Good Neighbor Awards honor charitable builders in Northeast Florida
Northeast Florida Good Neighbor Awards
????So, for the fourth year, the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) and Florida Homebuyer Jacksonville are pleased to recognize such efforts through the annual Good Neighbor Awards.
????This year, 16 companies are being honored, including several first-time winners. Despite facing a challenging real-estate market, these organizations have contributed funds, volunteer hours and professional expertise to an array of important causes.?
????Executives and employees have been busy wielding tools, running races, assembling care packages, collecting school supplies and serving in organizational leadership roles. Their efforts have touched nearly every major nonprofit in the region.
????And of course without the support of trade partners, who donate supplies, products and often labor, many of these good works would not have been possible.
????The following summaries only partially describe what the selected companies accomplished in 2007. But even this abbreviated list makes it clear that the hearts and minds of those who build Jacksonville’s homes are truly in the right place.
Brylen Homes
GOOD WORKS: Brylen Homes participated in the Nassau County initiative, refurbishing Nassau House, a center for at-risk youth. Company employees also took part in several volunteer workdays to build ramps for the disabled at the center. Brylen donates funds, time, labor and materials to NEFBA’s Builders Care, which rehabilitates homes for low-income, elderly or disabled owners. It also partners with Sisler Johnston Interior Design to provide furnishings for Builders Care projects. In addition, the company makes regular donations to the American Heart Association, the Special Olympics, Daniel (formerly Daniel Memorial, which offers mental health and social service programs for children and families) and Community Hospice. Plus, company employees donate food baskets and toys to those less fortunate during the holidays.
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY: “In today’s challenging economic climate, it is more important than ever to stretch out a hand to those in our community who need our help.”
CornerStone Homes
GOOD WORKS: CornerStone Homes partnered with NEFBA’s Builders Care to provide painting and drywall services during a home renovation for a deserving family of eight. The company also assisted in the NEFBA Sales and Marketing Council’s Builders Care Workday to refurbish the former Parks and Recreation Building in Jacksonville Beach. The building now serves as the Beaches extension of ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens) of St. Johns, which provides adult daycare and other services for people with developmental disabilities. CornerStone has also helped Daniel with improvements to its facilities and has sponsored the organization’s holiday party.
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY: “CornerStone Homes encourages its employees to support community service organizations through time and financial contributions. The team at CornerStone believes helping friends, neighbors and colleagues makes the community a better place to live.”
The Davidson Companies
GOOD WORKS: The Davidson Companies, encompassing Davidson Realty, Davidson Development and Davidson Property Management, exceeded its goal and raised $6,000 in the March of Dimes Walk America event. In addition, with 82 participants, it was recognized as having the most walkers in the annual event. The Davidson Companies also hosted the third annual Davidson Realty 5K run at World Golf Village and sponsored a golf tournament to raise money for Community Alliance Funding Education (CAF?, which was co-founded by company President Sherry Davidson to assist public schools in northwest St. Johns County. Partnering with Cell Phones for Soldiers, Davidson Realty collected hundreds of used cell phones, which were converted into prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops stationed overseas. And when an employee’s husband was deployed to Iraq, the company compiled and sent care packages to his 125-person unit. In addition employees prepared, delivered and served meals to residents of St. Francis House in St. Augustine, which provides services to the homeless.
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY: “Caring is one of the core values of The Davidson Companies, and the organization is a strong believer in sharing its success by helping others.”
Drees Homes
GOOD WORKS: For the fourth time, Drees Homes donated a home to be sold during the Annual Great WJCT Television Auction to benefit Jacksonville’s PBS affiliate. One hundred percent of the proceeds, totaling $45,000, went to WJCT. Drees has also partnered with Habitat for Humanity and its affiliates to build homes for the needy.
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY: “Nationally and locally, community service is a high-priority for this family-based company. The core traditions and values Drees Homes has upheld for 80 years began with a vision to continually improve not only the homes we build but also the communities that we belong to.”
D.R. Horton Homes
GOOD WORKS: D.R. Horton bolstered National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Komen Race for the Cure with a V.I.P. Realtor event that resulted in significant donations to both worthy causes. The company sponsored an annual toy drive for Daniel and took part in several NEFBA’s Builders Care home renovation projects. During the holidays, employees participated in the Adopt-a-Grandma program and sponsored an Angel Tree for the Salvation Army’s project to benefit needy children.
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY: “For D.R. Horton, building communities means more than building homes. It means strengthening families, helping the less fortunate and bolstering organizations that help to improve the region’s quality of life.”
