July 2018
KCHBA’s Foundation Fund to Relaunch Learn About Tankless Water Heaters – page 5 Stay Current with Tax Issues – pages 3 & 8 BDC Helps Serve Youth – page 6
Artisan Tour Wrap-Up – Page 2
So many of our best memories happen at home: a child’s first steps -- playing in the back yard -- music lessons -- prom night – holiday celebrations. For more than 80 years, members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City have helped thousands of families embark on their own American dream. We are proud to build the places where families experience the best times of their lives. Unfortunately, far too many in our community do not have the happiness and security that so many of us enjoy. Affordable housing, educational training and opportunity, and a strong, livable neighborhood should be available to all in our society. That is why the HBA has established the Home Builders Foundation Fund of Greater Kansas City. These words are from the brochure that introduced the KCHBA’s Foundation Fund to members and the public. Longtime KCHBA members will remember that the organization established a charitable fund in the early 2000s. In recent months, original and new members of the steering committee have made plans to re-invigorate the fund in order to increase the local homebuilding industry’s charitable outreach.
Home Builders Foundation Fund of greater kansas city The Charitable Arm of the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City
Plans are underway to reintroduce the Fund to HBA members and to encourage a new round of contributions. The Fall Parade and Awards celebration will be the initial focus of the re-launch of the Foundation Fund with friendly competition between HBA committees and a raffle. The fund was originally established in 2001 with the initial committee consisting of Jeff Alpert, Leo Ashner, Jim Goodwin, Richard Mather, Harry McCray, Greg Prieb, Dusty Rhodes and Harold Teague. In order to simplify administration of the fund, the committee decided in 2002 to establish the KCHBA Foundation as a fund within the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation (GKCCF). The Fund’s steering committee has been re-established with the sons of many founding members to continue the community outreach. Chaired by Tommy Bickimer, members of the committee include Greg Prieb, II; Hatch McCray,
Jeff Ashner, Mark Mather, Jeff Alpert, Justin Pfeifer, Tom Bickimer, and Todd Lipschutz. The original purpose of the fund was to advance a range of charitable, educational and community causes that help address issues of housing affordability, job training, declining neighborhoods and related matters. Thanks to the generous donations of members and investment earnings throughout the years, some of the causes the fund has supported include: Builders Development Corporation for their work in housing rehabilitation and creation of affordable homes; Pittsburg State University to support students’ travel to IBS and their competition in the Residential Construction Management Competition; Rebuilding Together Clay County as they assist seniors and others in improving their homes; and to the Oklahoma and Joplin Home Builders Funds as they recovered from devastating tornadoes. The KCHBA is excited to increase support of our community through the Foundation Fund. Please say “yes” when you’re asked to get involved.