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Presidio Homes Honored for Providing Hurricane Relief
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Providing a hot breakfast to National Guard troops on their way to bringing supplies and assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina. | Atlanta-based Presidio Homes was honored by the National Housing Endowment — the philanthropic arm of NAHB — for providing immediate and long-term relief and assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina.
In the aftermath of the hurricane, the company started its own relief organization — Wooden Cross — to assist hurricane victims; transported six tractor trailer loads of food, water, diapers and other supplies to hurricane victims in Mississippi; took five families of evacuees on a shopping spree for essentials; and made a sizable donation to the overall relief effort.
“When we see people hurting or in need we come running with our arms wide open,” said Jeremy York, president and CEO of Presidio Homes. “I, along with everyone at Presidio Homes, wanted to help immediately in any way possible, so we did.”
Presidio Homes was awarded the 2006 Honorable Mention Hurricane Katrina Relief National Housing Endowment Builder Achievement Award for Outstanding Community Service — which includes a $1,000 donation to be given to the charity of its choice. Presidio Homes received the award during the 2007 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla. earlier this year.
The company is giving the donation to the Atlanta Habitat for Humanity.
In Gear in Three Days
Three days after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, York, his father and two Presidio employees drove to the Gulf Coast to bring immediate assistance to some of those affected by the disaster.
Near one of the last functioning gas stations they saw while driving through the hurricane-stricken area, the small caravan came upon a military convoy of more than 90 soldiers who were headed to the epicenter of the devastation. To thank the soldiers for what they were about to do, York bought them all what would probably be the last hot breakfast they would have in a long time at a nearby McDonalds that was able to reopen with the help of temporary power.
As for the shopping spree, York and Presidio Homes took 31 hurricane evacuees to Wal-Mart for badly needed shoes, clothing, food and a week’s worth of hygienic supplies.
“The National Housing Endowment is proud to honor the tremendous charity of Presidio Homes,” said Gary Garczynski, endowment chairman and 1992 NAHB president. “The massive devastation that Katrina left behind was overwhelming and it was only through the charitable hearts of people like those who make up Presidio that some families were able to make it through. They are a source of inspiration to, and an honored member of, our organization and our industry.”
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Some of the hurricane damage Jeremy York, of Presidio Homes, saw in Mississippi. |
Twelve Others Honored With Builder Achievement Awards at IBS
 Twelve other builders were honored with gold, silver, bronze and honorable mention Builder Achievement awards during the presentation at the builders’ show.
For the complete list of the winners and a description of their projects, click here.
The awards were established through a grant to the endowment by Isaac Heimbinder, chairman of Potomac, Md.-based BuildTopia, a provider of Web-based construction management software for home builders.
For more information on this award, visit www.nahb.org.
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