[Ed. Note: This article appears in the May issue of the Ottawa Construction News, which will be distributed next week. A PDF of the page as it appears in the paper is embedded at the end of this article for your reference.]
With this year's version of their annual URBANA fundraising gala, local homebuilder Dharma Developments has raised $15,000 to help Habitat for
Humanity provide affordable housing for Ottawa's homeless and inadequately housed families.
The 4th annual URBANA was held on Thursday, April 24 at the National Archives of Canada and featured a live band and the poetic stylings of Oni the
Haitian Sensation. More than 150 people attended the evening, including many members of the construction industry.
"We were really happy with the support that members of the GOHBA (Greater Ottawa Homebuilders Association) gave," says Akash Sinha, President of Dharma Developments. (Pictured) "A lot of builders came out, and a lot of trades and suppliers either came out or supported the event but weren't able to attend. That is really important because affordable housing should be a cause that our industry cares about, and it's good to see that they do."
All monies raised from the event were earmarked to support a Habitat for Humanity Youth Build this summer. Elizabeth Rock, President of the National Capital branch of Habitat, says the $15,000 raised is the equivalent of about three bedrooms worth of construction materials, which means that "three more kids in this region will have a room they can call their own, a refuge, and a place where happy childhood memories can live."
The special performer at the event, Oni the Haitian Sensation, wrote and directed a moving spoken word and multimedia presentation that was meant to give attendees a glimpse into the lives of under-housed children in Ottawa. A group of five local students presented poems written by Oni, interdispersed with pre-recorded interviews of local Habitat volunteers.
"I got a lot of positive feedback," says Oni. "A lot of people were not familiar with spoken word (presentations), and I think they really got a sense of what it means to be involved with Habitat for Humanity - the youth (presenters) represented the people in Habitat homes."
Before and after the special presentation, the crowd mingled and socialized to the sounds of the band "Rumbavant", and enjoyed tapas provided by sponsor Mambo Restaurante. Two lucky guests took home door prizes, a trip for two to Whistler, B.C. courtesy of Westjet, and a gift basket donated by Bridgehead coffee.
All in all, Sinha says the event was a great success. "URBANA has always been about raising awareness in the community," he says, "It's not just about financial support, because organizations like Habitat also need the support of the community and people to literally lend a helping hand, and we saw lots of that this year."
"The feedback we got from those who attended was that they didn't know what an organization like Habitat really did, or how they helped families," says Sinha. "So one of the best benefits of the event is that Habitat for Humanity got a number of people who were moved by the videos and the spoken word and wanted to volunteer and be involved in future builds."
More more information on how you can get involved with Habitat, contact the NCR Volunteer coordinator Gisele Grenier Miller by email.
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