Community Leaders and Regional Leaders elevate RTP's rebuilding efforts in unique ways. Partnerships at this level affect an entire neighborhood not only by supporting individual homeowners in need, but also, often, by making significant improvements to the physical space of a community agency.

To learn more about how a gift of $25,000 or more can transform a community, please contact Carrie Rathmann, Executive Director at carrie@rebuildingphilly.org.

Opus East, LLC, a full service real estate developer, has been a supporter of RTP for several years. Its $35,000 sponsorship this year reflects a significant jump in both financial and volunteer resources. Last year, Opus East collaborated with “Gung Ho” – a Dragon Boat team dedicated to supporting breast cancer survivors – to form a house management team (HMT). This HMT boasted a diversity of skills and talents, resulting in an incredibly comprehensive transformation for a North Philadelphia homeowner. In spring/summer 2009, Opus East is sponsoring the Washeteria project at Face to Face. Volunteers will create a place for people to take a shower and wash their clothes while getting a nutritious meal in Face to Face's the Dining Room, visiting its health center or legal clinic, or participating in the art or creative writing program.

This partnership is part of the Opus Corporate Foundation's long-standing support of the community. Community stewardship has been at the core of Opus since it was founded in 1953. Opus has always contributed 10% (compared to the national average of 1%) of its pretax profits and a tremendous number of employee volunteer hours to dozens of nonprofits. Across the U.S., Opus employees have teamed up with Rebuilding Together affiliates to repair homes, revitalize communities, and restore the lives of homeowners in need in Chicago (Opus North) and Sacramento (Opus West).

PREIT/Portfolio Marketing Group
Volunteers from Portfolio Marketing Group, the in-house advertising agency for Center City based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT), have offered their pro bono services to RTP this year. Our PR committee is working with Portfolio Marketing Group to develop a marketing plan which focuses on recruiting volunteer teams and skilled volunteers. We are also hoping to heighten our presence in the Philadelphia community in 2009 through an awareness campaign to the general public. They are also helping us to take advantage of our latest PR opportunity, the chance to be featured on HGTV's website and a national television program. PREIT owns and manages over 35 million square feet of retail space in 13 states, including Cherry Hill Mall, Willow Grove Park, The Gallery at Market East, Exton Square, Voorhees Town Center, Plymouth Meeting Mall, Springfield Mall, Cumberland Mall and Moorestown Mall.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
On November 2, 2008, Rebuilding Together Philadelphia participated once again with the Jewish Federation's Mitzvah Mania project. Hundreds of volunteers from the Jewish community performed "mitzvahs" (good deeds), simultaneously. Partnering with RTP, Mitzvah Mania volunteers undertook a Block Build, helping 11 homeowners in Northeast Philadelphia by making essential home repairs and weatherizing their homes. Volunteers also completed gardening and painting projects at the JCC Klein Center. For more information and a photo slide show of Mitzvah Mania 2008, visit The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.