Are You Ready for Some BBQ?

Join us in three weeks to recognize HomeAid’s valuable trade partners and celebrate our 15^th anniversary of #buildingwhatmattersmost 

The summer’s best opportunity for connecting with Northern Virginia’s top homebuilders and trade partners – and enjoying good BBQ, cold drinks, and cornhole games – is almost here!

 Register now for HomeAid’s 7th Annual Builders & Friends BBQ!

The Barn at One Loudoun | 20405 Savin Hill Drive | Ashburn, Va. 20147

HomeAid will announce the 2016 Trade Partner of the Year at the BBQ, recognizing that our successful 15-year history would not be possible without the hundreds of trade partners who support our efforts every day, at every project, and at every event.

“STOCK Building Supply/BMC was a Master BBQ sponsor last year,” said John Intihar, production manager for STOCK. “This event supports a great cause, and you get the opportunity to rub elbows with builder executives and decision makers.”

“The BBQ started as a thank you to all of our trades and an opportunity to meet many of the board members of HomeAid in a relaxed, laid-back setting,” added Sal Migliore, president of Augustine Homes, HomeAid Board member, and 2014 HomeAid president. “It has now become an event that all want to attend, and we even had to provide a larger venue at One Loudoun so that more could attend. It’s great to see the homebuilding industry respond to helping those less fortunate by continuing to support this event and increasing attendance and fundraising.”

Thank you to our BBQ sponsors—your support helps us ALL continue the fight against homelessness!   

“The annual BBQ is a great opportunity to say thanks to all of the trade partners who make the HomeAid mission a reality. I get to see and talk with people who really care about what they do for HomeAid and the people we serve, and inevitably I meet and talk with someone I have not met before who wants to get involved but has not yet participated in a HomeAid project. It’s a good time to say thanks and promote what we do at the same time.”

Russ Rosenberger, president of Madison Homes, HomeAid Board member, and 2006 and 2013 HomeAid president

HomeAid, Madison Homes Improve Home for the Disabled

With the help of Builder Captain Madison Homes and seven trade partners, HomeAid completed a $44,000 renovation project for Community Residences, which offers individuals with disabilities—many of whom would otherwise be homeless—supportive housing and the physical, mental and emotional services needed to facilitate independent and dignified living within the community.

“The improvements made—entirely new flooring on the first level and better accessibility in the bathrooms—have made an enormous difference already for our residents,” said Jeff Scannell, facility manager at Community Residences. “Many of the floors were worn and sloping, which posed mobility issues, and the addition of step-in showers and grab bars have made our bathrooms safer and more accessible. Many of the individuals have disabilities, and we strive to give them a more fulfilled life through living in the community, being amongst peers, and having more freedom and opportunities through a safe home environment. This project has helped us better meet all of those goals. When you walk into this home, it doesn’t feel like a hospital or a ‘facility’ … it feels like a warm, welcoming home.”

Madison Homes has led many HomeAid projects, and with Madison Homes President Russ Rosenberger also serving on HomeAid Northern Virginia’s Board and as HomeAid’s 2006 and 2013 president, giving back to the community is an integral part of the company’s culture. For Charles Battle, project manager for Madison Homes, however, the project with HomeAid was his first.

“It was a great experience,” he said, “and allowed me to also invest in this aspect of our company’s philanthropic efforts. It was great to see the original proposal revised so that we could replace 100 percent of the flooring on the first level, and it’s testament to our trade partners to see the entire project completed on-time and on-budget, even with the home being occupied the entire time we were there. It was a complicated schedule to get residents and furniture moved as we worked, but we did it. I was honored to be involved.”

When HomeAid Northern Virginia and Builder Captain Madison Homes toured a home for mentally and physically disabled adults, many of whom would be homeless without supportive housing, it was immediately evident that the sloping, chipped and worn hardwood and linoleum flooring could pose a safety hazard to residents. It was also clear that a flooring expert was going to be first on the list of needed trade partners.

