? by Michael Bonts
Special to
Realty/Builder Connection
The heritage of the Northeast Florida Builders Association isn’t merely striving for affordable housing so every American has the opportunity for home ownership.
Since 1944, the Association has been striving to provide a service to its members and the community. As it has grown, so has its dedication to providing assistance to the less fortunate and working for the betterment of the entire community.
For the fifth straight year the Northeast Florida Builders Association Charitable Foundation donated “Big Bubba,” along with the other large catfish to make the annual charity event for the Downtown Ecumenical Services Council possible.
“We are so proud to once again be involved with the Downtown Ecumenical Services Council in this fun, and very beneficial event,” said Denise Wallace, NEFBA president.
Money raised at this event will go to provide emergency food and financial assistance to local families in need. Last year, the DESC put groceries into the homes of 2,700 people, and helped another 486 families with utility and rent payments.
The work of the foundation reaches far into the community, bettering the lives of everyday people.
Unita Williams found herself with a roof that wouldn’t stop leaking, causing her ceilings to collapse. The great-grandmother lived in fear that her whole world, her home, was virtually coming down around her.
The desperate needs of thousands of elderly homeowners like Williams is why the Northeast Florida Builders Association began Builders Care, a program supported financially by the foundation.
Builders Care provides renovation and repair services for Jacksonville’s elderly and low-income residents, striving to meet the needs of homeowners like Williams.
“We depend largely on the expertise of professionals from the Northeast Florida Builders Association, but will also utilize the skills and talents of volunteers,” said Bill Wilson, Builders Care executive director. “The NEFBA Charitable Foundation has been instrumental in our being able to continue our mission.”
“People Who Care,” the motto of the Northeast Florida Builders Association Charitable Foundation says it all. NEFBA annually contributes money, supplies, labor and goodwill to many First Coast area non-profit organizations and individuals.
NEFBA’s proud tradition of helping was brought to the forefront with the establishment of a charitable foundation expressly for the purpose of assisting those less fortunate, or otherwise deserving, for the betterment of the entire community.
The work of the NEFBA Charitable Foundation crosses county lines, while providing assistance to young and old alike. Over the past 16 years, the NEFBA Charitable Foundation has contributed more than a million dollars to local charities and organizations.
During 1999, for example, NEFBA raised $229,000 for Safe Harbor Boys Home from the sale of a home built by NEFBA member Howard White specifically for the fundraiser. Another $5,000 was raised and donated for a new Ronald McDonald House facility, which would be constructed by NEFBA’s Ted Johnson; $22,000 was donated to daniel and Safe Harbor Boys Home through the fund-raising efforts of the first NEFBA Fall Fashion Show.
The First Coast Women’s Services Center was completely renovated by NEFBA members. The center is a pregnancy crisis center.
Members of the Clay Builders Council were instrumental in constructing the Quigley House, Clay County’s domestic violence shelter as well as conducting their annual Holiday Food Basket drive and distribution, The Clay Council also donated money to charities from its annual golf tournament.
The Nassau Builders Council provided renovations for a Hope House Ministries Center and helped construct pavilions at Fernandina Beach High School and Pop Warner stadium.
During 2000, NEFBA members partnered with HabiJax (the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate) to build 101 new homes for families. More than $150,000 was contributed to charities including $50,000 from the Charitable Gala to Hearts, Hands and Hooves, a non-profit offering equine therapy to physically challenged children.
The Northeast Florida Apartment Council’s annual Charity Softball Game netted $4,400 for Harbor House, a live-in facility for the mentally challenged. Another charitable event raised $10,000 for the Monique Burr Foundation, which helps abused children.
The Clay Builders Council contributed $18,000 to area charities and the Putnam Builders Council made contributions to the Palatka-Putnam County Senior Citizens Center from its annual golf tournament.
During 2001 alone, NEFBA members built 30 HabiJax homes including five two-story homes, a first for Jacksonville. Members of the St. Johns Builders Council raised $15,000 for a young St. Augustine girl with leukemia.
Members of the Clay Builders Council under the direction of Jerry Linder, were instrumental in constructing the Quigley House, Clay County’s domestic violence shelter as well as conducting their annual Holiday Food Basket drive and distribution, chaired by Carol Hayde. The Clay Council also donated $15,000 to charities from its annual golf tournament.
The Nassau Builders Council built an equipment storage building for the local Association of Retarded Citizens, and donated proceeds from their annual golf tournament to various Nassau County organizations.
It’s a tradition etched deep in the community. It’s soon to be 59-year legacy of caring for those who can’t care for themselves and fighting the good fight on some important issues.
The late Dick Baker, a former NEFBA president and one of the founders of the NEFBA Charitable Foundation, coined the phrase, “people helping people.”
