David Weekley Homes Celebrates Families Helped Through BuildAid

Houston, TX (January 17, 2020): David Weekley Homes marked the completion of repairs and renovations on 256 homes through its partnership with the nonprofit organization BuildAid. In honor of this milestone, a special event was held to celebrate the families served by the organization after being displaced from their homes following Hurricane Harvey more than two years ago.

Approximately 160 attended the event that included remarks from David Weekley, chairman of David Weekley Homes, and Chris Yuko, director of BuildAid. Following the speeches, representatives from BuildAid and team members from David Weekley Homes spent time with the homeowners who have all returned to their homes.

“Our company’s purpose is Building Dreams, Enhancing Lives for our team, our customers and our community,” said David Weekley, chairman of David Weekley Homes. “We were able to live out that purpose throughout the Harvey catastrophe that happened to our city. It was truly a privilege to do what we knew that we could do as home builders.”

Families received assistance from BuildAid, a nonprofit initiative of HomeAid Houston and the Greater Builders Association. The organization was created with a $1 million commitment from The David Weekley Family Foundation. Through this partnership, local home builders work with the nonprofit organization to significantly reduce the price of rebuilding by offering materials and contractors at cost to homeowners.

“I am very thankful and blessed that Mr. Weekley and BuildAid helped me get back into my home,” said homeowner Felicia Light. “They helped me get started again and back on my feet.”

Working in collaboration with Greater Houston Builders Association builders, BuildAid offered materials and contractors at cost to significantly reduce the price of rebuilding for homeowners. In addition, BuildAid offered grant funding and flexible, low-interest payment options to help eligible homeowners pay for these repairs.

BuildAid was also the recipient of a $5.5 million grant from the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, which was established by Houston’s Mayor Turner and Harris County Judge Emmett. These funds played a critical role in BuildAid’s effort to rebuild homes across Houston.

“I was sitting with my family in the days after Harvey, wondering what I could do and how could I help,” said Chris Yuko, director of BuildAid. “I was stuck in my home and couldn’t leave, but when I could I got involved in the muck and gut. And then I got a call from David that he had this idea and I said, ‘Let’s do it.’”

Five other builders, including Taylor Morrison/Darling Homes, Partners in Building, Trendmaker Homes, Chesmar Homes and Colina Homes, also donated construction managers and funding. Other donors included Newmark Homes, Holcomb Properties, Land Tejas Development Company, Perry Homes Foundation, Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church and the Brad Williams Family.

About BuildAid

BuildAid is a partnership between HomeAid Houston, a 501(c)(3) charity of the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA), and the Association's builder members that was created to assist homeowners impacted by the historic flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey in August 2017.

About David Weekley Homes

David Weekley Homes, founded in 1976, is headquartered in Houston and operates in 20 cities across the United States. David Weekley Homes was the first builder in the United States to be awarded the Triple Crown of American Home Building, an honor which includes “America’s Best Builder,” “National Housing Quality Award” and “National Builder of the Year.” Weekley has also appeared 13 times on FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For®” list. Since inception, David Weekley Homes has closed more than 90,000 homes. For more information about David Weekley Homes, visit the company’s website at www.davidweekleyhomes.com.