More than 200 women volunteered to construct 120 walls for Habitat for Humanity of Greater  Los Angeles’s 9th annual Power Women Power Tools™ build event. The event took place at Sony Pictures Studios June 15, 2013 and was sponsored by Lowe’s, Union Bank, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Variety. The walls built that day will benefit at least seven homes in the Los Angeles area.

GKhair donated the 2013 Fashion Week Fav, Dry Shampoo to the cause. Each participate and everyone that was involved and helped out with the event got to take home GKhair’s star studded product.

This year’s volunteers included recognizable names and faces like Tia Carrere, Kristina Guerrero, Shanola Hampton, Mya Harrison, Kate Linder, Missy Peregrym, LA City Councilmember Jan Perry, Tom Shadyac and Alicia Witt. The all-women build event started in 2005 to empower women and bring awareness to the affordable housing crisis and has become increasingly popular every year! Power Women Power Tools™ is also a signature event for Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity (HFHFH), the organization’s entertainment industry program. 

“We were overjoyed by the enthusiastic turnout at this year’s event and amazed by the work that was completed,” said Erin Rank, President and CEO of HFH GLA. “What these women volunteers accomplished on Saturday was nothing short of remarkable. The volunteers, crew leaders and staff deserve a great deal of credit for what this event has become and what it represents.  And, thanks to social media, Power Women Power Tools™ has become a much bigger event, engaging people all over the world!”

HFH GLA partner homeowner, Gloria Alfaro, got volunteers into the building spirit during the morning program by sharing how Habitat for Humanity has changed her life. However, when HFHFH co-founding member Producer and Director Tom Shadyac introduced partner homeowner Zalikah Templeton and her family during the lunch program, their inspirational story moved the crowd to tears and brought them to their feet for a standing ovation. It was exactly what the women needed to become reenergized for the final hours of the build.