The Home Builders

Care program was established to show the world the generous acts performed

every day by home builders across this country, and the hundreds of projects

that have been registered in the program are a source of pride for all

of us involved in the industry. But, there is one project that the industry

has come together to participate in, and for that reason, it stands out

above the rest.

In the five

months following the devastating terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, the home

building industry has demonstrated its overwhelming generosity by donating

more than $9.5 million to the Home Builders Care Victims' Relief Fund,

which benefits the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Among the fund's

hundreds of donors are individual members, builder associations, including

the Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia, associate member companies

and builder members. Major contributions of $100,000 or more were made

by: Beazer Homes; Brookfield Properties Corp.; Centex Corp.; Hovnanian

Enterprises, Inc.; Kimball-Hill, Inc.; Lennar Corp.; M.D.C. Holdings,

Inc./Richmond American Homes; Pulte Homes, Inc.; Shea Homes; Standard

Pacific Group; Toll Brothers, Inc. and William Lyon Homes, Inc., as well

as the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the National Housing

Endowment.

NAHB, through

its philanthropic arm, the National Housing Endowment, has already distributed

more than $4.1 million to victims, families and others touched by the

tragic events of that day. The remaining funds will continue to be distributed

to those most in need.

More than $1.75

million has been given directly to the New York State Builders Association

Research and Education Foundation (NYSBA REF), which is fulfilling the

mortgage or rent payment needs of New York-area victims and families.

The NYSBA REF

has received hundreds of applications for funds through its six local

associations: the Long Island Builders Institute, Rockland County Builders

& Remodelers Association, Builders Association of the Hudson Valley

(also accepting applications from victims in Connecticut), Queens County

Builders and Contractors Association, the Associated Builders and Owners

in Manhattan, and the Building Industry Association of New York City,

located in Staten Island, but also serving the needs of all victims living

in New Jersey.

Additionally,

the NYSBA REF is working directly with employers Cantor Fitzgerald and

Marsh USA, who combined lost nearly 1000 employees, as well as other organizations.

"The decision

was made for the Home Builders Care Victims' Relief Fund to work with

the New York State Builders Association Research and Education Foundation

to get the checks right into the victims' hands, so we know where the

money is going," said NYSBA Executive Vice President Philip LaRocque.

"Our program, on average, is providing housing finance assistance

for three months, that is either three months' mortgage or rent."

Applications

were slow to come in before Christmas, LaRocque said, but the applications

have picked up steadily since the fund was listed among other funds on

the Web site of the New York State Attorney General (www.wtcrelief.info).

As applications from victims and families continue to come in, the NYSBA

REF will receive further grants from the Home Builders Care Victims' Relief

Fund so that those affected by this tragedy will not be forced out of

their homes.

The Home Builders

Care Victims' Relief Fund has also donated more than $612,000 to the Survivors'

Fund of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, which

was established to help support long-term educational, health and rehabilitation,

grief counseling and other needs of victims and families affected by the

Pentagon attack. This fund will also continue to receive donations from

the Home Builders Care Victims' Relief Fund as additional monies come

in.

Some donors

to the Home Builders Care Victims' Relief Fund made requests for the disbursement

of their money to specific charities. Each of these requests has been

honored, including major donations to: The New York Police & Fire

Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund, The America's Children of September

2001 Fund, United Way's September 11 Fund, The New York State World Trade

Center Relief Fund and the Twin Towers Fund.

Additionally,

the Home Builders Care Victims' Relief Fund made a contribution of $10,000

apiece to each of the eight volunteer fire departments in Somerset County,

Penn. that responded to the crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Penn

The money will

continue to be distributed until every penny has gone to help people affected

of Midwest Georgia, I extend my thanks to all of you who helped to make

the victims' futures a bit brighter.

(Eddie Lusher,

who is with Jerry Ballard Homes, is president of the Home Builders Association

of Midwest Georgia, which serves a membership of approximately 485 builders

and associate members in Fayette, Coweta, Spalding, Heard and Meriwether

counties.)

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