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Patsy and Herman Smith Fund to Support Trades Training
 Patsy Smith, chairman of the board of the Home Builders Institute (HBI) and a builder/developer in Ft. Worth, Texas, has donated $10,000 to the National Housing Endowment to establish The Patsy and Herman Smith Fund for Excellence in the Trades.
The announcement was made during the HBI Board of Trustees meeting earlier this month in Reno, Nev.
Married for 44 years to the late Herman Smith, who was a former NAHB president and prominent land developer and philanthropist, Patsy Smith has been a long-time supporter of HBI’s multi-faceted initiatives to address the industry’s need for workers in the skilled trades.
In recent years, funding cuts, escalating costs and limited resources have placed constraints on HBI’s training programs and the institute’s ability to fully address the various and growing needs of its students.
The new fund will provide direct support to HBI training programs and eligible students in need.
“From updating classroom equipment and tools to helping a new graduate buy a pair of work boots, the money will be disbursed directly to where it is needed most, and done so quickly,” Smith said.
Smith said that she was inspired to establish the new fund when Lowe’s Home Improvement renewed its commitment to HBI’s Job Corps students through a $50,000 contribution to the HBI/Lowe’s Building Careers Scholarship program.
The workforce development arm of NAHB, HBI has helped more than 250,000 people enter careers in the home building industry. Its programs provide skills in the building trades for people of all ages, promote career opportunities in the industry and help meet the labor needs of the residential construction industry.
For more information, e-mail Maria McIntyre at HBI, or call her at 800-795-7955 x8912.
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