"The ultimate expression of generosity is not in giving of what you have, but in giving of who you are."

This essence of this quote was recently brought to life at the Village of Hope, a HomeAid Orange County shelter development where over 200 volunteers generously gave of their time and talent to help those in need.

The Orange County Chapter of the Building Industry Association (BIA) led by its Philanthropy Committee and others - including HomeAid supporter, Bank of America, came together to landscape and provide needed labor for the Village of Hope. This shelter, the largest undertaking for HomeAid Orange County to date, will serve homeless families — primarily coming from motels and other Orange County Rescue Mission facilities. The Orange County Rescue Mission, the care provider for this shelter development, will provide refuge and supportive programs including daycare, learning programs, and educational and vocation training.

BIA employee volunteers and community groups organized by Denise Kennedy and Philly Pemberton spent six hours at Village of Hope, landscaping, moving furniture and upgrading the facilities so that homeless residents — expected to move in early this summer — will have a more comfortable aesthetically pleasing place to call 'home.

The landscape materials donated by Valley Crest Landscape were strategically placed throughout the village adding new life to this closed Tustin Marine Corp Air Station located on Redhill Avenue between Edinger & Barranca Parkway where the Village of Hope is located. Valley Crest also provided manpower to supervise the project. Volunteers were supplied with an overall landscape plan designed by Collaborative West

The Village of Hope development led by Builder Captains Oltmans Construction, William Lyon Homes, John Laing Homes, Lennar Communities, the Cheesecake Factory, and Laing Luxury, is slated to become a national model of successful base re-use planning exemplifying the multi-entity collaboration model at the core of this project.

HomeAid Orange County, the Building Industry Association's philanthropic arm and the largest provider of shelters for Orange County's homeless — is serving as the liaison for this development. The proven success of the HomeAid model is based on its working in partnership with builders and their trades, service providers, community leaders, volunteers and government officials to unite them in a common goal of building dignified housing where homeless families and individuals can rebuild their lives

HomeAid Orange County, the founding chapter of HomeAid America, was established by the leadership of the Orange County Chapter of the Building Industry Association of Southern California in 1989. Charged with the mission of building and renovating housing for the homeless, HomeAid Orange County has- to date — completed 40 shelter projects with three currently under construction or in the planning stage.

Those temporarily homeless served by HomeAid include women in crisis pregnancy; abused children; victims of domestic violence, homeless adults living with HIV/AIDS; the mentally challenged; homeless youths; and those families and individuals who find themselves homeless as a result of job loss or catastrophic illness.

To the BIA membership, Bank of America and other community volunteers that gave so generously of their time, please accept the sincere gratitude of HomeAid Orange County and of those whose lives will change because you care. For more information on how you can get involved please call (949) 553-9510 or visit www.homeaidoc.org.