The U.S. poverty rate in 2005 was about 12.6 percent of the population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey 2006 Annual Social and Economic Supplement. This translates to about 37 million people living in poverty, many without adequate food or shelter.
Roofing professionals are in a unique position to help those in need because they are able to provide not only monetary donations but roofing materials and labor contributions, as well. And the roofing industry has been busy contributing this past year.
Each year, Professional Roofing recognizes charitable donations made by roofing industry companies. Following are some of this year's contributions.
Always giving
Shiner Roofing, Siding and Windows, Fairfax, Va., consistently seizes opportunities to help those in need.
For many years, the company has been donating food during the holidays to Food for Others, a nonprofit organization in northern Virginia that provides food to families in need. This year, Shiner Roofing, Siding and Windows increased its contribution by becoming a sponsor of Food for Others' fourth annual Tee Off to Fight Hunger Golf Tournament.
The tournament, which was held to raise money for Food for Others, was held May 7 in Haymarket, Va. Shiner Roofing, Siding and Windows donated gift bags and golf balls.
"We are delighted to be associated with Food for Others and its fundraising efforts," says Kevin Shiner, president of Shiner Roofing, Siding and Windows. "The northern Virginia community has welcomed and supported us since our founding in 1981. This sponsorship is one way we can give back to our community."
In addition, Shiner Roofing, Siding and Windows awarded $5,783 to the McGunagle family of Arlington, Va., the full purchase price paid for its Shiner Roofing, Siding and Windows roof system. The McGunagles won Shiner Roofing, Siding and Windows' Free Roof Sweepstakes.
Virginia and Maryland homeowners who purchased new roof systems from Shiner Roofing, Siding and Windows between March 15, 2006, and Sept. 30, 2006, were invited to enter the sweepstakes to become eligible to win a maximum $6,000 reimbursement for their new roof systems.
A personal contribution
Brazos Urethane Inc., Texas City, Texas, performed initial roof system repairs on the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans to stop continuing water damage following Hurricane Katrina. Then, Brazos Urethane was awarded the contract for replacement of the 10-acre roof.
During the roof system replacement process, Wally Scoggins, Brazos Urethane's president, housed 14 hurricane evacuees in his home. He also attempted to employ as many of the evacuees as he could with Brazos Urethane during its work on the Superdome.
Scoggins also arranged for food to be brought in every day for his more than 85 workers, and he donated all leftovers to the homeless in the area around the Superdome.
Repeat contributer
Appleton, Wis.-based Great Lakes Roofing Corp. contributes regularly through its Helping Hands community service program. Since the program's inception in 2001, Great Lakes Roofing has donated and installed more than $70,000 in roofing projects for nonprofit organizations in Wisconsin.
Great Lakes Roofing's most recent contribution was made to the McCullen-Kimpel Detachment No. 552 of the U.S. Marine Corps League clubhouse in Fond du Lac, Wis.
The clubhouse needed its existing low-slope built-up and shingle roof system removed to the deck. The roof system was inspected, and all questionable deck material was replaced. The roof was installed over R-20 roof insulation, including a new drip edge and trim. A white, reinforced, heat-welded PermaSeal roof system was then applied.
Three-dimensional shingles were installed over new underlayment, as well as a new gutter apron, drip edge and ridge vent. The existing chimney and walls received new flashings, as well. The project's value was $12,500.
Green giving
Central Roofing Co., Minneapolis, a Tecta America company, has made a difference in the environment and lives of children by donating a green roof system for a picnic shelter in the J.D. Rivers' Children's Garden in Theodore Wirth Park, Minneapolis. The roof system is a gift to the park in celebration of its 25th birthday.
The 12- by 16-foot living picnic shelter and extensive green roof system are still under construction and will be unveiled Aug. 18 during the park's birthday party. The roof line has a slope of about 1.8-in-12 (15 degrees) and skewed ridge lines to allow easy visibility of the green roof system from the ground. The green roof is intended to help educate park visitors about green roof system benefits.
"The park board is extremely grateful for and excited about this donation," says Tracy Nordstrom, Theodore Wirth Park's commissioner. "This will be the first green roof structure in the park system. Its small scale and accessible location make it an ideal teaching tool for environmental education and promoting general public use of green roof structures."
A group contribution
The San Diego Roofing Contractors Association (SDRCA) regularly gives back to the community through its Build-A-Roof Program, which annually provides new roof systems to those in need. The Build-A-Roof Program's most recent project was reroofing the home of Ian and Carrie Davies of Lakeside, Calif., as well as installing a roof system on a recent addition to their home.
