Volume XXXWinter 2013

In this issue:

What’s Next for International Projects

p. 2

The Year in Photos

p. 4 - 5

Volunteer Spotlight

p. 6

Building Goodness Foundationbuilding community and improving lives

From Our New Board President: Building on our Strengthsby J.D. Diven

As the incoming board president, I’ve shaped my vision for BGF around the two most fundamental elements of the organization: The strength of our volunteers and our ability to develop programs that reflect our core values.

For almost 15 years, our volunteers have created buildings and relationships that are generative and enduring. Thanks to our volunteers, we have continually raised the bar on construction projects. We have been good stewards of the donated moneys that were entrusted to us, multiplying every dollar invested with the skills of construction professionals.

“For almost 15 years, our volunteers have created buildings and relationships that are generative and enduring.”

As we approach our 15th anniversary, we are seeking to diversify our partners and support their fundraising efforts. Staff and the Board are exploring different ways of making these projects come to fruition. I’m counting on the Projects Committee to recommend new projects that are in keeping with our core values, including a transformative volunteer experience.

Additionally, I trust that our board and staff will select local, national, and international projects that maximize this volunteer experience. We now have 60 trained and active trip leaders. This is a young, energetic crowd. They are ready to work with communities in need. I’m looking to the Board to be flexible as we consider new projects, while consciously evaluating projects on how they may stretch our capabilities, whether they align with our core values, and their potential to engage volunteers meaningfully.

As an organization that is looking to “build more goodness,” BGF has made some amazing progress over the last 14 years. The energy of our grassroots volunteerism brought us where we are today. Let’s keep building on it. I’m genuinely looking forward to working with this group to see what we can accomplish.

p. 2 building community, improving lives

What’s Next? 2014’s Potential Projects Reflect Major Trendsin Global DevelopmentWorking in Haiti and Central America, we’ve observed various programs that empower women and educate children. As BGF continues to provide buildings that improve lives, we’re investigating how we relate to these global trends. Many of our prospective projects in the new year align to serve these two populations.

What will our volunteers build in 2014? Nine international organizations are somewhere in the pipeline for partnership with BGF. Five of these projects are schools and four are medical centers, three of which are women’s health clinics. These represent potentially excellent additions to our portfolio of projects, which will continue to include community centers, incentive and specialized housing, volunteer residences, and entrepreneurial development centers. Some of these possible partners are far along in funding their building needs, while others need more help. All have presented proposals for buildings that will advance education and medical support, especially with programs for women and children.

Finishing on-time-and-under-budget in three years of post-earthquake Haiti is quite an accomplishment, and it wouldn’t be possible without our volunteers. Hundreds of skilled workers have made service part of their annual routines, spending weeks abroad and weekends in local nonprofit construction projects. We’re excited to connect our volunteers with our partner organizations, who will together affect change on a global scale.

Thanks for building with us! Kelly Eplee, Executive Director and Mike Stoneking, Board President

“....With these improvements to the house of hospitality, we are well on our way toward completing the transformation of the home from one which was once neglected and unsafe to one which is warm, dry, and welcoming. We are deeply thankful to the Building Goodness community for assisting with this transformation.

“In particular, we would like to highlight the excellent work of Curtis Hoffman, who spent many hours at Casa Alma planning the project, coordinating volunteers, problem-solving, and attending to the many details. We truly enjoyed getting to know Curt and spending time with each of the BGF volunteers who came out to work on the roof whether on a late summer day or a cold rainy one.” - Laura Brown

Thank You from Casa Alma

p. 2 building community, improving lives www.buildinggoodness.org p. 3

2013: Our Volunteers

ARC OF THE PIEDMONT

ON OUR OWN (also a community center)

CODEP DEPOT

ST. PIERRE CHURCH

INCENTIVE KAYS

January February March April May June

health

Completed:

BUILDING GOODNESS IN APRIL

PIEDMONT CASA

ROCKFISH VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTER

BUILDING GOODNESS IN AUTUMN

SIUNAHOSPITAL

(Phase 1)

