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.
HBF Executive Director Brenda Ketah honors the foundation’s founder Rudy Kadlub
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.
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.
Attendees enjoy the in-person benefit.
The guests walk to the large auction tent featuring 25th Anniversary theme colors of silver, white, and Tiffany blue.
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.Â
Portland, OR. Led by Honorary Chair Wally Remmers of West Hills Land Development, Home Builders Foundation raised a record amount to help end homelessness. A welcome reception found supporters like Beverly & Tom Liesy visiting with Bill Hupfer and Ursla Burdda. The event, held on April 14th at The Nines Hotel in downtown Portland, raised a record $410,000 to help build and renovate shelters for those experiencing homelessness throughout the Portland metro area. (Photo credit, Aaron Courter Photography)
HBF Executive Director Brenda Ketah presents Honorary Chair Wally Remmers with an award recognizing his dedication and support of Home Builders Foundation.
Eric & Jennifer Post pose with HBF Board Member Mike Harn and his wife Brianna
HBF Vice President Darci Fredricks holds her bid card up for VIP tickets to Jackson Browne this summer at Edgefield, courtesy of NW Natural
Ben & Stefanie Friberg celebrate on stage after winning the Standard TV & Appliance Golden Ticket drawing.
Led by Honorary Chair Wally Remmers, owner of West Hills Land Development, this year’s Building Hope Gala & Auction was supported by leaders in the home building industry, including Metropolitan Land Group, Polygon Northwest, DR Horton, Emerio Design, Everett Custom Homes, West Hills Homes NW, Parr Lumber, and many more. Other philanthropic leaders such as Tim Boyle of Columbia Sportswear, Jeff and Linda Hargens of Northwest Earthmovers Inc., Randy and Naquel VanLant of Macadam Floor & Design, and Bob and Peggy Berwick of IWP also supported Home Builders Foundation with significant contributions to the event.
The Building Hope Gala & Auction drew a record 450 attendees to The Nines Hotel for a night of fundraising. Attendees had the opportunity to bid packages that included trips to Italy, Hawaii, Canada, and California, as well as unique experiences such as a duck hunt at Wally Remmers’ private duck club, a sunset cruise aboard a luxury yacht, and courtside section tickets to a Trailblazer game.
Home Builders Foundation highlighted its partnership with the Good Neighbor Center, a shelter for homeless families with children in Tigard, during its special appeal. Home Builders Foundation recruited Mountainwood Homes to serve as the Builder Captain for this small project which added a three hundred square foot addition to the existing shelter, which is now used exclusively for children’s programming. Home Builders Foundation raised an incredible $114,000 during the special appeal thanks to the support of attendees as well as donors who were not in attendance.
Funds raised at the Building Hope Gala & Auction benefit Home Builders Foundation, a Portland-based nonprofit that builds and remodels shelters for those experiencing homelessness in the Portland metro area. Home Builders Foundation focuses on building and renovating shelters for those who are most vulnerable when homeless, including families with children, youth, and domestic violence survivors. Home Builders Foundation completes shelter builds and renovations by leveraging donations from companies in the home building industry and providing cash grants to shelter providers to complete projects.
This year’s Home Builders Foundation shelter projects include the completion of the Dorothy Lemelson House and New Meadows Program, which will provide supportive housing for at-risk youth aging out of foster care. Home Builders Foundation will also partner with Just Compassion of East Washington County to remodel a facility that will host a day services center for adults experiencing homelessness. Community of Hope, a shelter for homeless single parent families, will also receive assistance with renovations, courtesy of Home Builders Foundation.
Home Builders Foundation would like to say a special thank you to Wally Remmers and his team for the incredible leadership and support provided to the event. Home Builders Foundation would also like to thank all of the attendees, donors, volunteers, and the 2018 Auction Committee for their contributions to the event.