Fittingly, an Association project is named for Baker. The Baker-Skinner Youth Park on Jacksonville’s Southside is a tribute to Baker’s love for athletics and children.
Baker died in 1993 while serving as NEFBA’s president.
The Association donated $50,000 to the Jacksonville Zoo to help fund the new 16-acre Plains of East Africa exhibit. The Colobus monkey is part of the exhibit, thanks to the Association’s donation.
“The Charitable Foundation funded the Colobus exhibit. It features a black and white monkey found across the East African forest,” said Richard Dostie, chairman of the NEFBA Charitable Foundation.
The exhibit is part of a master plan to change the scope of the zoo from local to regional status and help Jacksonville become home to a world-class zoological facility.
“The Association’s charitable foundation continually shows a commitment to help Jacksonville build a better community,” said Foundation trustee Fred King.
Theses are just two more “footprints” left by NEFBA. The work has had an enormous effect on the lives of thousands of people for more than half a century.
The projects and causes vary.
The Association recently gave $2,000 to Florida Special Olympics to help fund the state indoor games held in Jacksonville. The recipients were some very special athletes.
The call for community action has always caught the ear of NEFBA members.
The Foundation was one of the first groups to help raise $75,000 in grants to help expand the offices of Traveler’s Aid in Jacksonville.
The work of the Suicide Prevention Center, Tree Hill Nature Center, Ronald McDonald House, Boy Scouts – Camp Echokotee, the Association for Retarded Citizens and the Normandy Village Community Pavilion are just a few of the more than 50 community groups and countless individuals that have benefited from donation for the foundation.
“Project X” was one of the most touching projects ever undertaken by the Association membership. The Association converted a garage into a playroom for a foster child with the AIDS virus.
Done without much publicity and little fanfare, the project brought members together to make a real difference in the life of a little girl who had suffered years of physical and sexual abuse.
Some of the larger projects call for vast amounts of time and teamwork. NEFBA has been ready to tackle these much-needed projects.
The Association was recognized for renovating a dilapidated house on the Northside into the Family Cooperative Learning and Development Infant Day Care Center.
The center provides day care for children of working parents. The house was completely rebuilt and the Association assisted in obtaining the proper state and local permits.
As a result of the project, the Junior League of Jacksonville and Family Care Connections awarded their sixth annual “Week of the Working Parent Corporate Award” to the Association’s Charitable Foundation two years ago.
The Earl Johnson Park Picnic Pavilion was also chosen as a community service project. The pavilion was built as part of a major revamping of the park. Members also re-graded the road after it had eroded due to storm weather runoff from the soccer fields.
The NEFBA student chapter at the University of North Florida is also committed to serving the community. They have worked on numerous projects including building an outdoor gazebo at the UNF Day Care Center.
At Hubbard House, a refuge for abused women, the chapter remodeled a room where the children of battered women can play, read or watch TV and play video games.
The Northeast Florida Apartment Council raises money for Harbor House, a residential home for mentally handicapped adults, with a unique softball game between apartment industry teams. The NEFBA Sales and Marketing Council has adopted a teddy bear program in cooperation with the Sheriff’s Office that has been truly successful.
Playing golf for a good reason has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity in North Florida.
The Clay Builders Council annually gives to Children’s Haven and the Food Pantry through their yearly golf tournament and auction. The Nassau County Builders Council is very visible when it comes to community projects, as is the Putnam Builders Council.
The St. Johns Builders Council took up the cause for the abused in their county – A Second Chance Ranch for abused boys and the Betty Griffin House for battered spouses are projects funded by the council.
The recipients of the Association’s charitable work are both individuals and community agencies, trying to work with limited resources.
It’s time, it’s money and it’s a lot of dedicated, caring members who when called upon to help will do so willingly and with that special caring attitude.
“That’s one of the great things about being a member of the Association,” said NEFBA President Denise Wallace.
“This is a very caring group, not just about the industry, but about the community. It’s been shown time and time again through the work of the Charitable Foundation and councils,”
The elderly have always been able to rely on NEFBA for help. When Our House, an Alzheimer’s day care center, needed complete remodeling, the Association and President Glenn Harrell came through.
The good work won an accolade from former President Ronald Reagan. Past NEFBA President H.R. “Buddy” James went to Washington and met the president. He received an award on behalf of the Association for the work at Our House.
The Association’s work with HABIJAX and Habitat for Humanity has also won national recognition. NEFBA members also came to the rescue of elderly citizens as part of the Helping the Elderly Attain Repairs Today, a program of Lutheran Services.
One 87-year old woman was faced with no hot water, relying on a fireplace for heat, using an unsafe stove and living in a home with holes in the wall. Because of a grant from the Foundation, volunteers repaired the home.