The 14 Stories of New Hope fundraiser, now in its third year, is an opportunity for people to rappel down the Hilton Arlington National Landing on June 14 to amplify the voices of people experiencing homelessness.
This year, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty is one of the event’s sponsors. The event seeks 90 brave individuals to rappel down the hotel’s 12 stories.
“One of our real estate agents got involved last year, so therefore our company was exposed to [New Hope Housing] and the event itself,” says Joanne Sawczuk, executive assistant to Mark C. Lowham, CEO and managing partner of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty.
“As a real estate company, we’re trying to put people in homes, and New Hope Housing is doing the same thing, just in a different capacity — while New Hope Housing is putting homeless into homes, we are putting people in homes that they will be purchasing.”
New Hope Housing, a nonprofit founded in 1977, works to end homelessness across Northern Virginia by offering services and lasting solutions.
Director of development Sami Smyth says that during the pandemic, a lot of nonprofits were having difficulty finding ways to do events to bring people together. “We were approached by a community partner who had heard of this company called Over the Edge that does rappelling fundraising events.”
Over the Edge handles the technical aspects of rappelling, while New Hope takes care of the fundraising aspects, including finding participants, sponsors, and throwing a block party.
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty encourages agents and their partners to sign up to rappel, become sponsors, or come and volunteer.
Vice President of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Melody Abella is one of a team of six women who have been donating annually to New Hope Housing for years.
“Last year, my team was approached by the director [at New Hope], and he thought it would be a fun team event since we were already donating every year,” Abella says. “Everyone on my team had a reason why they couldn’t. I guess I’m the more adventurous one out of the six of us.”
Abella was the only one within the company to rappel over the side of the Hilton National Landing last year. She was also the highest fundraiser, pulling in over $10,000. Each rappeler must raise at least $1,000 to secure a spot. The money goes toward New Hope Housing’s shelter, permanent, and workforce development programs.
This year, 14 of the real estate company’s employees will participate.
“I’m doing it again because I feel like you have to practice what you preach,” Abella says. “It’s not my focus this year to be the highest fundraiser, but I’m focused on getting people involved by rappelling or volunteering the day of the event.”
Abella wasn’t nervous until she got to the top of the roof and was instructed to stand on the edge. “I could feel the nerves in my body kicking in, and then when they tell you to lean back, that was a little scary because I was leaning toward what they call the landing zone, which is where all the people are cheering you on below.”
Abella bought brand-new colorful Nike sneakers for the occasion. However, the first four stories she rappelled down, she realized she was dragging her feet along the side of the building. “I was not rappelling, I was literally just dragging my feet down,” she laughs. “All I was thinking was that I was ruined my new shoes!”
Eventually, she did get the hang of it and says it was over surprisingly fast and took about a minute and a half to rappel down the entire building.
Photographer Darlene Shenier, who took photos and rappelled last year, has a personal connection to the cause. Her parents had experienced homelessness, living out of their car for a time.
Shenier’s mother explained to her that she would put out blankets in their hatchback car and they would play until their dad got out of work at McDonald’s. Life is different for her mother now, and everything is good, Shenier says.
“People just need help sometimes — it doesn’t mean they’re bad people or don’t want to work or whatever, things just happen,” she says. “You can find yourself in that situation just the way my parents did.”
Shenier quickly learned her fear of heights got worse as she got older. When she got to the top of the Hilton to rappel last year, she started thinking she might experience a panic attack.
“I can remember standing on the edge where they have you turn around and put your feet on the edge of the building,” she says. “Everything is telling you ‘No, this is wrong. Danger!’”
But she says, “I just kept telling myself, ‘Absolutely not. I am going to do this; I am going to do this.’”
Shenier remembers thinking that people who have hardships are going through tougher situations. She also recalled all the individuals who helped her fundraise, and she wanted to show them that she could do it.
To register a team or donate, see details of what to do online. Rappelling will happen from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 14. There will be a free accompanying block party at the base of the hotel. Community members are invited to come and learn more about New Hope Housing and the work they’re doing in the community. There will be a DJ, taco truck, and popsicle stand.
Feature image courtesy New Hope Housing
For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine’s Things to Do newsletter.
