|
John and Ann Koelemij Named Founding Advocates
| |
 |
| |
Ann and John Koelemij | John and Ann Koelemij were named the newest Founding Advocates of the National Housing Endowment for committing a donation of six figures to the leadership and growth of the endowment, the philanthropic arm of NAHB. Their donation will go toward the endowment’s unrestricted fund.
The Koelemijs were founding members of the endowment and upgraded their gift recently to become Founding Advocates. John Koelemij has been an endowment trustee for more than 20 years.
Koelemij, the 1985 president of NAHB, is the founder and president of the Orange State Construction Company based in Tallahassee, Fla. and has built and developed more than 3,000 homes and apartments. In addition, he was president of the Tallahassee Builders Association in 1958 and 1964 and was president of the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) in 1966. Seven years later, he was the first person to be honored as “Builder of the Year” by the FHBA.
He also was appointed by two Florida governors to serve as chairman of the Governor’s Council on state housing goals and served as chairman of the Florida State Commission for Affordable Housing.
Koelemij was also named to the National Housing Hall of Fame.
“The National Housing Endowment is very proud to have John and Ann Koelemij part of our growing family and we sincerely thank them for their faithful leadership and commitment to give back to our industry,” said Gary Garczynski, endowment chairman and 2002 NAHB president. “Their legacy will endure for generations to come.”
“As a Dutch immigrant, my wife and I lived the ‘American Dream’ and worked to make that dream possible for others by building affordable housing,” said Koelemij. “We believe that homeownership and safe, secure shelter are the foundations of freedom and we were happy to devote ourselves to this most noble of tasks.”
“The contributions we can make to increase housing and homeownership in America come from grateful hearts,” he said.
|
