The 2011 Charity Paint Giveaway Winner is...

HILLEL HOUSE -  You may have passed by 328 A Street in Davis many times and not noticed the small bungalow nestled between other small houses on the street. Since 1965 that quaint bungalow, called “Hillel House”, has served as a home away from home for college students studying at UC Davis, CSUS, and other institutions of higher learning in the Davis/Sacramento area.

As a non-profit foundation that does not charge for most of its services, Hillel relies almost entirely on donations to operate. While the primary goal of Hillel is to offer educational, social, spiritual, and community service opportunities to Jewish college students, Hillel has always opened its doors to all who wish to enter.  At its core, Hillel is a warm, safe place to relax, hang out with friends, enjoy a home-cooked meal, and even take a nap on a comfy couch in-between classes.

Up until about ten years ago, Hillel attracted modest numbers of students. In the past decade, however, the number of students participating in Hillel activities has skyrocketed. As a result, a critical need arose for a larger, more modern facility to replace the 1,100 square foot, circa 1930 bungalow.

After years of planning and fundraising, construction began in April on a 9,500 sq. ft., LEED certifiable, green building. The new Hillel House is scheduled to open in the spring of 2012.

In tough economic times, non-profits such as Hillel are especially vulnerable. We rely heavily on the generosity of those who believe in our mission. Namely, serving college students and providing them with a safe haven during their college years. Our project has become very community based, attracting local vendors and service providers who are willing to contribute with reduced costs and in-kind services so that our dream will become a reality. We invite you to participate as well, by voting for this deserving project. With your help, and the partnership of Brooks Painting to paint the interior of our new building, we will be able to offer our students not just a place to “hang out”, but a true home – filled with much beauty and color.