A Letter from Hayden you, Virginia”

Over thirty years ago, my parents, Robert and Virginia Watson, founded Hayden Homes on the belief that homeownership should be within reach for every hardworking man and woman. I lost both my parents in early 2002. I miss them dearly, but their legacy lives on at Hayden Homes. I think about my mother’s spirit of generosity every day, and adhering to her philosophy of giving more than you get.

At Hayden Homes, we build quality homes that transform the lives of our home buyers across the Pacific Northwest, we foster economic development in towns both big and small, and we help to solve the housing availability crisis facing so many communities in our region. We know this is a valuable contribution, but we believe we are so much more. As a gateway to giving, Hayden Homes is building the next generation of givers. A generation that shares our belief that when we Give As You Go™, the world is a better place.

This giving spirit is the inspiration behind First Story, the non-profit I started in 1998, which has since propelled 101 deserving and capable families into homeownership across Oregon, Washington and Idaho. For every Hayden Home that is sold we make a donation. For every paycheck we write to our valued team members, they can choose to make a 100% company-matched donation. And for every year that goes by, we contribute 10 percent of our profits as our commitment to our Give As You Go™ philosophy.

I hope many things for this company, but most of all, I hope that Hayden Homes becomes a company that is synonymous with giving and inspires others to do the same. Not for the accolades or recognition, but because we’ll have lived up to that tenet that it’s up to all of us to give more than we get. And when that happens, I hope you’ll join me in hoisting a glass and offering a rousing cheer of, “Thank you, Virginia.”

Hayden Watson Chairman