Message From The New President

It is with a great sense of excitement that I join an organization of such committed volunteers, donors, Board and committee members, and staff. Civic betterment has always been my passion, and I look forward to working with all of you to make the City a little better as a result of our collective efforts through Rebuilding Together Boston.

The organization’s strategic plan set some ambitious, but realistic, goals for RTB. Over the coming year our major initiatives will focus on:

• Providing our home and non-profit facility renovation services to a number of homeowners and civic organizations;
• Increasing the number of applications we receive by reaching out to a wide variety of groups and organizations in the City;
• Improving our communications with volunteers, prospective volunteers and our recipients by revamping our website, improving distribution of our e-newsletter and other means; and,
• Continuing to professionalize the operations of the organization as it has moved from an all-volunteer organization to a mature non-profit entity.

RTB believes in continuous improvement -- if you have suggestions for improvements to our volunteer days, communications, or other aspects of the organization, I would love to hear from you. In addition, if you know of anyone who should be added to our contact list as a potential volunteer, or for notices of events or other communications, please let us know by contacting the RTB office at (617) 971-0058.

With your help RTB and more importantly our mission will continue to survive and thrive, even in these difficult times.

And, it is especially at a time like the one we are experiencing that those most in need rely on RTB’s services. Our work is all the more critical to prevent homelessness and support local non-profits who provide such needed community services.

I look forward to working with or hearing from you, and hope that you will remember Rebuilding Together Boston as you make your year-end donations.

Best wishes,

Simone

A little help from our friends

Over 30 HSBC employees volunteered alongside RTB to make a difference for the Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly (LBFE) building in Jamaica Plain.  Volunteers gave LBFE some much needed improvements by painting the back porch and wheel chair ramp railings, removing a troublesome driveway curb to make the driveway more accessible, and landscraping the front and back lawns, among other activities.  At the conclusion of their long day of hard work the volunteers had an opportunity to meet a number of elderly LBFE program recipients during a "Sundae Party."  A big Thank You goes out to HSBC and all of the fantastic volunteers who were so positive and helpful that day! 

FOCUSing On Help

On a beautiful day in September volunteers from the American Petroleum Institute (API) and Sasaki Associates, Inc. came together to help rehab a non-profit facility in Hyde Park - the F.O.C.U.S. Center, belonging to the Greater Faith Community Church.  The acronym stands for Facility Occupying Community Utilizational Services, and will strive to provide counseling support and ways to educate the community on enhancing their quality of life.  Some examples of these services include teaching English as a second language, career training, substance abuse programs, youth services, and computer development. This 14 room house underwent some major renovations to provide a safe and welcoming environment for its service providers and constituents.  Employees and friends from both API and Sasaki Associates along with members of Greater Faith gathered early on a Saturday morning for a long day of hard work at the F.O.C.U.S. Center.  For more than seven hours approximately 50 volunteers scraped, caulked and painted over 50 exterior windows; replaced screens in two screen doors; painted interior walls and ceilings; and removed moldy carpeting from basement. RTB would truly like to thank Sasaki, API and Greater Faith for their efforts, and taking giving their time and skills to make such an impact in the Boston community. 

Look for RTB in the Boston Business Journal

Thanks to Shawmut Design and Construction, RTB is currently featured in a company advertisement supporting local non-profit organizations. The Boston Business Journal's  2009 Philanthropy Almanac is the BBJ's once-a-year salute to the work of non-profits and the difference they make to our communities.  Thank You to Shawmut Design & Construction for helping raise awareness for our organization in the community! 

 We Need Your Help - DONATE NOW

Your support is important to us. In these difficult times, the work of RTB is all the more critical in order to help ensure that the elderly, low-income individuals and families, and veterans can remain in their homes, and that Boston’s non-profit organizations can continue to provide their much-needed services.