Caps Connection - 12/14/2006

On Saturday, May 20, the Master Builders Care Foundation, along with volunteer members of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBA) Remodelors Council, changed people’s lives. With the help of more than 300 volunteers donating in excess of 3,000 total hours, Rampathon 2006 Presented by HomeStreet Bank rolled out across the Puget Sound region, resulting in construction of 25 free ramps for low-income homeowners. Rampathon celebrated its 13^th year with added media exposure for the one-day event.

In Seattle, a lively 11-year-old named Crystal Cunningham, who has multiple disabilities, received her ramp two days early, as well as a visit from many supporters of Rampathon. The Seattle Seahawks supported the event by sending former All-Pro Tight End Charle Young, the Seagals and the team’s mascot Blitz to the Cunningham’s home.

The event generated more community exposure through television and newspaper coverage than ever before for Rampathon, home building industry and MBA volunteers. NBC affiliate KING-TV, its sister stations KONG-TV and Northwest Cable News, and FOX affiliate KCPQ-TV all filmed work at the Cunningham ramp. Additionally, 12 area newspapers ran Rampathon photos and stories.

KING-TV reporter Tim Robinson called Rampathon “very important, a great event for those in need. Rampathon is a great effort from the MBA.”

Crystal’s father, John Cunningham, in thanking Riley Shirey and Donna Shirey, CGR, CAPS, of Shirey Contracting, the remodeling company that lead other Ramp Captains in completing the ramp, stated, “The Master Builders Association and Shirey Contracting displayed great kindness and charity in this effort. This ramp will make things so much easier…it’s gotten so difficult to carry Crystal.”

Joseph Irons, CGR, GMB, CAPS, of Irons Brothers Construction, Inc., served as a Rampathon Team Captain for the first time this year. Irons worked on Hertha Brunson’s home, where she will enjoy increased freedom and independence at home on her newly constructed ramp. Hertha, who has dementia, lives with her full-time caregiver and son, Michael Brunson. Michael is also disabled and suffers visual impairments.

Another grateful recipient, Janice Belotti Place of Seattle, wrote, “I want to let you know how thankful I am for the efforts of the Master Builders [Association] of King and Snohomish Counties. Your help made my day easier and my life so much better. Thanks so much for sending Roy from Jackson Remodeling to my rescue.”

The success of the Care Foundation’s Rampathon Presented by HomeStreet Bank would not have been possible without the generous support of a Rampathon Committee, chaired this year by Darylene Dennon of Solid Energy Inc., individual committee members, ramp captains, their crew members and the event volunteers who delivered coffee, donuts and lunches to each site, from Enumclaw in the south to Arlington in the north.

Rampathon remains a national model program, and the committee is seeking ways to replicate it within home building associations outside King and Snohomish counties.

For more information about Master Builders Care Foundation or Rampathon contact Jay Schupack at 425-460-8229.

Caps Connection - 12/14/2006 (Plain Text Version)

Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties Builds 25 Ramps to Freedom