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South Carolina Builders Help Feed the Hungry
 McGuinn Construction Management, a custom builder in Lexington, S.C., has been recognized by the National Housing Endowment — the philanthropic arm of NAHB — for humanitarian efforts in its local community and beyond.
Three years ago, Hope Builders was formed by company president Wade McGuinn to raise critically needed funds for the Harvest Hope Fund Bank. Some 178 professionals in the housing industry have joined the effort, which has gathered almost $500,000 in financial aid and in-kind donations, enough to provide almost 3.9 million meals for South Carolina’s hungry.
McGuinn and his staff have made nine mission trips to Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Honduras to help rebuild facilities destroyed by hurricanes and mud slides, including an orphanage and hospital. For six years, he was an active leader in a program that brought youths on their summer vacations to impoverished pockets of rural South Carolina to rebuild senior citizen homes.
McGuinn has been involved with charitable groups for more than 40 years. At the International Builders’ Show in January, McGuinn Construction Management received a 2005 Honorable Mention National Housing Endowment Builder Achievement Award for Outstanding Community Service and a $1,000 donation to the food bank.
“It’s very humbling to be honored in this way,” said McGuinn. “We all hope to make an impact on not only our community, but on the people we come into contact with each day. In some ways, that defines who we are. Our team works many hours to pay the bills, but I’m most proud of the spirit of community service we have fostered here. We are blessed to have a talented group of professionals who are willing to step back from the day-to-day demands of the job and attempt to positively impact our community. We can’t change the world, but we can influence a small part of it.”
“McGuinn Construction Management is a textbook example of a man and his company who have dedicated their lives to bettering society through philanthropic giving,” said Gary Garczynski, chairman of the endowment and 2002 NAHB president. “McGuinn Construction Management has not only constructed homes in the community, but has also reconstructed lives through its giving.”
Seven other builders were honored with Builder Achievement awards during the presentation at the builders' show.
The awards were established through a grant to the endowment by Isaac Heimbinder, vice chairman, president and COO of Kimball Hill Homes, based in Houston.
For the complete list of winners, click here.
For more information, e-mail Niki Clark at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8061.
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