MasterCraft Builder Group has partnered with Northeast Florida nonprofit organization, Builders Care, to build this year’s Home From The Heart. Builders Care provides cost-effective construction to the elderly, disabled, and other nonprofits throughout Northeast Florida. MasterCraft Builder Group is excited to participate in this project, as giving back to the community has always been at the forefront of our business values.
“This is such an enormous blessing for Builders Care and the community we serve,” explained Justin Brown, Executive Director of Builders Care. “We have lost a handful of fundraisers since late March due to Covid, and without this Home From The Heart, we would probably not be able to make it through the year with our staff intact, and we would definitely have had to cut way back on our mission.”
Who is Builders Care?
Founded by the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) in 2001, Builders Care is a faith-based nonprofit construction organization. Their mission is to provide affordable to no-cost construction services to the elderly, disabled, and other nonprofits in Northeast Florida to build a better habitat for all. Builders Care has renovated over 600 homes and provided $6.5 million worth of construction at no charge to families throughout Northeast Florida. Builders Care works with multiple organizations, including City Council members, Disabled Services, Legal Aid, Urban Jacksonville, Independent Living Resource Center, City Code Enforcement, and Meals on Wheels.
“We handle critical home repairs for low income seniors and homeowners with disabilities,” Brown explained. “Our mission also focuses on handicap accessibility, so we build wheelchair ramps and help retrofit bathrooms. The third part of our mission is being a general contractor for local nonprofits with construction needs. We’ve already assisted over 15 nonprofits this year!”
How Does Home From The Heart Work?
MasterCraft Builder Group along with participating partners including Construction Solutions & Supply, A/C Designs of St. Augustine, Florida Home Store, James Hardie Building Products, and Seltzer’s Appliances are providing supplies, reduced labor, and time to this project to keep building costs low and maximize the potential profit of the home. Owner of MasterCraft Builder Group, Chris Shee, stated: “We’ve had more than 40 manufacturers, suppliers, and tradespeople offer free supplies and reduced labor. Our trade partners and suppliers have been unbelievably supportive as they always are with our charitable endeavors, we’ll hopefully reach a six-figure donation with this effort.”
The home, which is well underway being built on lot 42 in Once the home is sold, all of the proceeds will be directly donated to Builders Care. “This is an incredibly important fundraiser for the organization as it provides a substantial portion of the annual budget,” Shee said about the project.
About SilverLeaf
This year’s home is being built within the community of SilverLeaf. Located in St. Johns County, Florida, SilverLeaf is a family-friendly, new home community that offers plentiful amenities for residents to enjoy. With over 3,500 acres of conservation land, SilverLeaf offers residents wonderful preserves and gorgeous lake views to connect with nature. Amenities offered at SilverLeaf include several miles of both bicycle and walking paths, swimming pools, sports fields, tennis courts, a splash park, and much more so you can love where you live and play.
MasterCraft Believes in Community
MasterCraft believes in the importance of giving back, which is why this project is so unique. Home From The Heart is certainly not the first or last philanthropic work that MasterCraft is a part of. Earlier this year, Shee was recognized by St. Johns Magazine as one of their top picks for “local heroes” because of all of the charitable work that he does. Last year, Shee spearheaded the 7th Annual Clays for a Cause, which saw over 340 registered participants raising more than $158,000 for St. Augustine Youth Services (SAYS), Seamark Ranch, and American Legion Post 194. This year, MasterCraft Builder Group is excited to host the 8th Annual Clays For A Cause at Saltwater’s Shooting Club. From friendly clay shooting competitions to building a home for Builders Care, MasterCraft Builder Group continues to honor its 4C’s or values including Craftsmanship, Choice, Customer Service, and Community. MasterCraft hopes that this Home From The Heart project will raise a significant amount of money to provide for Builders Care and the Northeast community.
“Not only is MasterCraft donating the Home From The Heart for us this year, but they continue to give us $100 per closing on every home they sell. They have been doing this for more than 10 years and Chris has personally solicited other builders to do the same. MasterCraft is the perfect model of a company that uses its success to help our community’s most vulnerable,” said Brown. “I am ever so grateful to Chris and Brad Shee and the entire MasterCraft family for their generosity. The funds from Home from the Heart are going to help so many people in need. I can’t thank them enough.”
