Home Builders Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Celebration Raises Over $400,000

West Linn, OR. The skies over Tumwater Vineyard cleared in time for party-goers celebrating Home Builders Foundation’s 25th Anniversary. The Building Hope Gala and Auction presented by California Closets on June 11th drew an enthusiastic crowd of over 300 people. During its first 25 years, Home Builders Foundation (HBF) of Metro Portland has worked with more than 30 organizations to build or improve more than 70 facilities. The facilities serve some of the most vulnerable people in our community, such as shelters for domestic violence and sex trafficking survivors, and tiny home villages for veterans.

The crowd was first treated to a video origin story of Home Builders Foundation, featuring Founder Rudy Kadlub. He reflected “the ability to give back, not just with money but expertise and hands-on work is a wonderful feeling. I am so proud of the home builders here in the Portland Metro region.” Home Builders Foundation began in 1997 as the nonprofit arm of the Home Builders Association of Metro Portland. Over the years, HBF has focused on encouraging employment in home building, and building shelter for the houseless as a national affiliate of HomeAid America.

Bidding for auction items was fast and furious. The highlight of the evening was the auction of a basket of products made in the USA, collected by the leadership of the Home Builders Foundation. Bidding for the basket was announced as a tribute to the late HBF board member Mike Harn, of Anlon Construction. Harn was a local builder, family man, and an Army veteran who passed away after a long battle with cancer earlier this year. The basket to honor a treasured member of the HBF generated $29,000 for HBF’s projects. Former HBF Board Chair Morley was astounded saying “I’ve been to 20+ HBF auctions and never witnessed that kind of a moment honoring Mike Harn.”

Another tribute came with a video to show the St. Johns Village of tiny homes, one of HBF’s projects for the past few years. Operator Do Good Multnomah’s Chris Aiosa credits Home Builders Foundation for helping their vision for the Village come to life. “We were able to build housing like we wanted to build housing. There wasn’t any red tape or bureaucracy. It was just building housing with dignity.” In all, the HBF Building Hope Gala and Auction raised close to $400,000. This first fully in-person event since the pandemic is one of the top three in HBF history. At a time when housing is needed more than ever, the gala proceeds will help HBF begin its next 25 years in a strong position to make an impact.

From Home Builders Foundation:

During its first 25 years, HBF of Metro Portland has worked with more than 30 organizations to build or improve more than 70 facilities. The facilities serve some of the most vulnerable people in our community, such as shelters for domestic violence and sex trafficking survivors, and tiny home villages for veterans. HBF asks members of the home-building community to donate their time and materials to help service providers with their shelter projects.