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Charitable Foundation History
At a meeting of the Home Builders Association (HBA) Board of Directors in 1991, Willi Schaefer proposed a commitment from the HBA of $250,000 to help finance the construction of a shelter for the homeless to be located on property owned by Bucks County in Bristol Township. Willi Schaefer explained that in Bucks County, homeless people were being sheltered in churches and synagogues on a rotating basis and there was a need for a permanent facility as there currently was none in all of Bucks County.
The Home Builders Board of Directors committed to the sum of $250,000. A direct appeal was made to the members of the Home Builders Association, both builders and associates, and after a period of time, the sum of $35,000 was collected. The Board decided that the funds were not coming in quickly enough and a new approach should be taken. The approach was to build a dream house with as much labor and materials donated as possible. The house would then be sold and hopefully our financial commitment could be met. The money would be turned over to the Lower Bucks County Chapter of the American Red Cross, which would be the owner and operator of the shelter.
John Van Luvanee, Esq. of Eastburn and Gray applied for a 501C3 charitable tax status from the IRS and this was obtained in January of 1993. The purpose of the foundation is broadly stated to benefit the residents of Bucks and Montgomery Counties.
A lot was purchased in a subdivision called Wedgewood Green in Northampton Township, Bucks County in January of 1994. This community was being developed by DeLuca Enterprises. The lot was purchased for a consideration of $100,000, which was a very favorable price since it was valued at $135,000. Thereafter, a very large single home of 5,000 square feet was custom designed. It had many outstanding features as noted in the promotional material attached.
With a great deal of enthusiasm, the project was undertaken and the house was built in approximately 6 months. There were major contributors of materials, supplies and labor in order to make this project a success.
The house was opened for inspection to the public with a request for contributions and was promoted as a dream home built by the HBA. Approximately 600 people paid $5 each to visit the house during an 8 day inspection and $3,000 was collected at the door.
Thereafter, the property was marketed by Perry DeSiato, at that time the Sales and Marketing Director of DeLuca Enterprises, and was sold for $565,000. The net proceeds of property permitted us to retire our outstanding obligation to the American Red Cross Chapter, in full, and still left over $100,000.
The Board of Directors decided to use the money from the sale of the home to not only fund the commitment to the Lower Bucks County Chapter of the American Red Cross, but also to fund other charitable activities which the Charitable Foundation Charter permitted us to do.
