volunteers annually and are working to increase that number, which will have a direct impact on the number of low-income families and individuals we are able to partner with each year,” Erin added.

One of the main purposes of this award is to inspire more community members to make a difference through volunteering. Marty first signed up to volunteer with HFH GLA in May, 1992 after watching coverage of the second Watts riots. Witnessing so much destruction moved him to want to help with the rebuilding of the city he grew up in. Since then, Marty has worked on more than 190 HFH GLA homes and he has contributed more than 500 volunteer hours every year since 1998.

In addition to volunteering to build on construction sites, Marty is an instructor in HFH GLA’s Cornerstone Construction Training Program. The three-week program gives volunteers and potential volunteers training in basic construction skills and on-site experience. Graduates of the program feel more confident in their abilities as volunteers and are equipped to be productive the first time they volunteer on a Habitat construction site.

A Halo Award committee comprised of local non-profit leaders selected HFH GLA and Marty as one of the seven nonprofit-volunteer pairs to receive the award. HFH GLA’s Halo Award funds will be allocated to Habitat’s volunteer programs. Volunteers are needed Tuesdays through Saturdays on HFH GLA’s construction sites and in its ReStores. Individuals and organizations interested in getting involved are encouraged to learn more and sign up online at www.habitatla.org.

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (HFH GLA) strives to eliminate substandard housing through advocacy, education and partnership with families and individuals in need to build simple, sustainable and affordable housing. Since 1990, HFH GLA has built and renovated more than 700 homes locally and worldwide, transforming the lives of hundreds of individuals. HFH GLA is a GuideStar® Valued Partner. For more information, please visit http://www.habitatla.org or call 310-323-4663. Visit our blog at http://buildingagreaterla.blogspot.com.

 

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Media Contacts:

Jo-An Turman

Habitat for Humanity GLA

424-246-3175

jturman@habitatla.org

 

Angela Moore

Starfish PR

310-429-8868

angela@starfish-pr.com