ICI Homes
GOOD WORKS: ICI Homes, as part of a NEFBA’s Builders Care project, helped complete the first Tony Boselli Youth Learning Center in 2007. The center is a project of The Boselli Foundation, formed by the former Jacksonville Jaguar to help at-risk youth. Employees also spent time as mentors and partners in education, participated in Walk for the Cure and donated time and resources to Betty Griffin House, Daniel, Second Harvest Food Bank, the Trinity Rescue Mission, the Jacksonville Humane Society, Toys 4 Tots and the March of Dimes.
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY: “From the chairman and CEO of the company down, ICI’s mantra has always been to give more back to the community than we take. The philosophy is embraced by all employees.”
Laterra Links/Martin & Bateman
GOOD WORKS: Laterra Links hosts a number of charitable events, including the Celebrity Golf Shootout to benefit the St. Johns Council on Aging, a fundraiser for the Women’s Council of Realtors to assist the 17-year-old son of a member who has lymphoma and a banquet to raise funds for a St. Johns Summer Swim League team. Bateman & Martin has also sponsored and volunteered for the American Heart Association’s Heart Ball, the National Kidney Foundation Golf Tournament and Habitat for Humanity.
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY: “Bateman & Martin’s Laterra Links believes in bringing people together at its community to support and aid organizations through donations, auctions and special events. Employees organize and participate in every event and staff members are willingly involved in the planning, implementation, fundraising and follow-up efforts of each event.”
Matovina & Company
GOOD WORKS: Matovina & Company served as volunteer project coordinator for the Youth Crisis Center’s Touchstone Village, a 40-bed facility for teenagers aging out of foster care. The company also recruited donations and volunteers in preparation for construction of the center. In addition Matovina raised more than $10,000 for NEFBA’s Builders Care and donated funds for NEFBA’s Builders Care, the Trinity Rescue Mission and Ability Housing, formerly Grove House, which specializes in building homes for the disabled.
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY: “All that we have comes from God, and we are fortunate to be able to give back what He has given us.”
Mercedes Homes
GOOD WORKS: Mercedes Homes built a home for Habitat for Humanity of St. Augustine/St. Johns County and, along with trade partners, donated $1,000 toward a gift card for the homeowner to use to buy furniture. The company also made financial contributions to the Bartram Trail Bear Affair, which benefits Bartram Trail High School athletics; the Arnold Tritt Scholarship Fund, named for the former executive director of NEFBA; and NEFBA’s Builders Care. And Mercedes employees participated in a Thanksgiving food drive for Daniel, filling four large laundry baskets of items.
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY: “Mercedes Homes’ motto is Do It RITE: Respect, Integrity, Trust and Ethics. We hold these values to every aspect of our company, including community service.”
Palencia, A Hines Community
GOOD WORKS: Palencia, Hines’s master-planned community in St. Johns County, presented a series of Holiday Show Homes that raised more than $35,000 for Builders Care, the Trinity Rescue Mission, the Jacksonville Humane Society and St. Francis House, a center providing shelter and rehabilitative services for the homeless. Palencia’s builders also teamed up with NEFBA and St. Johns River Community College to sponsor a “Builders Youth Day,” during which more than 500 high-school students from throughout the region learned about apprenticeship opportunities. The community also sponsored an Earth Day event with Mill Creek Elementary School and Publix while holding eco-tours of the newly opened Tolomoto River Boardwalk. In addition, Palenica gave away more than $5,000 in golf certificates and other gifts to charities and continued an environmental stewardship program with the St. Johns County Cooperative Extension Service.
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY:? “Palencia, as one of the most renowned developments in St. Johns County, is sensitive to the needs of its neighbors. Whether it’s the donation of time, materials or money, Palencia makes an effort to ensure that its success is reflected in its generosity toward local organizations and civic groups.”
The PARC Group
GOOD WORKS: The PARC Group, through its foundation, supports more than 50 helping organizations each year including the American Cancer Society, the Boy Scouts of Northeast Florida, Boys and Girls Club of America, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Fresh Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement of Northeast Florida, Learn to Read, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Safe Harbour Boys Home, Seamark Ranch, The Boselli Foundation, Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital, Young Life and Project SOS, which advocates abstinence education for teenagers.??
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY: “The PARC Group Foundation supports local charities and not-for-profit organizations that provide services that are vital to the health and improvement of the citizens in the local area and around the country. The organizations chosen are those that provide for an improved way of life, thus an improvement to society.”
The Pineapple Corporation
GOOD WORKS: The Pineapple Corporation was a sponsor of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s largest fundraising event, Moonlight and Martinis, and also supported the organization’s Great Strides, 65 Roses Golf Tournament and Tailgate for a Cure events. In addition, the company donated time and funds to the American Cancer Society, Junior Achievement, the Junior League of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville School for Children with Autism and The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Total financial contributions for 2007 totaled more than $34,000.
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY: “The Pineapple Corporation believes giving back to the community is important to being a good corporate citizen and it strives to improve others’ quality of life.”
