OAKLAND, CA. May 6, 2013 – Rebuilding Together Oakland (RTO) and Bell Investment Advisors joined forces in April to renovate an Oakland home, owned for 40 years by a couple, now seniors and partially disabled. For 20 years, Rebuilding Together Oakland (formerly known as Christmas in April), the local affiliate of the national nonprofit association, has performed home repairs and upgrades free of charge for low-income seniors and the disabled, who own their homes but cannot afford to maintain them adequately.
For the past three years, Bell has donated funds and provided volunteer labor to partner with their business neighbors at law firm Wendel, Rosen, Black, & Dean, on two Saturdays in April.
This year Laurent Harrison, CFP®, Investment Advisor, Financial Planner at Bell Investment Advisors, currently serving on the RTO board, was the Bell Project Coordinator. The two firms had over 50 employees, clients, and family members working each day on an Oakmore neighborhood home, one of several homes rehabilitated this year by RTO. The work included washing and painting the complete house interior and exterior, remodeling the bathroom, replacing windows, replacing the back retaining wall, adding safety rails, removing extensive overgrowth, adding concrete pavers leading into the back yard, rebuilding the rear porch and stairs, and making significant electrical wiring repairs.
“We were all inspired by the support and spirit of this Oakland neighborhood, which provided and organized its own team of volunteers,” said Laurent. “Together, we made a huge difference in the owners’ lives, one that will enable them to continue living in their own home for many years to come. That is the purpose of the work that Rebuilding Together does locally and across the country. We encourage other businesses and individuals to find out how they can help this wonderful organization help their communities survive and thrive.”
About Rebuilding Together Oakland
RTO, established in 1993, with 200 fellow Rebuilding Together affiliates across the country and approximately 70,000 volunteers, has raised millions of dollars and renovated hundreds of homes belonging to low income seniors and the disabled, as well as community facilities that serve people in need. National Rebuilding Day occurs every April; most projects require two or more Saturdays. It is the culmination of a year’s worth of planning, volunteer recruitment, and developing community sponsorships to change homeowners’ lives across the country. Rebuilding Together affiliates restore hope and pride in communities as numerous rehabilitations occur on a single day to create high-impact momentum for the rest of the year.
About Bell Investment Advisors
Bell Investment Advisors, a privately-owned, registered investment advisory firm, managing over $500 million in assets, is in its 22nd year of business, offering investment management, financial planning, and career/life coaching services.