Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster and Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles (HFH GLA) raised the first walls on the Mayor’s Build House for the Lopez family today.  The construction of the house should be completed by the end of the year.

“Today is a great day to help a well-deserving family set new roots in Long Beach,” said Mayor Bob Foster.  “I’m delighted to be part of today’s celebration and I’m looking forward to help build a new home for the Lopez family.”

The recipients of the Mayor’s Build are the Lopez family who are long-time residents of Long Beach.  Enrique Lopez works for St. Mary’s Hospital in Long Beach and his wife Sonia works for the Long Beach Unified School District.  Their children, Angel (15) and Anthony (8), are currently students in the Long Beach Unified School District and their youngest son, Adan, is one-year old.

“We can’t thank Mayor Foster and his staff enough for their dedication in helping us transform the lives of our partner families and revitalize neighborhoods in Long Beach,” said Erin Rank, President/CEO of HFH GLA.  “Mayor Foster was with us to notify The Lopez Family of their selection and will be with us to build alongside the family throughout the entire process.”

Several Mayor’s Build sponsors were present to help raise the walls, including the Gold Hammer Sponsor Southern California Edison.

“Our company is proud to play a role in this worthy home building project,” said Ronald Litzinger, President, Southern California Edison. “This extraordinary effort is another example of how strongly we value our commitment to the customers and communities we serve.”

Also on hand were students from the Long Beach Unified School District’s Architecture, Construction, and Engineering (ACE) Academy.  More than 100 ACE students will be working on the Mayor’s Build to apply their school training in this real-life construction project including reading the building plans, pouring foundation, installing electrical work and painting.

The Lopez family qualified for homeownership by meeting income guidelines, demonstrating a need and agreeing to put in 500 hours of “sweat equity,” which will include building their home and volunteering at other Habitat for Humanity locations. Mayor Foster led the fundraising efforts and will also help build the house alongside volunteers from the community and corporate sponsors, which includes: Southern California Edison; Union Bank; Oxy Long Beach, Inc.; AECOM; BNSF Railways; Jet Blue; and Meridiam Infrastructure.  In addition to Mayor Bob Foster and HFH GLA staff, Councilmember Robert Garcia, CD1; LBHDC Commissioner Stacy McDaniel; City of Long Beach staff and LBHDC staff also attended the wall-raising celebration.

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (HFH GLA) strives to eliminate substandard housing through advocacy, education and partnership with families and individuals in need to build decent, sustainable and affordable housing. Since 1990, HFH GLA has built and renovated over 650 homes locally and worldwide, transforming the lives of hundreds of individuals. HFH GLA is a GuideStar® Valued Partner.   For more information, please visit www.habitatla.org or call 310-323-4663. Visit our blog at http://buildingagreaterla.blogspot.com

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