Furthering the HomeAid Cause

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Beazer Homes deepens its commitment to the charity

Atlanta-based Beazer Homes USA Inc. has been involved with HomeAid America since 1999, and 2004 will no different.

 

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HomeAid Intro Georgia-Pacific Beazer Homes Kimball Hill Homes HomeAid Chapters HomeAid Partners 10 Reasons Show Village Home

"Beazer Homes is committed to help broaden the scope of HomeAid America's activities across the country," says Ian McCarthy, Beazer's president/CEO and chairman of HomeAid's national advisory board. "The company has built shelters from California to Texas to Virginia, and many more are in development."

The company will further cement its relationship with HomeAid when Bill June, president of Beazer's Las Vegas division, serves as the first president of HomeAid Southern Nevada, a new Las Vegas chapter that the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association helped organize. "HomeAid fills a need in transitional housing, and we think it's a great program," June says.

"There are other good programs out there, but HomeAid helps those who have come on tough times and fills a transitional housing need until they can get on their feet again." June says many in the local building industry have expressed interest in volunteering. One builder already has volunteered to do the chapter's first project.

This year, Beazer Homes Las Vegas and the Nevada division of Rolling Meadows, Ill.-based Kimball Hill Homes are working with Georgia-Pacific Corp. and at least 40 trades to build a HomeAid house for Show Village 2004. After the International Builders' Show, the house will be turned over to HomeAid and raffled to raise money for the charity.

"Building another shelter in Las Vegas at the largest builders' show in the country provides an excellent opportunity for us to further promote the HomeAid cause," McCarthy says.

Beazer has a history of building shelter for the needy. Most of its divisions also have been involved with local Habitat for Humanity programs. The Nashville, Tenn., office and the Atlanta corporate headquarters sponsor the Ronald McDonald House in each city.

The commitment to serve others extends beyond the company's management team. Last year, for instance, Beazer worked at Show Village to build a home for Olive Crest Homes & Services, which provides shelter, care and professional treatment for abused children and their families.

"Lots of volunteers got involved to donate their time last year," June recalls. "My assistant showed up to wash windows, some people acted as laborers, and others picked up garbage at the site."

For the Show Village 2004 home, Beazer estimates that approximately 30 employees will participate in the build. June says the company never has to recruit employee volunteers. Instead, they ask what they can do. June estimates that at least once a week, employees ask him if they can assemble teams for walk-a-thons for cancer research or organize United Way drives.

He believes it makes employees feel good to contribute to good causes and that their charitable work gives them a sense of accomplishment. "The Las Vegas community is a very good one, and we want to give our share back to it," he adds.