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The Builders Outreach Foundation...Making a Difference One Home at a Time
The Builders Outreach Foundation, the charitable arm of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), has been making a difference one home at a time by constructing homes for low-income families since 1994, mostly in the Frogtown area of St. Paul. The Foundation has completed homes within a few block radius for over a dozen families who otherwise would not be able to enjoy the benefits of homeownership, helping to improve the neighborhood in the process. The Foundation’s most recent home, constructed with Builder Partner Aulik & Associates, was sold in November to a single woman seeking an affordable route to home ownership.
The Foundation’s work in Frogtown has replaced vacant lots and dilapidated housing stock with well-constructed new homes for homeowners who take pride in their residence and their neighborhood.
“The City of Saint Paul is thankful that the Builders Outreach Foundation has chosen to bring their work to the Frogtown area,” said St. Paul Mayor Chris?Coleman. “Now families that otherwise couldn't afford to own are proudly taking care of their new homes and improving the entire neighborhood."
In addition to its work in Frogtown, the Foundation has partnered with other local charities and agencies across the region, including Habitat for Humanity and Homeward Bound. These projects traded the building community’s expertise for the joy and satisfaction of helping to serve the community. Their newest partnership is with Project for Pride in Living, which is building affordable homes on the old Lowell?Curve school site. With Builder Partner Lake Country Builders, the Foundation will complete one of the dozen or so homes at the site.
This year, the?Foundation took on a completely new project in conjunction with the Parade of Homes Remodelers ShowcaseSM dubbed Operation Dream Makeover. In last fall’s Guidebook we introduced you to Kyle Anderson, a Marine who was injured while serving in Iraq. All winter many volunteers have helped renovate Kyle’s home to be more comfortable and liveable for him and his family, and now you can tour his home and help the Foundation in the process.
Much of the Foundation’s work is the result of an incredible amount of time and energy given by many, many BATC members. But that’s not enough to accomplish all that the Foundation wants to do, so they also rely on a variety of other funding sources. One of their most popular fund-raising programs has been the Parade of HomesSM Dream Home project. Visitors to a few select luxury homes and remodeled homes during all of our Parade of?HomesSM tours are asked to pay a small $5.00, tax deductible admission fee at the door. Last year the Dream Home project raised nearly $50,000, and we hope to top that in 2008.
This Spring we invite you to help the Foundation accomplish its goals by simply visiting Kyle Anderson’s home in Inver Grove Heights, or our second Dream Remodeled Home in Edinaand making your donation of $5.00 at the door.
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