“We turned right away to T.A.C. Ceramic Tile Co.,” said Charles Battle, project manager for Madison Homes. “They’ve worked with HomeAid many times, and we knew they’d do a great job. They leveled the floors, did all the sanding and prep work, and installed all of the new tiling and flooring throughout the entire first floor and in the bathrooms. They had, by far, the biggest scope of the project and worked on a tight schedule, as we also had to relocate residents and furniture in phases. They finished right on time and were, as always, great to work with.”

T.A.C. Ceramic Tile has completed 19 projects with HomeAid, earning the organization’s Trade Partner of the Year Award in 2013 in recognition of their service and commitment. When presenting the award in 2013, then-HomeAid President Russ Rosenberger, said, “The company, and their team, truly exemplifies what it means to be dedicated, driven and committed to helping the homeless.”

“We would like to thank Madison Homes and HomeAid for the opportunity to participate in this important project,” said Keith Scott, sales manager for T.A.C. Ceramic. “Working with professional organizations like HomeAid and Madison Homes always makes the project run smoothly and on time.”

 T.A.C. Ceramic Tile Co., owned by Tom Callaway, was founded in 1984 and specializes in new home construction and light commercial construction, working with all flooring surfaces, including carpet and hardwood.

Supporters gathered to celebrate the completion of a 7,000 square foot addition at Women Giving Back’s (WGB) Store on May 5, 2016. The HomeAid project was led by Builder Captain Knutson Companies and will allow WGB to serve 50 percent more shoppers—3,000 women and 6,000 children every year—as well as allow WGB to add weekday shopping hours to its monthly schedule.

HomeAid and Builder Captain Knutson Companies had planned all along to more than double the capacity of Women Giving Back’s (WGB) Store, with a 7,000 square foot addition, but altering the original Store space wasn’t part of the planned scope of work … until Trade Partner Southern Electrical Service Co. arrived.

“Southern Electrical volunteered to install the lighting and electrical work in the addition,” said Don Knutson, president of Knutson Companies, “but as usual, the company really went above and beyond when they also offered to update electrical work in the existing space. They did it all at zero cost, and even the basics of having one light switch control all the lighting throughout the entire space makes a huge difference for the women who operate WGB and The Store. Southern Electrical is just a great company and a great HomeAid partner.”

“HomeAid is a terrific group of people, and it’s always a pleasure and rewarding to work with them,” said Faron Lee, president of Southern Electrical. “The real recognition and accolades should go to the people who do the day-to-day hard and life-changing work that makes organizations like HomeAid and WGB the treasures that they are.”

“But I am a second generation owner who embraces the idea that our founder—my father—laid firmly,” Lee added. “‘We are all God’s children,’ in good times and in bad, and when we are called on to help, we feel we have a Christian duty, as well as a civic duty, to help. I can truly say we end up receiving back more than we give.”

Southern Electrical Service Company is a locally owned, family business that has worked in the DC metropolitan community since 1963, specializing in residential, commercial, and industrial electrical services.

For the last year, HomeAid has been doing more to make a house a home for the homeless families and individuals who move into the homes we build and renovate. Our Helping Hands program is a particularly powerful way for volunteers of all ages—as individuals or as members of an office, school, church, or sports group—to support HomeAid’s mission and make a huge difference in others’ lives and gives us the ability to provide household essentials to families moving off the street, out of a shelter, and into a new home.

Donations like pots and pans, dishes, towels, shower curtains, and grocery gift cards take the burden off our shelter partners so they can redirect critically important funds toward programs rather than purchasing food and household items, and allow individuals and families to focus on their recovery instead of worrying about making costly purchases for their new home.

Our most recent Helping Hands success is a single mom and her children, who will soon feel the true impact of this program when they move into a transitional housing property in Vint Hill. While a beautifully renovated home is already an enormous gift—HomeAid and Builder Captain M/I Homes will begin demo and renovation of the home this month—this family will find the home completely stocked with all of the kitchen, bath, and bedroom essentials they’ll need, thanks to an enormously generous donation by a HomeAid supporter.