The Davies serve as foster parents to infants who are waiting for suitable homes. They were selected by the CBS Morning Show to receive an addition to their small home as part of the show's "Week of Wishes." The addition doubled the home's square footage and made caring for the infants easier.
San Diego-based Charco Construction, which donated the room addition, contacted SDRCA member Patriot Roofing Inc., Carlsbad, Calif., and asked whether Patriot Roofing could contribute a roofing addition to the project. Kirk Bowman, Patriot Roofing's sales and marketing manager, then contacted SDRCA.
"In mid-October, Bowman and I met with Charco Construction at the job site," says James Robyn, SDRCA's executive director. "We saw a small house, small detached garage and room addition that was taking shape. After further inspection of the property, Bowman and I agreed SDRCA should also reroof the house and garage to match the addition."
Bowman and Robyn received unanimous approval of the project from SDRCA's board of directors. Next, they asked SDRCA members to donate materials and labor that would be needed to complete the project.
NRCA member ABC Supply Co. Inc., Beloit, Wis., donated materials; CertainTeed Corp., Valley Forge, Pa., donated shingles; Preman Roofing, San Diego, performed tear-off work on the existing structures; and RSI Roofing, San Diego, installed gutters. Patriot Roofing provided labor.
"Being able to help these foster kids was far and away the best part of the experience," Bowman says.
Community outreach
Contractors aren't the only ones in the roofing industry performing acts of kindness. In November 2006, CertainTeed participated in Beautiful Day Better Homes, a community outreach program created by Beautiful Day, a volunteer organization in San Jose, Calif. Beautiful Day Better Homes volunteers joined with the San Jose Code Enforcement Department to assist homeowners who had been cited for blight ordinances regarding visible property neglect issues but were too elderly or disabled to comply with the ordinances. Blight ordinances include issues such as overgrown landscaping, broken vehicles in yards or driveways, dilapidated home exteriors and piles of debris.
CertainTeed donated CertainTeed Landmark™ TL Ultimate Luxury shingles and Mountain Ridge high-profile hip and ridge accessories to the project. The donated products were used to roof a new detached garage at the San Jose home of a wheelchair-bound single mother. The original garage had burned down several years earlier, and debris from the fire had not been removed from the site.
With the donations from CertainTeed and other building products manufacturers, as well as 120 volunteers' work, Beautiful Day Better Homes restored and brought into compliance seven San Jose homes that had been cited for blight ordinances.
"We are glad we could help make a difference in the life of this family," says John Donaldson, president of CertainTeed. "We commend Beautiful Day Better Homes for its commitment to improving communities throughout California."
More to come
Through these contributions and many others, the roofing industry continues to help others.
NRCA offers many ways for its members to get involved with various types of community service. If you are interested in becoming involved in community service activities, contact Bennett Judson, The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress' executive director, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7513 or bjudson@roofingindustryalliance.net to learn more about charitable opportunities available to you and your company.
Ashley St. John is Professional Roofing magazine's associate editor.
Opportunity for involvement
NRCA actively is involved with its official charitable organization, Rebuilding Together,® the largest U.S. volunteer organization that preserves and revitalizes low-income homes, nonprofit organizations and communities.
Rebuilding Together held its 12th annual pre-Super Bowl event—Kickoff to Rebuild—Feb. 2 in Miami. NFL officials and players, as well as community members, volunteered their services for the rehabilitation of the home of Thelma Walker, a 67-year-old Miami resident. NRCA was a co-sponsor of the event, and Advanced Roofing Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was a title sponsor.
In October 2005, Walker's house flooded during Hurricane Wilma, causing damage to the home's interior and exterior, including the roof. Rebuilding Together and its sponsors supplied Walker's home with a new roof system, among other improvements.
The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress; Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association Inc.; and Bradco Supply Corp., Avenel, N.J., also donated money and materials to Kickoff to Rebuild 2007.
NRCA members also participated in Rebuilding Together's 8th Annual Rebuilding Together Day on April 28. During this event, 270,000 volunteers in 1,800 communities throughout the U.S. repaired and rehabilitated 9,100 homes of elderly and disabled low-income homeowners and families with children.
Additionally, NRCA has partnered with Rebuilding Together to develop two new programs to improve the lives of military families. For more information about these programs, see "About heroes," page 74.
NRCA encourages its members and affiliate chapters to participate in Rebuilding Together's Kickoff to Rebuild 2008 on Feb. 1 in Phoenix and National Rebuilding Day 2008 on April 26. For more information about becoming actively involved with Rebuilding Together, contact Bennett Judson, The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress' executive director, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7513 or bjudson@roofingindustryalliance.net.
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