Groundbreaking: "Veteran's Build" Home on Memorial Day Weekend

Groundbreaking ceremonies took place just recently for Habitat for Humanity San Bernardino’s “Veteran’s Build” home in partnership with General Motors Foundation. “More than 50 people attended the event at 5382 Elm Avenue, San Bernardino with Assembly Member Cheryl Brown, Mayor Cary Davis, and City Council members Virginia Marquez and Rikki Van Johnson issuing proclamations,” said Dennis Baxter, executive director of Habitat for Humanity. Also in attendance were representatives State Senator Mike Morrell and San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos. General Motors Foundation was represented by Howard “Hal” Lenox, Director of Western Region, and State Government Relations for General Motors Corporation. The GM Foundation has granted $150K for this home to be constructed on land donated by the Adelson family. The home that previously occupied the property was destroyed in the “Old Fire” of 2003. Lenox said the GM Foundation is “honored to partner with Habitat for Humanity on this project, one of 12 across the United States this year.” This “veteran’s build” home will meet Energy Star III standards and will utilize veteran’s groups on the project. Nearly a dozen Marines from 29 Palms participated in the site preparation for this home. Also helping to break ground was the Calderon family, Gus, Melissa, and their three children. Both Gus and Melissa are employed by the Rock Church in San Bernardino and will be putting in 500 hours of sweat equity toward their new home. “Plans include a dedication ceremony on December 14th, 2014, with the Calderon family occupying the new home by this Christmas,” according to Baxter. The home will take about 40 days of mostly weekend work to complete, thus the six month timeline. Other partners on this project include Bank of America, TTG Engineering, YouthBuild, Job Corps, and many volunteers from the local community.