Viceroy Santa Monica partners with Causecast and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles to help eliminate poverty housing

RAISE A GLASS TO HELP THE LESS FORTUNATE THROUGHOUT DECEMBER AT “CAUSE ON THE ROCKS”

This December, Viceroy Santa Monica invites Angelenos to raise their glasses for a great cause with the latest installment of their “Cause on the Rocks” series. Throughout the month, the hotel will partner with Causecast and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (HFH GLA) to raise money through the sales of The Cranberry cocktail. Featuring vodka, cranberry liquor, lemon juice, and simple syrup served on rocks for $10, 100% of the proceeds from this holiday-inspired libation will be donated directly to HFH GLA. The Cranberry cocktail will be available on the cocktail menu every day throughout the month of December and the hotel is hoping customers will get in spirit and exceed the over $4000 raised for Stand Up for Kids in November.

On Tuesday, December 8 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., Viceroy Santa Monica will host “Cause on the Rocks: Blended,” featuring a DJ spinning poolside and speakers from Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles. Guests will also have the chance to win a free cabana and a bottle of champagne at Viceroy Santa Monica. Viceroy is hoping to replicate the success of their “Cause on the Rocks: Blended” event which took place on November 10, 2009 and drew a crowd of over 300 attendees. The hotel plans to continue the “Cause on the Rocks” series in January with a new, seasonally-inspired signature cocktail and local charity partner.

Reminder to Obtain eBay Giving Works Tax Receipts for Your Donations

Thank you to all the supporters who have donated to us this year via eBay Giving Works...we truly appreciate your generosity. We hope you will visit our blog and Facebook page often to see how your kindness is changing lives in Los Angeles and around the world.

And, as the year comes to an end, don't forget to visit eBay Giving Works to get your 2009 tax receipts, here's how:

• Sign-in to your My eBay account (with your eBay ID/password)
• Click into your Donations Account
• Select Donation History
• Search for the 2009 Tax Year in the drop-down menu
• Click Request a Tax Receipt

We wish you a very healthy & happy new year!

1st Annual Building Transformations – Community Event (Guest Blog)

Guest Blogger & Volunteer, Sara Downes of Pacific Office Interiors:

Our company recently hosted a memorable Habitat for Humanity build day in Lynwood. The event was so special and every one of our volunteers truly appreciated the experience I have been sharing our experience with everyone we network with in hopes of bringing more attention to the great work of Habitat and how we all can become involved. We were fortunate to bring together associates from many prominent L.A. architecture firms, as well as USBGC-LA!

Here’s more about the build day:

Our 1st Annual Building Transformations – Community Event was held on Saturday, November 7, 2009. This unique and memorable event offered our industry associates, and partners in the architectural and design community the opportunity to start the giving season early as they helped build the first USGBC LEED Certified homes in the City of Lynwood.

We would like to thank each and every volunteer that joined in this special day! Special thanks to sponsors: Haworth, ASID UCLA Extension Student Chapter, Environmental Contracting Corporation,, as well as our friends from; Wolcott, Wirt Design Group, Shlemmer+Algaze+Associates, Zimmer Gunsul Frasca, Walt Construction, NBBJ, IA Interior Architect , VIDA Los Angeles, USGBC-LA.

This special event was planned in conjunction with the launch of Pacific Office Interiors’ new Leadership Center and Community Blog site, to transform participants and certainly some deserving homeowner’s life.

For more about Pacific Office Interiors click here.

Adopt a Habitat for Humanity Family for the Holidays!

We invite you to help make the holiday season special for families who need it most, our Habitat for Humanity partner families!

Each year, Habitat for Humanity partners with low-income families to build safe and decent houses they can call their home. However, many continue to struggle to provide basic necessities for their families, like food and clothing, and often dread the holiday season.

Volunteers plan on hand delivering a beautifully wrapped basket filled with gift cards and treats (an average of $250 per family.) Your participation is as simple as providing a monetary donation or a gift card for a family in need.

Deadline to submit donations: December 10th!!

For more information on how to help by Adopting a Family visit our website.

Save the Date!
Wrapping Party - December 15th, 12-6pm

Progress Update from our "Green" Lynwood 10-Home Neighborhood

We had a very public kick off at our Lynwood site this year thanks to all our friends at Disney Parks & all the volunteers who celebrated their big Give a Day, Get a Day announcement for 2010! So if you happen to see the foundation we started with on Sept 29th (especially if you were there) this video update shows how quickly things are moving.

Special thanks to our amazing volunteers & Mother Nature for her kindness too! Oh and ladies, if you built with us during the 2009 Power Women, Power Tools event...those are your walls on those second stories!