Building hope for children in need

Theresa Roer recalls well the frantic phone call she received that winter day nearly two years ago.

The call from Hispanic Services asked if she couldn't provide financial help to prevent a family from being evicted from their apartment.

The family, she learned, had a child with Down syndrome.

The father was unemployed and desperate.

Roer, director of development for the Builders Association Charity, picked up the phone and called Jerry McGrath, owner of Washoe Building Supply.

"I told Jerry of the situation and he didn't hesitate for a minute," she recalls.

"He told me to go ahead and use monies from his restricted funds to keep that family from being evicted.

My gosh, that family was going to live under a bridge!"

Subsequently, one builder offered the father a job so he could care for his family.

The same week of the crisis that faced the family with the Down syndrome child, Roer received a call from a doctor who was treating a child suffering from seizures.

The child needed medication, but the labyrinth of red tape could mean weeks of delay.

"I called another board member, Maggie Christiansen (Christiansen Insurance), and she told me to go ahead and use her restricted funds to help this family and child out," Roer recalls.

"Then, she said, take another $200 or whatever it takes and get them some food or whatever they need."

Since that day in 2001, Roer and the BAC has become the safety net of last resort for scores of families in northern Nevada.

Social service workers at all the hospitals know her personally.

So do those with organizations such as Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

And they do not hesitate to call her when the chips are down.

The BAC is the philanthropic arm of the Builders Association of Northern Nevada.

Known widely as "The Builders," many of the association's membership have provided funds for non-profit entities over the years.

But it wasn't until 1998 that the homebuilding group created the BAC as a 501-3(c) non-profit organization.

Prior to her arrival in the latter part of 2001, the charity was essentially a passthrough organization and all funds were designated for specific organizations, Roer says.

"It didn't provide assistance for critical needs of individuals and, together, we set out to correct that," she says.

"People in great need were falling through the cracks."

Most of the families in need do not have health insurance, Roer says.

"The medical community does what they can, but in some cases, they need special help so they turn to us.

All the various state, federal and social service agencies are strapped financially.

Their funds have been cut.

Many positions have been cut and, still, the critical needs do not go away," she says.

Fundraising activities are the engine that propels the program, yet some board members say the need continues to outstrip available resources.

McGrath, a member of the association's board, says helping families in need is the right thing to do.

"We have a commitment to do this because people in this industry have prospered over the years.

You know, Bob and I were raised in Ely.

It's a small town, but we learned at an early age that you share what you've got, you give back to your community, and you have compassion for those who are in crisis," he says.

"Bob" is Robert G.

Jones, executive director of The Builders.

He says the charity is focused on families with children, especially those with children who have medical needs.

"Our criteria are quite simple," he says.

"Anything we do should move that family toward a solution.We try to respond in a way that will change their lives for the better."

One of his biggest fears is that the charity will run out of funds.

This year, BAC will distribute approximately $150,000.

Jones said the goal is to do even better next year.

The charity has been instrumental in providing financial support to the Washoe Medical Foundation in support of its pediatric specialty clinic, has provided a steady stream of funds for youth camp programs and has supported the Education Collaborative to fill the gap for several key programs to aid high school students.

"Housing is the ultimate generator in any economy," Jones says.

"It's a very broad base.

Not only do you have the builders, you have the suppliers of building materials.

You have insurance companies.Title companies.

Mortgage lenders.

Our goal is to bring more people under the tent and get them to participate."

Earlier this year, Altmann Construction teamed up with First Horizon Home loans.

For every Altmann home sold that was mortgaged through First Horizon, $100 was given to BAC.

Thousands of dollars have flowed into the charity, and Jones said other builders and their lenders are looking with considerable interest at this partnership.

McGrath says the association still has to sell many of its members on the value of the charity.

Some groups outside the building community have also turned to the BAC for distribution assistance.When another business-led group called Give Hope began raising funds for children with catastrophic illnesses, they turned to Roer.

"This group was prepared to do the fundraising, but ill prepared to tackle the administrative side," she says.

"We have been working very well with them."

While their initial focus was on St.

Jude Children's Research Hospital, we have convinced them that there are many pressing needs right here in Reno and that much of that money raised locally should remain here.

The group has agreed to earmark 80 percent of funds raised to be used right here in our backyard.We are very excited about this prospect."