FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ray Weiss or Jessica Tiller
443-451-7144 or rweiss@weisspr.com
Baltimore, MD (11/9/16) — The first house to be renovated as part of a new partnership between The Arc Baltimore and the Home Builders Care Foundation (HBCF) of Maryland opened Thursday, November 10, at 3:30 p.m.
An Open House marked the renovation – which included the complete transformation of a kitchen and dining room so that they are accessible to the three individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who live in the home.
“We are so impressed by the generosity and quality craftsmanship of the member companies in the Home Builders Care Foundation that participated in this renovation,” says Stephen H. Morgan, Executive Director of The Arc Baltimore. “They transformed this home and made it truly accessible to the people who live there for the daily tasks of cooking and cleaning and doing laundry – things most of us take for granted.”
The total value of the renovation was nearly $56,000. HBCF member companies providing in-kind contributions included: T.W. Ellis (www.twellis.com/); John H Myers & Son (www.jhmson.com/); Cosentino North America (www.silestoneusa.com/); Conestoga Tile (www.conestogatile.com/); Smart Energy Systems (www.smartenergysystems.biz/); Garrison Plumbing (www.garrison-plumbing.com/); The Rachuba Group (www.rachuba.com/); Bob Ward Companies (www.bobward.com); Humpty Dumpsters; and SBL Electric.
Tim Ellis, Builder Captain and a member of HBCF’s board of directors, notes, “At T.W. Ellis, we are fortunate and blessed, and we are truly thankful for that. It allows us the privilege of working on projects like this for a great organization like The Arc Baltimore.”
Since its inception, HBCF has made in-kind contributions totaling more than $20 million worth of materials and labor to projects which assist the homeless and others at risk in communities throughout Maryland. (www.hbcf.org) The Foundation is affiliated with the Maryland Building Industry Association (www.marylandbuilders.org) and serves nearly 85% of the state. HBCF’s involvement in projects typically can save its partner agencies approximately 30% to 50% on development and construction costs by utilizing professional pro bono labor and in-kind donations from suppliers.
The Arc Baltimore’s Community Living Division assists more than 280 people in homes and apartments in Baltimore City and County. These include people who are renting or buying their own homes, live with others in an agency-owned or rented home, or live in another’s home and receive supports from that person.
Supports provided by The Arc Baltimore – which range from cooking, cleaning, and laundry to personal hygiene and transportation – are individually tailored and provided on a full-or part-time basis, depending on both needs and preferences. Individuals are supported so they can live as independently as possible and enjoy their friends, family, hobbies, and other interests.
In all, The Arc Baltimore currently supports more than 6,000 Baltimore City and Baltimore County residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Now that renovations to the Rosedale house are complete, HBCF and The Arc Baltimore will meet to decide what house will be renovated next.
