HomeAid and Hope: Partner Profile - Part 2.
By Lisa Kramer with David Scholar

The third installment in the “HomeAid and Hope” series finds 2011 Project Playhouse teams in the final stretch. Builders and the teams of contributors only have a few days to complete their Playhouses, transport them to the Irvine Spectrum, set them up and add landscaping for the rapidly approaching October 7th opening party.

In addition to being Project Playhouse’s 20th anniversary, this year marks another significant milestone. General William Lyon will be honored for his company’s unwavering support of HomeAid Orange County and Project Playhouse. Incredibly, William Lyon Homes has built a Playhouse every single year of Project Playhouse’s 20 year history.

Tara Morenc, Director of Purchasing, is the William Lyon Homes’ resident Project Playhouse expert.

Like Rod Plunkett from Shea Homes, Tara is a powerful advocate for
Project Playhouse and HomeAid’s mission. We met with Tara at her office in Newport Beach. Her office was overwhelming. I have never seen so many sets of open plans, material boards and rolls of plans waiting to be opened. Undaunted and calm amidst the organized chaos, Tara seemed happy to speak with us about her long relationship with HomeAid. Initially granted the task by her employer in 1994, Tara’s continued enthusiasm for her significant role with Project Playhouse is obvious.

Most years, Tara conceives a Playhouse theme, drafts initial concepts, then works with her team to solidify the vision. During the design process, Tara collaborates with the architect, landscape architect and designers, selects interior and exterior finishes, then oversees and assists with final Playhouse installation at the Spectrum. The Playhousetypically takes about 3 months from design through construction.

Tara made clear that there are several factors that contribute to the continued success of her team’s Playhouse every year.

The support of William Lyon Homes’ executive team is crucial. They fully support Tara’s significant time commitment to Project Playhouse every year. The company also provides a build site for the Playhouse every year, and supports additional oversight of the Playhouse build by that site’s superintendent.

Tara works with some of the best companies and individuals in the building industry, many of whom are anxious to participate in Project Playhouse. In addition to their professional abilities, Playhouse contributors are flexible and dedicated. Regular partners - Ford Framing, Residential Electric, Cal West Landscape and Doddington Construction have worked with Tara on 15 or more of William Lyon Homes’ Playhouses
- understand that there may be surprises, which they work together to address. There may be less or more space for landscaping than anticipated on installation day, so the Cal West team does their best within the new constraints. Project leaders oversee transportation of the Playhouse to the Irvine Spectrum at 2am and then return to for installation and landscaping at 5am. The team doesn’t leave until the work is done;
many of them even stick around to help assist newer Playhouse teams complete their installations.

Along with the charitable aspect of participating in Project Playhouse, many team members relish the opportunity to use their professional talents and skills on such a creative endeavor. Some partners experiment with cutting edge materials and installation techniques they want to try on a smaller scale before using in full-size homes.

In the end, all of the Project Playhouse partners have their eye on the prize. Given the pride these teams take in their Playhouses, it’s no surprise that the Best Craftsmanship award is coveted and a nice reward for their efforts. But each of these dedicated teams designs with the ultimate goal in mind - to raise the most money possible for HomeAid to provide shelter for Orange County’s homeless.

William Lyon Homes, Tara Morenc, and all of your partners: Thank you for giving back every year, in every economy. Your sustained commitment to HomeAid Orange County is an inspiration!

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This is the 20 year anniversary of HomeAid Orange County’s Project Playhouse. The Cadreas team in honored to recognize each and every contributor for every Playhouse that has been built and auctioned for the past 20 years.

You can now go to a gallery on Cadreas to view photographs of Playhouses from 1992-2010, along with the creating team members and product donations behind their creation.

http://cadreas.com/search/projects?company_id=148

Every Playhouse can be searched by the year, Playhouse name, and the companies who contributed. We will soon add functionality for contributors to be able to communicate with each other, add more information, and upload additional photos. We encourage past and present contributors to use the Playhouse gallery to reminisce and communicate.

Join us in support of HomeAid Orange County! Here’s how:

a) View the Playhouses on display in Edwards Courtyard at the Irvine Spectrum from October 8th to November 11, 2011.

b) Attend Project Playhouse’s 20th Anniversary celebration at the Balboa Bay Club on November 11, 2011. The evening includes a tribute to General William Lyon for 20 years of support, fine dining, live music by Super Diamond, a silent auction, and the live Playhouse auction.

c) Participate in the live Playhouse auction. Buying a Playhouse for your family helps build a home for someone else. The value of each playhouse, with countless hours and quality materials donated by generous contributors, is, on average, twice the amount the playhouses sell for at auction.

d) Join a Playhouse team. Anyone can participate by donating financial resources; building professionals can donate their time and professional expertise. Contact Gina Scott at HomeAid (949.553.9510) if you are interested.

e) Make a donation at http://www.homeaidoc.org/

f) Spread the word! Let your friends know about the upcoming Playhouse events.

Link to Article 1

http://blog.cadreas.com/2011/08/24/a-story-of-homeaid-orange-county-project-playhouse-and-tough-times/

Link to Article 2

http://blog.cadreas.com/2011/09/09/homeaid-and-hope-partner-profile-%CB%9C-1-%CB%9C/

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Lisa Kramer, feature writer and editor, is a nonprofit executive, business development
consultant, and former Executive Director of USGBC Orange County.
David Scholar is Founder and COO of Cadreas.com.