“I’ve worked in local [real estate] development for more than 30 years and am familiar with HomeAid and the great work they do,” the donor said. “I’ve donated funds before, but I felt it was time to get more personally involved and find an even more direct way to help the homeless. I learned about this program and knew the timing was right; it was a great way to totally outfit a home for a family who needs the extra help.”

With many more projects in the pipeline this year, HomeAid will need several volunteer groups or individuals to help us outfit the home once each project is completed. HomeAid staff can provide guidance on specific items needed, based on the size of the home and the makeup of the family that will be moving in. Staff can also arrange for volunteers to deliver the donations in person; schedule a pick-up of the items if personal delivery is not desired; invite the volunteer group to the Builder Appreciation Luncheon held after the project is completed; and/or provide appropriate recognition to corporate groups or others who are participating.

Please contact Kristyn Burr at 571.283.6300 for more information, or if you would like to get involved with Helping Hands!

Thompson Looks Forward to Continued Community Service During Retirement

Pete Thompson, a six-year member of HomeAid Northern Virginia’s (HANV) Board of Directors and group president of K. Hovnanian Homes, is retiring from both posts. He and his wife, who are dedicated to community service, look forward to seeking more volunteer opportunities during their retirement.

“Pete Thompson has made major contributions to HANV over the past six years,” said HomeAid Board President Greg Carter, “and we will greatly miss his leadership, professionalism and industry expertise. On behalf of HomeAid, I would like to thank Pete for all of his contributions, and we wish him and his wife the very best in retirement.”

Q:  Pete, what led you to join HomeAid Northern Virginia’s Board?

A:  I was first approached by HomeAid Board Member Steve Alloy, and the organization resonated with me because I knew of the work that they had done. I had just joined K. Hovnanian months before, and it was important to me that our company be good corporate citizens here and around the country.  We make contributions and help out in the community, but HomeAid is such a tremendous vehicle that allows homebuilders to contribute locally. I thought it would be a natural for us: We had been involved, but I wanted our company to be more involved, and I wanted to continue that strong relationship. 

Q: Your retirement date is approaching; what made you decide to retire, and what are your plans?

A:  Yes, my retirement date is June 15. I told my company about my decision about a year ago so that they could make it an easy transition. I’m 62, I’m healthy, and we want to do something different. I don’t want to work as hard as I’m working. And I can’t do what I’m doing and not work this hard.  Also, my wife has worked really hard at raising our four kids, and now the kids are out and about and starting to lead their own lives in a profound way. Three of them live in California and one is in D.C.  This is something that my wife really wants, and I think she deserves it.  I’m doing it for her, for me, and for us.  I’m a goal-oriented person, but when I do this, it’s going to be really all about the adventure. It’s going to be all about everything I’ve never done. It’s going to be completely different. 

First, we’re going to move to Colorado, where we have a place in the mountains.  I’ve lived in Denver twice as a homebuilder with my prior company.  We like the area a lot, and we love the mountains. So we’re going to start there and see what we can get involved in. Giving back is important to both of us, and as I’ve had the opportunity to serve on other boards, and work in other philanthropic activities, HomeAid Northern Virginia is going to be my ‘True North’. 

Q:  What projects, during your time with HomeAid, were particularly meaningful to you?

A:  We served as Builder Captain for the renovation and addition to the Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) SERVE shelter a few years ago, and it was just great. That project typifies what HomeAid does, and we were happy to do that project.  But it’s the partnerships that are generated that really stand out; HomeAid’s partnership with NVFS, and the partnership between HomeAid and builders to HomeAid, is terrific, as is the partnership between builders and trade partners. Everybody is working selflessly to provide a better life for people.

The Youth For Tomorrow project was also a huge project, and I know they’re working on others. But the little stuff is as important as the big stuff: You can build a big house or do a big renovation like we did at SERVE, but even going in and doing smaller shelter projects is just as important. Renovating a bathroom and a kitchen counts too, as it frees up the organizations to improve their facilities at a dramatically reduced cost, and the saved money goes directly toward the people who need it. It’s all terribly important. 

