June 25, 2009

MBA marks 100 years with 100 community projects

Klusman

In keeping with its longtime priority of helping the community, Master Builders Association decided there was no better way to celebrate its centennial anniversary than giving back to the very communities that helped it grow into the largest home builder association in the nation.

During 2009, Master Builders is reaching out to local groups and nonprofits to lend a hand with 100 community service projects that reflect the association’s priorities of providing shelter, protecting the environment and promoting educational opportunities in the housing industry. Master Builders members in the past have performed long-standing community projects such as building free access ramps for disabled homeowners, building and maintaining shelters for homeless individuals and families, and educating youth about careers in construction.

“We are proud to celebrate our 100th year of building and remodeling homes by performing community service and improvement projects in King and Snohomish counties,” said John Day of John Day Homes in North Bend, the 2009 Master Builders president. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to recognize our longevity and the contributions of our members in making this region one of the envies of the world.”

The first community service project completed was the Jan. 15 dedication of new housing — known as Vision House — built for homeless in transition by Centex and other Master Builders members. Other projects have included an Earth Day service project cleaning up the lower Duwamish River in collaboration with EarthCorps and offering free home-buying classes to help buyers learn about the programs that can assist them in the ownership process.

Several other projects to look forward to include our service to local shelters on the last Friday of every month, food drives at each general membership dinner, a clothing drive at the 2009 Northwest Builders Show and a special project on Veterans Day. The largest of our association’s 100 for 100 community service projects will be the construction of a laboratory and education space at the Mercer Slough Environmental Learning Center in Bellevue.

Other Stories:

• MBA marks a century of building community
  
• Educating tomorrow’s construction workforce
  
• How did we get into the housing crisis?
  
• Builders contribute more to the local economy than you might think
  
• What Built Green is and why you should care
  
• A heightened learning experience