For 20 years, the BATC Foundation has tapped the talents and resources of the member builders, remodelers, and suppliers of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities to help families who otherwise might not have the opportunity to have a safe and affordable home. The Foundation builds, remodels and repairs homes for Twin Cities families in need, often in partnership with local charities and organizations.
The Foundation couldn’t do this work without the support of the thousands of people who donate $5.00 to tour the Dream Homes and Dream Remodeled Homes during the Parade of HomesSM every spring and fall. Last year, visitors to the Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase® raised more than $100,000 to complete projects like these:
An adaptable home for an injured war veteran
Army SPC Marco Solt is a Brooklyn Center native whose vehicle encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on his first deployment in Afghanistan. Marco lost both of his legs in the explosion and now uses prosthetics and his wheelchair to get around.
The BATC Foundation is proud to be partnering with Homes for Our Troops to bring Marco and his wife Gena a brand new, specially adapted new home. Each home built by Homes for Our Troops is equipped with over 40 special adaptations including widened doorways, lowered countertops, roll-under cook tops and sinks, all designed to give veterans like Marco full wheelchair accessibility. We are grateful to our Build Partner Accent Homes who has managed the construction of Marco and Gena’s home, which began last spring.
Giving a group home a makeover
You are also helping make dreams come true for the residents and staff of Bluebird House, a group home operated by Homeward Bound. Homeward Bound was formed by a group of parents who needed a high level of medical care for their children, but wanted a more home-like atmosphere than a nursing home could provide. Today, Homeward Bound operates three Intermediate Care Facilities and 14 group homes in the Twin Cities area for disabled children and adults.
The four young men who live at Bluebird House needed more space so Homeward Bound contacted the BATC Foundation to see if we could help. A typical 1960’s rambler, none of the rooms in Bluebird House are large enough to accommodate all the residents along with their medical equipment. Through our Build Partner, Vujovich Design Build, we are adding a bedroom, family room and additional storage space so the residents of Bluebird House can enjoy a meal together or watch a movie with each other and visiting family members.
These are just two of several projects that the financial support of your Dream Home donation helps to make a reality. Building heart in housing means that we are able to make a difference for families like Marco’s, and the young men who make Bluebird House their home. Thank you.
The BATC Foundation, the charitable arm of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities, is celebrating 20 years of help and hope in 2015.