A Story of HomeAid Orange County, Project Playhouse, and Tough Times.

By David Scholar with Lisa Kramer.

What do homeless kids, victims of domestic violence, the unemployed, and people living with HIV/AIDS in Orange County have in common, aside from the obvious fact that they are all experiencing tough times?

Hope. Thanks to HomeAid.

During a good economy it is easier to recruit contributors for a good cause. When times are tough, even the most worthy charities – and the people who depend on them – find it harder to garner support. This very special organization boasts a community of companies and individuals who are giving even when there is not much to give. Cadreas wanted to know more about who they are, and why they are so committed. The more we learned, the more anxious we became to share the story.

It started more than 20 years ago when members of the Building Industry Association (BIA) of Southern California’s Orange County Chapter began looking for the best way for their industry to give back. Once deciding to provide shelter for the homeless, their idea was put into action through the creation of HomeAid.

Every 10 seconds someone in Orange County wonders where they will sleep at night. Over the past 22 years, HomeAid Orange County has built 47 shelters with 1,000 beds and provided 4.2 million bed nights. HomeAid provides Orange County residents in need with hope and a safe place to sleep.

Many Orange County residents are familiar with the better-known charities – Habitat for Humanity, for example – for which HomeAid has built facilities. Yet few people outside of the building industry have heard of HomeAid.

HomeAid’s somewhat under-the-radar stature reminds me of something my brother once said about Leonard Cohen. Not a household name, Cohen is considered the “musicians’ musician” because he has written so many songs made successful by other, more famous, people.Similarly, Tara Morenc of William Lyon Homes, a long-time generous HomeAid supporter,refers to HomeAid as the “charities’ charity”. HomeAid raises capital and builds the facilities for other charities to then serve the homeless.

I am not a big fan of welfare programs. I am, however, a HUGE fan of the people and the philosophy behind HomeAid’s service to our community. HomeAid's mission is "to build and maintain dignified housing where homeless families and individuals can rebuild their lives."  HomeAid builds and donates shelters to charities that understand and are best suited to serve the temporarily homeless population in their community. The goal is to provide transitional housing and services that enable homeless individuals and families to attain self-sufficiency and move toward permanent housing. The process is the equivalent of teaching people to fish as opposed to giving people fish and creating long-term dependence.

HomeAid Orange County has built shelter projects serving:

• Abused children


• Victims of domestic violence


• At-risk teens


• People living with HIV/AIDS


• Those who are temporarily out of work


• Victims of natural disasters and other catastrophes

Project Playhouse

HomeAid Orange County’s signature fundraiser is the unique and wildly popular Project Playhouse. Project Playhouse debuted in 1992 and has raised over $5.5 million to help HomeAid build and maintain dignified housing where homeless families and individuals can rebuild their lives.

The success of Project Playhouse is attributed to the generous builder teams who donate their time, talent and resources to construct each fantasy cottage. The people on these teams represent the best Orange County’s building community has to offer, in every way. The compassion, dedication, craftsmanship, and generosity exhibited by these professionals are truly inspiring. After seeing just a few of these project teams in action, usually after work and on weekends, I can attest that each Playhouse is a genuine labor of love that anyone would be blessed to own.

[caption id="attachment_152" align="alignleft" width="470" caption="See if you can find a playhouse that you or your company worked on."][/caption]

By now we hope you are wondering how you – yes, YOU! - can support this awesome cause.There are several ways you can get involved:

a) View the Playhouses on display in Edwards Courtyard at the Irvine Spectrum from October 8th to November 11, 2011.

b) Attend Project Playhouse’s 20^th Anniversary celebration at the Balboa Bay Club on November 11, 2011.The evening includes a tribute to General William Lyon for 20 years of support, fine dining, live music by Super Diamond, a silent auction, and the live Playhouse auction.

c)Participate in the live Playhouse auction. Buying a Playhouse for your family helps build a home for someone else. The value of each playhouse, with countless hours and quality materials donated by generous contributors, is,on average, twice the amount the playhouses sell for at auction.

d) Join a Playhouse team. Anyone can participate by donating financial resources; building professionals can donate their time and professional expertise. Contact Gina Scott at HomeAid (949.553.9510) if you are interested.

e) Make a donation at http://www.homeaidoc.org/

f) Spread the word! Let your friends know about the upcoming Playhouse events.

This feature is first in a series on HomeAid Orange County that will continue over the next 6 weeks. Cadreas.com is currently compiling an on-line portfolio of all Playhouses and Shelters built from 1992 to 2010. We will also profile some of the builders, architects, designers, contractors, manufacturers and product suppliers who come together every year to help Orange County residents who need it most, no matter how tough times get.

Our next story will give you a peek at what is coming your way for Project Playhouse in 2011 and introduce some of the people behind the story. In particular a couple of the most genuine and caring people I have ever met and an incredible Builder that has been in the business of home building for over 100 Years. Wow

P.S. We know it is difficult to pick out the individual images in the first collage. This image represents all of the Playhouses built, auctioned and sold from 1992 to 2007. We have been busy digitally cleaning up some of the older images and will be sending out links to a robust gallery of photographs and lists of contributors for each Playhouse going back 20 years as the story unfolds.

Let us know if there is additional information you would like to see and we will try to provide.

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David Scholar is Founder and COO of Cadreas.com. Lisa Kramer, feature editor, is an organizational sustainability consultant and former Executive Director of USGBC Orange County.