CHARLOTTESVILLE

2013: The Year in Photos

VIRGINIA HAITI

housing

community

LOCATION:

Incentive Kay

St. Pierre Church

Rockfish Valley Community Center

Building Goodness in April

Projects Timeline

MATTAPONI CLASSROOM

July

INCENTIVE KAYS

CASA ALMA

BUILDING GOODNESS IN AUTUMN

SIUNAHOSPITAL

(Phase 1)

Photos courtesy of Blue Ridge Life magazine, Michael Anello, Vince Boudin, and BGF intern Brittany Miller, who has been documenting local projects this year.

TI KAYS (ONGOING)

NICARAGUA

August September October November December

Siuna Hospital

Casa Alma

CODEP Depot

Mattaponi Classroom

p. 6 building community, improving lives

Volunteer Spotlight: Calvin JohnsonCalvin Johnson has worked at Alexander Nicholson “forever,” and he’s been volunteering with Building Goodness Foundation nearly as long. For the past 26 years, Calvin’s worked at Alexander Nicholson as a project manager, superintendant, and part-owner. He’s seen BGF grow from a few skilled builders going to Haiti to include construction projects in Virginia, nationally, and in Central America. All along, Calvin cites volunteers, “and the passion they have for the work that they’re doing,” as key to BGF’s success.

Of all the projects he’s worked on, Calvin’s favorite was the Step Project in Haiti. Calvin helped build concrete stairs on a mountainside in Léogâne, which prevented erosion and made walking easier.

However, on a return trip, Calvin found the landscape had changed...significantly. “We were trying to figure out where the steps were. Some country had put a road in, pushed dirt down the mountainside, and totally covered up the steps.” Still, the project “stood out because the whole community had worked on it: Not just three to four BGF guys, but women, children, men, alongside volunteers.”

As for the future of Building Goodness Foundation, Calvin hopes BGF will venture into other parts of the world, beyond Central America and the Carribbean. What’s motivated Calvin to stay involved for the past fifteen years? “For the sake of humanity —I’m driven by my faith and desire to help others. ‘The giving of oneself is a gift not to be held in one’s hand, but one’s heart.’”

Within a month of the Haitian earthquake, Curt Hoffman called me to see if we needed skilled volunteers in Haiti. Having never left the country before, he participated in the first volunteer work trip after the earthquake, repairing the CODEP compound and making some minor repairs to incentive kays up in the mountains. He returned to the States and continued his work as a cabinet maker, then furniture restorer. The computer scientist-turned-carpenter started practicing his Creole with Kelly.

Curt signed up for a longer-term trip to Haiti, spending about five weeks kicking off the ti-kay project in Croix-des-Bouquets. He came back to his job with Arterra Design & Construction, but still had a hankering for Haiti. More Creole. A local project here and there. Then Curt served as a volunteer project manager for the recently-completed Casa Alma roofing project here in Charlottesville.

Curt Hoffman is now on board to serve full-time in the small community of Destra (outside Léogâne, Haiti) as a Haiti Field Manager for the GOALS Community Center project. He brings a sharp mind for construction details and a strong understanding of BGF’s mission and core values. Curt is a huge addition to our in-country staff, supporting volunteers in their contribution to the community and above all, having a hell of a good time doing it.

New Haiti Field Manager: Curt Hoffmanby Ethan Tate, Projects Coordinator

Calvin, during and after a long day of volunteering in Haiti.