We build structures, but it’s the organizations we assist that really do the work. They build and change lives, and the nonprofits are the heroes in all of this. They are people helping people try to recapture their lives, whether it’s through training, education, life skills, employment opportunities … all of these things happening every day help people get back on their feet and change that cycle of poverty and homelessness.  We talk about these things in the aggregate, in the macro, and that’s one thing.  But when you talk about individuals and people helping people, it’s much more dramatic.

Q:  What have your six years on the HomeAid Board meant to you?

A:  It’s a terrific Board made up of presidents and owners of homebuilding companies, and people and businesses and professions that are related, such as bankers, lawyers, and some trades. There is a real collegiality on the Board; the most amazing thing about it is how connected we are in such a positive way to the mission of the organization. We’re competitors by day, but we come into this setting, and it’s such a refreshingly positive environment. Everyone just raises their hands and asks, ‘What can I do? How can I help?’  Everyone just works together, and then we leave and go back to competing again. We’re just so excited to work together for a cause that’s so important. 

We have vendors, and we have relationships, and things can get heated at times as we work for a better price. But when we pick up the phone for HomeAid and ask if they’d like you to participate, they say, “I’m in!”  And if we ask how much can they save us, they answer, “You just watch.” It blows our minds. We saved hundreds of thousands of dollars on the SERVE shelter, and it wasn’t us—it was the vendors and trade partners. Everybody is working together, it just feels good, and it ratchets down to our own employees. They love to be involved as a team, and it means we see just positives. Rarely in your life, and certainly in your job, do you have the opportunity to participate in something so positive. 

The Board also has huge bandwidth, made up of people who are connected in the industry.  Everybody knows somebody who can do something that is needed, from legal assistance to engineering, architecture, sub-contracting, and building supervision.  It’s a neat way for people and businesses to get personally involved in something that is vitally needed in the community—and in a way that really gets into the weeds and fills a need rather than just writing a check. I couldn’t be more impressed with HomeAid and the work they do, and I’m proud to have been able to play a very small role in their good work. 

Builder Captain Toll Brothers and trade partners, for accepting the challenge of building a new, 5,000 s.f. home on Youth For Tomorrow’s campus, which will serve 36 girls age 11 to 17 each year! The groundbreaking was held on May 5, with local elected officials, dignitaries, and other HomeAid supporters on hand to take part in the celebration. Builder Magazine featured the project in May.

Elijah Salahuddin, Omotayo Akinduro, and Falynn Kelly have joined HomeAid’s staff as our marketing, communications, and shelter projects summer interns, respectively.

Elijah Salahuddin, a sophomore at Bowling Green State University, class of 2019, is majoring in marketing. With an interest in helping end homelessness through better housing options, he’s also excited to gain an internship in his preferred field.

“I hope to gain additional business experience so that I can be more comfortable in an office setting,” he said, “and by the end of the internship, I’m hoping to obtain enough real-world knowledge to help make my way in the business world.”

Long-term, Salahuddin would like to work in consulting or brand management.

Omotayo Akinduro, a senior at Old Dominion University who is majoring in communications with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in marketing, chose HomeAid for a communications internship because the organization’s mission appealed to her desire to always serve her community in any way that she can, and she hopes to gain a better understanding of how to better help the homeless.

“Of course I could donate money, but I know the homeless population needs so much more than that,” she said.

Looking forward, Akinduro hopes to use her communications degree in human resources, marketing or within the media, and she would ultimately love to become a radio host or a TV host.

Falynn Kelly, HomeAid’s shelter projects intern, is a 2016 graduate of Longwood University and majored in communication studies with a concentration in public relations.

“I was drawn HomeAid because I’m interested in the work they do, and I wanted to gain experience working at a nonprofit organization,” she said. “I hope to further my knowledge of nonprofits and how to work in this field, as I ultimately hope to work full time for a nonprofit in their public relations or marketing department.”