While finishing touches to their campus were still underway, the children of St. Jude’s Ranch in Boulder City recently received truckloads of designer furniture from the model homes at Pardee Homes’ Nevada Trails community. Chosen by their teaching parents, the sofas, tables, chairs, paintings and decorations help complete an intense two-month $1 million renovation of the campus.

“It was an overwhelming experience for St. Jude’s teaching parents to rush through ten beautifully decorated models where they could tag any pieces of furniture or decorations they wanted for their cottages,” said Pardee Southern Nevada Division President Klif Andrews. “Now all their cottages can look like model homes.”

Through HomeAid Southern Nevada, Pardee and more than 100 volunteer subcontractor partners transformed the cottages and grounds that are home to nearly 50 abused, neglected and abandoned children.

Under the banner of “Building Hope,” Pardee Homes led the volunteer force – more than 500-strong – in renovating and refurbishing eight cottages totaling more than 56,000 square feet of living space; landscaping and upgrading at least two acres of grounds; and providing critical infrastructure to prevent further water damage to existing buildings.

As a company, Pardee places great importance on giving back to the community, according to Andrews. “We’re proud to partner with HomeAid in making “Building Hope” a reality for St. Jude’s Ranch. It is our hope that this endeavor will create a whole new level of pride and optimism for the residents and staff and enable them to continue to provide services to children in need in Southern Nevada.”

“Thank you does not begin to adequately express our gratitude to Pardee Homes, their trade partners and vendors,” said Kathleen Dye, executive director for HomeAid Southern Nevada.

“Their commitment is humbling. The children, staff and volunteers at St. Jude’s are angels,” she said. “Operating on a limited budget, St. Jude’s did their very best to maintain ongoing repairs throughout their 40-acre campus. Acting as Builder Captain, Pardee, along with their trade partners and vendors, fulfilled St. Jude’s wishes of renovations, landscaping and much more.”

Rocky Cochran, vice president of Construction Operations for Pardee Homes, said “Construction is accustomed to undertaking large projects, however, this is a project that has overtaken all of our hearts.”

For 40 years St. Jude’s Ranch for Children has provided shelter and healing for abused, abandoned and neglected children in a campus setting overlooking Lake Mead in Boulder City, Nevada. There are two additional campuses in Texas.

HomeAid is a non-profit organization that partners with the building industry to construct and renovate shelters for temporarily homeless families and individuals. Andrews serves as president of the local chapter.

The mission of HomeAid is to build dignified housing where the homeless can rebuild their lives. Established in Southern Nevada in 2005, HomeAid has 17 chapters in 11 states. In its 17-year history more than $40 million in labor and materials has been secured; $170 million in housing has been donated; and more than 60,000 persons have been impacted.

The recipient of the 2006 Hearthstone Humanitarian Award for Outstanding Philanthropy by a Homebuilding Company, Pardee Homes has built homes and communities for nearly 35,000 families in Southern Nevada since 1952.

From donating land for schools and building parks in Pardee communities to supporting services for their less fortunate neighbors, community service is at the heart of Pardee Homes. Over the past decade, Pardee has focused its most significant charitable efforts on homelessness, demonstrated by the company’s support of The Shade Tree Shelter for Homeless Women and Children in Las Vegas as well as HomeAid efforts in Southern Nevada and Southern California.