October 3, 2007
Franklin, Tenn – Southern Land Company Homebuilding has received the National Builder of the Year Award from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for its contributions to the hospital’s Dream Home Program.
The Dream Home program is a national campaign spearheaded by St. Jude that targets the building community to raise operational funds for the hospital. Since 2005, Southern Land Company Homebuilding, with the generous help of its subcontractors and various other corporate sponsors, has raised more than $3.65 million for the internationally recognized hospital that is dedicated to ridding the world of childhood disease.
Fox 17 and WSIX have provided media sponsorships for each of the Middle Tennessee campaigns, donating broadcast time free of charge to drive awareness of the raffle, and ultimately, increasing ticket sales.
“This has been one of the most gratifying awards our team has ever received,” said Chris Bove, executive vice president of Southern Land Company Homebuilding. “The people we need to thank are numerous. We could not have achieved any of this without the support and donations of the middle Tennesseans who gave both their time and money to this cause over the past three years.”
Southern Land Company Homebuilding broke national fundraising records in 2007 by selling 14,000 raffle tickets. Each ticket is valued at $100, and ticket purchasers are entered into a drawing to win a new home constructed by Southern Land Company Homebuilding. To date, all of the Middle Tennessee Dream Homes have been constructed in Westhaven – a traditional neighborhood community located on Highway 96 West in Franklin, Tennessee. The total value of the homes raffled since 2005 is more than $1.75 million.
This year, St. Jude and Southern Land Company Homebuilding have increased the ticket goal to 16,000, which would raise $1.6 million for the hospital. A limited number of chances to win the St. Jude Dream Home, and more than 20 other prizes, will go on sale for $100 each beginning in March 2008. The winning names will be announced during a live giveaway special on WZTV-Fox 17 in June 2008. All proceeds from the promotion will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Big 98 WSIX and television station WZTV Fox 17 will serve as media sponsors again in 2008.
Founded by Danny Thomas in 1962, St. Jude depends primarily on public contributions to fund daily operating costs of more than $1 million. St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay.