New Homes Receive Beautification Award!

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Jake's Place and Helena's Home have been honored by the RC Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors with the May Beautification Award!  As you can see in the photo the Ambassadors from the Chamber turned out to place the banner of honor inbetween the two homes and it will stay there until moved to the next honoree's location.

10 very happy individuals now live in Jake's Place and Helena's Home!  These residents with disabilities opened their homes to celebrate in February and they continue to realize what a "sweetheart " deal their new homes are! 

In what architect Sheryl Coley calls a “strange twist of fate,” her biological mother Sara Igoe, was one of the women who moved into Helena’s House. Sheryl, from Upper Deck Architects is one of the architects who designed both houses. She was adopted by another family, but has been in contact with Sara for several years and had helped Sara move to this area from the east coast. She says Sara was living in an assisted living facility, but that it wasn’t quite the right fit. Sara had been on a Black Hills Workshop waiting list for two years. “This is very positive for her,” says Sheryl. “I never even imagined she might move into these houses when I started working on them with you. It still amazes me to think about it how it all turned out!” For her part, Sara says she’s very proud of her daughter.

Suzanne and Rich Gabrielson and Suzanne's parents, Chuck and Barbara Lien, made a $50,000 gift toward building these homes. Suzy and Rich’s son Jake, for whom one of the homes is named, has received services from Black Hills Workshop since 2005. They also donated a statue of the Archangel "Gabriel" and it will be placed and dedicated at the May ceremony when the landscaping will mostly completed for the homes. Other funds for these homes came from an undesignated gift made by Helena Moore, therefore the home title Helena, (now deceased) whose daughter Imogene (also deceased) received services from Black Hills Workshop until her passing. The remaining funds for the two homes came from a a variety of donors and a Neighborhood Stabilization Grant and Foundation Capital Campaign funds. Furnishings for both homes were paid for with funds raised during this year’s Gala and Golf Classic.

If you want to make a difference to the remaining individuals on a waiting list for a place to live, you can donate to the "Homes for the Heart" Capital Campaign by using the Donate Now button on the home page or check out the other areas of interest that Black Hills Workshop Foundation supports!! All donations are worthwhile and can be tax deductible!