Building Industry Association
of San Diego

By Peter F. Dennehy, Senior Vice President; Sullivan Group Real Estate Advisors

The BIA Cares Board would like to thank our fellow BIA members and ‘friends of Cares’ for their continuing support.  Despite extremely challenging economic and market conditions, the local building industry has continued to contribute its time, labor, materials, and financial donations to BIA Cares. The Cares Board will continue to work hard to find new ways to meet those needs and to raise money to donate in the community on behalf of the building industry. If anyone is interested in helping out with BIA Cares activities, please contact Laura Wilson (Corky McMillin Companies) at lwilson@mcmillin.com or 619.794.1325.

To update you on current activities:

Fundraising:

The Buick Invitational Golf Tournament was held at Torrey Pines Golf Course from February 2 to 8th, 2009. Through the Tournament’s “Chip in for Charity” program, charitable organizations and schools are allowed to sell tickets and keep 100% of the proceeds to fund their activities. Tickets good for a one-day entry on any day of the tournament are sold by the participating charity at a reduced price. BIA Cares participated for the second time this year.  Thanks to the special efforts of Nancy Diamond (BIA staff), BIA Cares sold over $1,000 worth of tickets to the 2009 Tournament. Look for details on this program next year in the membership packets starting in the Fall and plan to buy your tickets for the 2010 Tournament through BIA Cares. 

BIA Cares held their first Furniture Fantasy rummage sale in August 2008 and raised over $35,000 in a one-day sale of donated model home and office furniture. A second Furniture Fantasy sale is now being planned for August 29, 2009. Builders, designers, decorators and others with home or office furniture to donate are welcome and encouraged to contact BIA Cares. Donations are now being accepted – BIA Cares can even make arrangements to pick up donated items and store them until the time of the sale.  So, if you are closing out a model complex and will not need items or you are clearing showroom or warehouse space, please consider this event and donate your items to BIA Cares.  As an added bonus, we are adding an industry “Bash” prior to the event to give volunteers and BIA member employees first pick of the merchandise before it goes on sale to the general public.  Watch for details.

BIA Cares’ will host the Third Annual Industry night at the Padres on August 6, 2009, against the New York Mets. This fund-raising event is geared toward BIA member companies and their employees as an industry-wide networking and incentive event.   This cost is $50 per person and will include your ticket, a ticket for an underprivileged child, a pre-game social on the upper deck, Picnic Terrace, that overlooks San Diego Bay and the Coronado Bridge, plus beer, wine, hot dogs, chicken, fruit, potato salad and sodas. Members are encouraged to purchase additional tickets for needy kids at $15 each or 10 tickets for $150. 

Other events are being investigated to raise dollars for BIA Cares.

Charitable Contributions:

The BIA Cares Holiday Bike Drive took place as usual during the 2008 Holiday Season. Thanks to your donations, BIA Cares provided bicycles and helmets to 250 underprivileged children in San Diego.  Thanks again to Eric Jones (Urban Real Estate Services) for chairing this annual holiday event. 

BIA Cares will again donate $600 in awards for winners with building or construction related projects in the Greater San Diego Science Fair, held April 1.  This is the 8th year we have sponsored this and the three awards will be given. Several  BIA  Board members have volunteered to judge the event.

BIA Cares funded a $1,000 scholarship to help establish and fund a math, science, engineering elective class at Correia Middle School in the Pt. Loma/Ocean Beach Community.

BIA Cares has agreed to donate up to $10,000 in time and money to help with refurbishments to the Chula Vista Little League ball fields. BIA Cares raises funds for this project with their annual Industry Night at the Padres. Bids are now moving forward for repairs that will include new stairs for the scorekeepers, repairs to the roof and new backstops.  Boyd Masing (Hammond Masing General Contractors) is also seeking in kind donations of labor and materials to complete the project. The work is being done at Reinstra Sports Park in Chula Vista (Max and Orange Avenues).

BIA Cares has donated $20,000 and Howard and Associates has contributed $5,000 worth of in-kind design services towards a Tot Lot at Kennedy Park .  The tot lot is in close proximity to an adult education center and is a project that will be constructed with the Cajon Valley School District and the El Cajon Parks District.  The ground breaking is anticipated for early summer.

If you have a worthy project request, please submit to John Howard (Howard & Associates) for consideration.

2009 BIA Cares Scholarship Committee:

In an effort to assist students seeking building industry careers, the 2009 BIA Cares Scholarship Committee is currently offering scholarships for students at both the high school and college levels. We are looking for students who can demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in the building industry. Many majors such as advertising, finance, construction management, architecture, carpentry, city planning, real estate and interior design, to name a few, play an integral role in the building industry. Scholarships will be awarded based on qualifications including academics, personal achievement and financial need. 

If you have any questions about the scholarships or are interested in being a committee member, please contact Nancy Diamond at the Building Industry Association (858) 450-1221 or email Nancy at nancy@biasandiego.org.  Nancy will forward your questions or interest to the Scholarship Committee.