2013 Cornerstone CompaniesBuilding Goodness Foundation is honored to receive the support of some of our industry’s most generous companies and individuals. Annual nominations for the Cornerstone Society are made upon receiving $5,000 or more in a sponsored service or a cash donation in a single calendar year. BGF recognizes the following:

Bama Works Fund of the Dave Matthews Band Dorothy Batten Blue Moon Fund Michael Cernik Joe and Linda Daniel

Lawson Drinkard Oakwood Foundation Howard PapeJack StonerBill and Nancy Wardle

We value...Building quality projects that are generative and enduring

Transformational experience

Communities; healthy, viable and interconnected

Collaborative volunteer service

Craftsmanship and design

Human beings and their cultures

Excellence in our organization and its outcomes

Mike Stoneking, President J.D. Diven, Vice President Mason Brugh, Treasurer Diane Hillman, SecretaryStan Binsted Richard Busofsky Michael Cernik Athena EastwoodDan Fagan

PO Box 4325 Charlottesville, VA 22905 434.973.0993

Building Goodness Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in Virginia and registered with the IRS as a charitable organization. All donations are tax deductible.

Alexander Nicholson, Inc.Barton Malow CompanyBetter Living, Inc.Betsy Cox ProductionsBelgard HardscapesBlue Moon FundCathcart GroupCadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, L.L.P.Charlottesville Radio GroupCMS, Inc.Elmo FoundationGreer & AssociatesHantzmon Wiebel, L.L.P.The Jefferson Theater

Martin Horn, Inc.Mountain LumberOakwood FoundationR.E. LeeShank & Gray ArchitectsShelter Associates Ltd.Shelton & Company, CPAs, P.C.Stoneking / Von Storch ArchitectsUVa Department of EnglishUVa-McIntire School of CommerceVirginia National BankWardle Family FoundationWyomissing Foundation

AGC-Virginia Piedmont DistrictAnonymousStan BinstedSteve and Mary BurnsRichard BusofskyConboy Duke Foundation John (J.D.) DivenAthena EastwoodAllen and Lori FeezorKevin and April Fletcher

Daniel FortSusan FraimanAnne HooffJack and Hillary HornTony and Laura IgnaczakRebecca Keese and Robert GraySusan and L.F. PayneMarianne and Gerry StarsiaWade & Michele TremblayWestWind Foundation

StaffG. Kelly Eplee, Executive DirectorMichael Anello, Haiti Field ManagerDallas Branum, Local Projects CoordinatorErin Burns, Communications CoordinatorKatherine Garstang, Office ManagerCurt Hoffman, Haiti Field ManagerDaniel Lalanne, Haiti Field ManagerCourtney Polk, Volunteer Recruiter and CoordinatorAllison Scholl, Director of Resource Development Ethan Tate, Projects Coordinator

Susan FraimanBrian Gooch Mike Gallahue Bob GrayJack Horn, Jr.Gene Shirley Gerry StarsiaJack StonerBruce Watchelp. 6 building community, improving lives

Board of Directors

Founders’ CircleThe following individuals are Founders’ Circle members due to their extreme generosity of money, time and spirit. Membership is reserved for founders and supporters who have a given more than $100,000 throughout their lifetimes.

Builders’ SocietyBuilding Goodness thanks our Builders’ Society members, supporters who have made a three-year financial commitment to support our mission to build community and improve lives.

15 YEARS15 YEARSbuilding on building on

In 2014, Building Goodness Foundation will celebrate our 15th year of building communities and improving lives.

Join us for a year-long celebration of the projects, places, and most importantly, people who have made this journey meaningful!

Nov. 29 Alternative Gift Fair10am-5pm Paramount Theater

Dec. 3 Giving Tuesday www.buildinggoodness.org

Dec. 5 Keller & George Holiday Open House5pm-8pm 1149 Millmont St., Charlottesville Make a holiday wish list and a portion of the proceeds from gifts purchased before ChristmasbenefitsBGF.Pleasejoinusforaneveningofrevelry&holidaycheer, includingspecialTrunkShow&EnhancedDesignerCollections,DoorPrizes,anda WhiskyTastingbyVirginiaDistilleryCompany.

Dec. 12 Shopping Extravaganza12pm-7pm Charlottesville Downtown Mall BusinessesonthedowntownmallwillgiveaportionofsalestoBGF.Lookfor businessesdisplayingtheBGFlogo,including: Alakazam Angelo Jewelry Bizou Jean Theory Petit Bebe The Mole Hole Ten Thousand Villages

This Holiday Season, Support BGF