Home Builders Foundation would like to recognize all of the companies that sponsored this year’s Building Hope Gala & Auction: Standard TV & Appliance, ProBuild-Builders FirstSource, Performance Insulation, Everett Custom Homes, West Hills Homes NW, Northwest Earthmovers Inc., Milgard Windows, NW Natural, ARA Newmark, Sussman Shank LLP, OrePac, California Closets, Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo, First American Title, Lakeside Lumber, Montgomery & Graham, Bank of America, Medallion Industries, Kaiser Permanente, Clean It Up Mark!, Umpqua Bank, TerraFirma Foundation Systems, Far West Credit Services, Community Newspapers, Overhead Door Company of Portland, and LifeSYTLest. Table sponsored included: Anlon Construction, Bank of the West, Directors Mortgage, IWP, New American Funding, Parr Lumber, Professional Women in Building Council, Rodda Paint, Stafford Land Company, The Management Trust – Northwest, and Tiffany Home Design.
The Home Builders Foundation, established in 1997, is the charity of choice for the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland. Their mission is to build transitional shelter for families and individuals experiencing homelessness in our community and provide construction related educational opportunities for individuals interested in pursuing a career in the home building industry. Visit www.BuildHopePDX.org for more info.
About Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland
The Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland (HBAMP) is the leading voice for the residential building industry, representing more than 1,200 builders, remodelers and industry professionals. HBAMP is the most nationally awarded HBA in the country, the fastest growing and the fifth largest overall. Since 1942, HBAMP has worked on behalf of the industry to promote diverse, affordable housing options to area residents. The HBAMP produces and manages many outstanding programs and tours in the Portland area, including: The premier NW Natural Street of Dreams, the Tour of Remodeled Homes, the Fall and Spring Portland Home & Garden Shows and the Ultimate Open House. For more information, visit www.hbapdx.org.
Portland, OR. Home Builders Foundation (HBF) raised $267,000 at its 20th Annual Building Hope Gala & Auction. The donations will help renovate shelters for those experiencing homelessness in the Portland metro area. Heidi Lowrey, Lindsey Hammon, Beth Farnum, Alison Jedan, Marie Boatsman, Laura Holt, and Gia Waugh enjoyed the evening. HBF Executive Director Ken Cowdery explained, “We believe that a night on the street can be a cold and dangerous place for a woman, and a car should never be a place where a family spends the night. That’s why this auction is so critically important to our mission.” The Building Hope Gala & Auction on April 8th attracted residential builders, remodelers and others associated with the home building industry who donate and bid on auction items. It also serves as a way to educate the public about solutions to homelessness. (Photo credit, Aaron Courter)
George Lorance starts the bidding off for Rudy Kadlub’s tie, which raised $4,000 for Home Builders Foundation.
“We are a big part of the solution.” Cowdery explains. “We’ve built, remodeled and expanded shelter facilities with a retail value exceeding $8 million where nearly 550 people find shelter each year.”
In addition to making financial donations, home builders, remodelers, suppliers and manufacturers donate or heavily discount labor and materials for construction projects, amounting to nearly 50 percent of the project’s retail value. “We save shelters hundreds of thousands of dollars in construction costs.” Cowdery notes. “That means we can build bigger shelters with more bed capacity because of these savings.”
“We are motivated by the belief that every individual has worth and human dignity, and that shelter is a necessity of life. We could not do what we do without the support of the residential home building industry.” he adds.
From Home Builders Foundation:
Home Builders Foundation was established in 1997 by the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland. Its mission is to build and renovate transitional shelters for families and individuals experiencing homelessness in the Portland metro area. Home Builders Foundation is a chapter member of HomeAid America, which supports shelter development throughout the United States. Visit BuildHopePDX.org for more info.
NONPROFIT BENEFIT TICKET GIVEAWAYS!
Sign up for our free weekly highlights for the chance to win two tickets terrific nonprofit events! If you "like" us on facebook, or sign up for our weekly news highlights, you'll be entered to win! Sign up today!
Look for another ticket giveaway soon! Are you a nonprofit looking to bolster your publicity with facebook and tweets? Email us and we'll run a contest with tickets to your event! [email protected]
