Week 1 | Week 2

WEEK 1 OF CORPORATE CHALLENGE 2007

 VIEW Corporate Challenge 2007 in ACTION

See who's building at Corporate Challenge 2007                                          Corporate Challenge at work! -- VIDEOS

Monday, June 4th 2007

Day 1 of Corporate Challenge:  It poured in the morning! State Farm has been volunteering since 1997.  They were not deterred by a little rain.  Rain precluded outside work. Fifteen State Farm volunteers hammered feverishly and laid the sub floor at 16 Rose Street. Lunch: Sausage and peppers got rave reviews. Hunter Douglas arrived in beautiful green t-shirts with PHFH, HD, and CC 2007 logos.  Hunter Douglas team was proud that they finished the sub floor at 16 Rose Street in record time.  Always prepared, they celebrated with ice cold Buds! - Dot Belsky Resource Dev. Manager

Tuesday, June 5th 2007

THE RECORD - New beginnings never get old                                           HERALD NEWS - A Shared Burden

Day 2 of Corporate Challenge: This hot sunny Tuesday was Election Day in New Jersey and it was the day Langan Engineering and Environmental Services elected to make a big difference in the life of Habitat homeowner Joevornia Tisdale and her three children.  Langan, a nationwide engineering firm headquartered in Elmwood Park, is the Lead Corporate Sponsor of this year's Corporate Challenge.  Today Langan employees and a busload of their colleagues from Monticello Gaming and Raceway in Monticello, N.Y., part of Empire Resorts and a Langan client, spent the afternoon climbing stepladders and hammering away on what will become the second floor of a condo unit at 196 Harrison Street. 

Their new home makes the Tisdales the 200th family served by Paterson Habitat since we started in 1983.  And it made the second day of Corporate Challenge a special occasion. This milestone added to what Langan President David Gockel described as a meaningful two weeks for Paterson Habitat and for Langan.  "We're proud of what's going to happen here during Corporate Challenge," Dave said in brief remarks at the worksite, over the noise of power saws and hammers.  "Through the magic of this event we'll see a vacant lot transformed into a home for a deserving family."

Dave and Langan Chairman George Kelley also presented Paterson Habitat with a $10,000 check from Langan as the firm's financial contribution to Corporate Challenge.  That donation was a great start toward the $180,000 we plan to raise during Corporate Challenge 2007.  All the funds raised will be used to buy construction materials.  Paterson Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres was in Trenton on city business, but he sent a strong statement of support delivered by Gary Melchiano, Acting Director of Community Development for the city of Paterson.  "It has been said that the best way to find yourself is lose yourself in the service of others," said the Mayor's statement.  "I am truly grateful to Habitat, to Langan Engineering and the other corporations who are part of this initiative."               - Bruce Brackett, PHFH Volunteer

Wednesday, June 6th 2007

Day 3 of Corporate Challenge: The sun was shining and a brisk breeze was blowing.  Why was the construction crew so happy?  Lou Quiroz, long time PHFH construction employee, since retired, was back to volunteer on the site as a construction supervisor.  Micato Safaris made the trek from NYC to Paterson for their Build Day.  It was the birthday of Dennis Pinto, Director of Micato.  He chose to spend it with his staff helping to build a Habitat house!  His staff, in turn brought a delicious cake and all the volunteers and staff joined in the celebration after a morning of hard work.  Lakeland Bank, veterans of Corporate Challenge, came from lunch and an afternoon of framing and siding.  They couldn't wait to get out to the site.  Gary McDowell could be heard telling his team, "Grab a cookie to eat in the car and let's go!"  The fruit of their labor was very apparent at the end of their shift of framing and wall raising. - Dot Belsky Resource Dev. Manager

Thursday, June 7th 2007

Day 4 of Corporate Challenge:

Friday, June 8th 2007

Day 5 of Corporate Challenge:  IN THEIR OWN WORDS... Well, I have to tell you - that was a wonderful experience on Friday!  Even as hot as it was there were so many wonderful things to remember from that day.  From the very beginning ~ the food was fantastic! I thought we would have sandwiches/chips/and soda - I and my sister, Sherry, were pleasantly surprised.  We made sure to let those folks know that we appreciated their hard work.   

Our Foreman, Paul Rubacky ~ I cannot say enough about that man! He was so laid-back, organized, and patient and the list goes on.  I even heard others who worked on former projects say that he was excellent to work with because he was so patient and diligent in making sure we knew what we were suppose to do - he was an absolute pleasure.  I want him to know that he was thought of in such a great way!  Everyone should know when they have been/and are doing a great job!  Even if it comes from the worker-bees!  

By end of day, Sherry and I were exhausted but in a good way! We donated our "sassy" nail aprons and hope that others can enjoy wearing them!  I know that Sherry and I enjoyed the heck out of them.  Thank you for introducing me to such a wonderful organization ~ I'm looking forward to participating in another one ~ maybe in the fall?? - Dawn Pollack CC Volunteer

Saturday, June 9th 2007

Day 6 of Corporate Challenge:

Week 2...