We all know about the grand projects undertaken in our industry to support worthy causes and help others in need. We’re proud to report on these terrific causes and thank the chapters, companies, and individuals who contribute time, materials, and cash. But the big projects aren’t the only ones that occur on a daily basis. There are many folks in our industry family who make a difference every day.
From One Family to Another
Folks in Florida will remember Mike Nilles for, among other things, being the President of the Southwest Florida Truss Manufacturers Association. Off the top of my head, I don’t recall how many years Mike was Chapter President, but I know it was a few. Though I’ll always think of Mike as a component manufacturer, that’s not his primary job anymore. In fact, over at Nilles Design Group in Cape Coral, FL, he’s not known by the community for his trusses. Instead, his family in known for the help they give to Builders Care.
Helping Others in Southwest Florida
Southwest Florida is not unique in its desire to help others and give back to the community, but it has certainly found a great way to do so. The local home builders association has organized a nonprofit that does what homebuilders do best – provide construction services from qualified professionals. To quote them:
Builders Care is the nonprofit charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association (BIA). Its objective is to provide emergency repairs and construction services to elderly, disabled, and economically disadvantaged people who are unable to obtain home repairs through traditional means. To date, Lee BIA Builders Care has put nearly $4 Million in construction services back into the community at no cost to homeowners in need. Builders Care enlists the volunteer services of Lee BIA members and leverages grants and donated materials to provide construction and remodeling services to qualified homeowners throughout Lee County.
One Wheelchair Ramp at a Time
As Christi Pritchett Sarlo, Executive Director of Lee BIA Builders Care told me, “Mike Nilles, his son, and their staff help with each and every wheelchair ramp project that we complete.” While that’s not the first thing that comes to mind when considering custom residential designers, it’s certainly worth noting. Sometimes your most important project isn’t the one that generates the most revenue or accolades. Sometimes the project that you’ll remember the most is the project that has the greatest impact for the person who will be able to benefit from your hard work. That’s the kind of project that puts a smile on your face . . . and on someone else’s face too.