HomeAid’s Annual Gala Raises More Than $335,000
Nov. 9, 2015 – Chantilly, VA — HomeAid Northern Virginia, which builds and renovates homeless shelters and housing facilities via the donated expertise, labor and resources of the local homebuilder business community, recognized two local businesses and a nonprofit for making a positive local community impact and serving vulnerable families. HomeAid presented the following awards at its annual gala on Nov. 7:
Nonprofit Service Provider Project of the Year Award: Transitional Housing BARN
Transitional Housing BARN provides families who need a helping-hand with clean, safe transitional housing and access to supportive services to promote healing, growth and self-sufficiency. In addition to offering a transitional housing shelter in Bristow, Virginia (Prince William County), BARN also runs a “rapid re-housing” program with case managers who assist families to find more permanent housing solutions, as well as works to help vulnerable families prevent eviction. HomeAid Northern Virginia – together with “Builder Captain” Drees Homes and its team of 11 local homebuilder trade partners – partnered with BARN this year to completely renovate the 12 bathrooms in its shelter. The BARN housing facility is set up in neighborhoods of four family units of bedrooms and bathrooms, so to protect residents’ privacy and minimize disruptions, Drees Homes and its trade partners worked in three phases, completing four bathrooms per neighborhood and then waiting for families to move in and get settled before moving on to the next phase. The project was completed in October, providing the families with beautiful, bright, clean new facilities. Other HomeAid projects with BARN in past years have included renovation of kitchens, installation of playground equipment, roof replacement and more. The award recognizes BARN’s impact on its community and on the lives of the clients it serves.
Trade Partner of the Year Award: Builders FirstSource
HomeAid’s trade partners are those in the home building industry – suppliers, manufacturers, electricians, plumbers, etc. – who play meaningful roles in shelter construction projects by donating materials, time, and expertise. A leading supplier of structural building materials and services to homebuilders, Builders FirstSource has participated in and contributed to more than a dozen HomeAid Northern Virginia projects – including renovations for Alternative House, Community Touch, Gabriel Homes, and more – providing labor and materials worth more than $50,000. The award recognizes Builders FirstSource’s long-term willingness to step up and pitch in – with both financial and manual labor commitments – on a range of projects providing key programs and services to the local community. Builders FirstSource – which recently acquired ProBuild, becoming one of the nation’s largest professional building materials suppliers – now has 11 locations in the northern Virginia region, including Chantilly, Manassas, Winchester and Culpeper.
Presidents’ Award: John Darvish Construction
John Darvish of John Darvish Construction (based in Ashburn, VA) was awarded the Presidents’ Award, HomeAid’s most prestigious award for individuals. A eight-year HomeAid board member and major contributor to many shelter projects, John Darvish played an instrumental leadership role this year as HomeAid launched its 1st Annual Golf Tournament, which brought the home building community together and raised $40,000 to expand and upgrade local shelter and housing facilities.
Overall, HomeAid Northern Virginia’s 2015 annual gala raised more than $335,000 to build and renovate homeless shelters and housing facilities. Intercoastal Mortgage Company served as the presenting sponsor of the gala and awards ceremony. The Trade Partner of the Year Award was sponsored by ProBuild and the Presidents’ Award by Capitol Building Supply.
About HomeAid Northern Virginia
HomeAid Northern Virginia, a chapter of HomeAid America, engages the resources and interests of the homebuilding community and its corporate partners in order to undertake new construction and major renovations to properties owned by agencies and service providers that help homeless people gain stability and get back on the road to self-sufficiency. The organization was started in 2001 by members of the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association (NVBIA), and since then, has completed 100 projects valued at more than $12.7 million, serving more than 95,000 homeless individuals.