Providence Homes
GOOD WORKS: Providence Homes helped renovate a home through NEFBA’s Builders Care and broke ground last July on its third House for HOPE in St. John’s County. The sale of the home generated more than $35,000 and benefited HOPE International, a global, non-profit organization that provides micro-loans to people in poverty-stricken countries. Providence Homes is actively involved in many initiatives focusing on health, youth development, nation-building and leadership projects centered around faith. Company President Bill Cellar has traveled extensively throughout Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, working with a wide range of non-profit organizations. Locally, beneficiaries have included the I.M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless, Trinity Rescue Mission, The Salvation Army, the United Way of North Florida, the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, the International Community Foundation and the Lemuel Organization.
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY: “As a team we engage in community programs that will help serve those in need both locally and globally.? Our employees are deeply committed to making the communities in which we live and work better places. Giving back and supporting those in need is a commitment from each employee.”
Pulte Homes
GOOD WORKS: Pulte Homes sponsored its fifth annual Pick An Angel golf tournament, which raised more than $30,000 for the company’s Pick An Angel Foundation. The foundation supports the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. Pulte was also a $25,000 sponsor of the 2007 Jacksonville Cycling Classic, which benefits Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House. Employees helped organize the event and worked water stations.
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY: “Pulte Homes believes every successful corporation has a responsibility to use its resources and influence to create opportunity and to have a positive impact on the world. Pulte’s corporate giving is focused in four areas closely linked with the company mission: housing, education, environment and health and human services, and personal philanthropy by employees is encouraged.”
Ryland Homes
GOOD WORKS: From January through May, Ryland Homes hosted a monthly charity “Celebrity Sizzle” cooking event at a different Ryland community and presented a $500 check to a public school teacher to be given to a favorite charity. Schools and charities that benefited included Mandarin High School and Horse Sense and Sensibility; Mill Creek Elementary School and the St. Augustine Humane Society; Allen Nease High School and the Susan Komen Foundation; Clay High School and Lifeworks Jacksonville; and New Berlin Elementary School and the Jacksonville Humane Society. Ryland employees also raised more than $1,200 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Light the Night” walk and conducted a holiday food drive to distribute non-perishables to the Food Pantry of Green Cove Springs. And employees purchased, wrapped and delivered holiday gifts to 14 underprivileged children and participated in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program.
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY: “Ryland Homes believes the more it gives back to the community, the more the city will thrive. Giving helps Ryland’s customers, as well as its employees and its neighbors.”
Standard Pacific Homes
GOOD WORKS: Standard Pacific’s employees took part in a NEFBA’s Builders Care program and participated in the “Sister to Sister: Every Woman Has a Heart” campaign for women’s heart health. Employees helped plan and promote the event and sponsored a booth. Employees also took part in the NEFBA Sales & Marketing Council’s Thanksgiving food drive, sponsored a child during Christmas and contributed funds to Daniel.
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY: “It is our belief that a solid foundation is a necessity, not only when building a home but also when building a community. By building homes, we create neighbors. By building a foundation of service in our community, we enhance the lives of these neighbors.”
Taylor Morrison
GOOD WORKS: Taylor Morrison donated more than $13,000 to local schools, nearly half of it during the company’s “Color Us Committed” art shows at local elementary schools. Additional funds were used to create a school mascot and cover the outdoor courtyard at Pacetti Bay Middle School. The company has also participated in projects with NEFBA’s Builders Care, the City Rescue Mission, the Down Syndrome Association, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and HabiJax, the Northeast Florida affiliate of Habitat for Humanity.
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY: “Taylor Morrison believes in giving back to the communities it serves and does so through contributing time and participating in fundraising activities and donations to local schools and nonprofit organizations.”
Woodside Homes
GOOD WORKS: Partnering with NEFBA’s Builders Care, subcontractors and vendors, Woodside Homes renovated an old woodshop and garage to create a “Rewards Room” for the residents of the Nassau Juvenile Residential Facility. The company also donated money, materials and labor to other Builders Care projects throughout the year. Woodside made financial contributions to Young Life, the Arnold Tritt Scholarship Fund, Angel Works, Daniel and Adopt-a-Grandma. The company also assisted in HabiJax’s “Raise the Roof” project for the Trinity Rescue Mission’s Women’s and Children’s Center.
CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY: “Woodside Homes believes wholeheartedly that giving back to the community is more than a corporate responsibility. It is the pulse of their company. Together, the Woodside Homes team participates throughout the year in philanthropic activities helping those less fortunate achieve their dreams.”
YOU’RE INVITED
Good Neighbor Awards will be presented at a gala luncheon on Wednesday, October 29th at The Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. Call 904-724-3330 for ticket information.