HOMEAID ORANGE COUNTY SUPPORTERS
"MAKE-A-WISH" COME TRUE
A Unique HomeAid Playhouse Finds Its Home with a Very Special Little Girl:
| IRVINE, CA (May 28, 2005) |
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(From Left) Robert Williams, Tina Newberry, "Savannah," Lidia Karina Urias, Brian Muehlbauer, and in the front Susan Huang, all from KTGY Group, Inc.
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Savannah, like all of the Make-A-Wish Foundation kids is challenged by a life-threatening medical condition. In Savannah's case, doctors diagnosed Savannah with sarcoma, a rare type of cancer made even more exceptional by the fact that the cancer was found - in her young heart.
But, for one day last month Savannah forgot all about her health challenges as she eagerly watched a 100-foot Bragg crane maneuver her dream playhouse into the back yard.
It all began last fall when Savannah and her family were touring HomeAid Orange County's Project Playhouse, held annually at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. While wandering through the miniature villages Savannah fell in love with a diminutive thatched hut - ideal for a seven-year-old girl's island fantasies.
However, there was a problem…Savannah's dream house had been sold at auction and since it was a one-of-a-kind structure made especially for HomeAid Orange County's annual fundraiser- Project Playhouse - there was no other playhouse like it - anywhere.
Not to be detoured by this little hitch, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the organization responsible for filling Savannah's wish, went to work figuring out how they could get Savannah her playhouse, no easy task since there was no other playhouse in the world just like that one.
The foundation's first step was to reach out to HomeAid Orange County, the nonprofit responsible for having the playhouse originally built. In turn, HomeAid, the Building Industry Association's charitable outreach agreed to do what they could and contacted the original playhouse builder, KTGY Group, Inc. Ultimately, the principals decided to make this one exception, and together they would design and build a brand new playhouse exactly like the one that had won Savannah's heart last autumn.
Long-time supporter KTGY Group, Inc., the tropical-themed playhouse builder agreed to re-build their original design in concert with another local builder and HomeAid supporter, Standard Pacific Homes. The two builders recruited a dozen trades and suppliers that generously gave of their time and treasure so that this special young lady could have her wish.
Savannah's playhouse now shines at the center of this little girl's backyard and is the manifestation of the cooperative spirit of the nonprofit worlds and the Building Industry Association that came together so someone less fortunate could benefit.
HomeAid Orange County was established by the Building Industry Association in 1989. Charged with the mission of building and renovating shelters for Orange County's homeless, HomeAid has completed 40 shelter developments to date with three more in various stages of planning and construction. In a typical year, HomeAid Orange County provides safe housing for more than 6,000 homeless men, women and children. For more information call (949) 553-9510 or click www.homeaidoc.org
  
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