'HOUSE OF HUGS' BENEFITS TRIO OF LOCAL CHARITIES

Silliman Homes CitySide, a leading builder of luxury homes, has built a “House of Hugs,” a four-bedroom, 2,594-square-foot custom home, which will be sold and the proceeds presented to three local nonprofit organizations.

Those organizations are Florida Hospital for Children, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida and the Greater Orlando Builders Association (GOBA) Foundation. 

“Giving back to the community and bringing hope to our neighbors is a passion of mine,” says Bill Silliman, president of Silliman Homes CitySide. Silliman, a past GOBA president, was recently named a “Champ of the Week” by the Orlando Sentinel for the project.

“I’m so thankful for all the support we’ve received from our contractors and United Legacy Bank,” adds Silliman. “Without these partnerships, building the House of Hugs would not be possible.” 

Marla Silliman, senior executive officer at Florida Hospital for Children, happens to be married to the builder.

“Florida Hospital for Children serves almost one in every two children that need care in this community,” she says. ”We rely heavily on philanthropy to accomplish our goals and services. We’re thankful for generous donations like this one, which allow us to remain one of the premier hospitals for children in the nation.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida has been giving hope and opportunity to at-risk children since 1944. The organization provides services to more than 13,000 children between the ages of 6 and 18 every year. 

Its mission: “To inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.”

The GOBA Foundation is the charitable arm of the builders association. Chartered in 1985, it’s dedicated to raising funds for organizations that help children and families in need, and is responsible for donations of more than $1 million to youth-related charities and scholarship funds across Central Florida.  

The House of Hugs is located in the established Orwin Manor neighborhood, at 1118 Ayrshire Street in Orlando. 

In fact, Silliman Homes CitySide is well known for finding hidden gems in such established neighborhoods throughout the region. It locates overlooked homesites, identifies older homes ready for demolition and builds stunning new homes with innovative custom design options. 

As a result, all of Central Florida’s prime locations are back in play for new construction: Winter Park, Maitland, Windermere, College Park, Dr. Phillips and more. 

For more information, visit sillimanhomes.com.