‘A front-row seat to a major miracle’
How40 contractors donated $1 million of work over 92 days to rebuild a Spring ministry
Arrow Child and Family Ministries helps foster children find a stable home, providing solutions for even the most challenging cases.
But as the faith-based organization focused on area children, its own home in Spring fell into disrepair.
“Our building is 15 years of age,” said chief relations officer Debi Tengler. “We were putting Band-Aids on the problems. We were not spending money on paint, or a leaking roof or the HVAC. All of our funds were going to support children and their families.”
The building’s needs were adding up.
“We literally had trash cans around our CEO’s desk to catch water fromthe roof that needed to be repaired,” Tengler said. “We knew the building needed work, but we couldn’t do anything about it.”
Then, a donor brought along a friend for a tour — and she ended up making the reconstruction of Arrow headquarters a personal project.
Laura Pontikes, executive vice president and co-founder of Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, wanted to support a group that worked to stop human trafficking. Arrow offers such a program.
“A big part of the struggle of how to help is figuring out where do you start,” said Pontikes, who spotted those drip-catching trash cans in the conference room and in CEO Scott Lundy’s office on her tour last November.
The building was outdated and dark. There were countless repairs needed. Pontikes also learned that the maintenance bills from the inefficient systems were mounting. She felt called to do something as soon as possible.
“It was like God was telling me, ‘Laura, you fix buildings for a living. Go fix this building,’ ” she explained. “You never know what God is planning, and it’s never what you think.”
When Pontikes offered to help, Tengler listed a few options.
“New paint would be great, or new carpet would be fantastic,” she said. “An HVAC would be incredible.”
Then, Pontikes sent her husband, George, for a follow-up visit, and he surprised Tengler with a proposal: “Debi,” he said, “we’re going to do it all.”
The Pontikeses reached out to their friend Dan Boggio, president and CEO at PBK Architects.
“I told him what I wanted to do,” Laura Pontikes recalled. “I asked him to connect me with an architect I could pay to work on a design. He said, ‘No, you’re not going to pay for a thing.’ ”
Before long, Sean Pantin, a principal, senior designer at PBK, was on the job. He finished drawings in amatter of days. Permits were also granted at lightning speed.
It was the start of a trend. More and more subcontractors stepped up to help — donating resources and services — including interior designer Mel Poet, artist and muralist Terry Pugh and Newberry Architecture.
“Our subcontractors were incredible,” Pontikes said. “Every single one of them wanted to be a part of it. Every single one of them gave generously.”
There was only one problem — the coronavirus struck as construction was slated to begin.
“With COVID hitting, we weren’t sure if we’d get any equipment,” Tengler said. “We were going into a pandemic.”
Yet everything arrived on time. “Instead of slowing it down, it accelerated everything,” said Nic Flannery, executive risk manager at Satterfield & Pontikes Construction.
Because of the pandemic, Arrow employees had to work from home; their absence allowed crews to work without worrying about disrupting the organization.
“There was really no better time to knock it out,” Flannery said.
In all, he said, 40 companies, contractors and vendors, collaborated to complete the 92-day, $1 million restoration.
“They were all like, ‘Let’s do it,’ ” Flannery said. “And they all donated. It was 100 percent free to Arrow.”
He explained that the building was in desperate need of a new mechanical system.
“The HVAC was limping along and near the end of its life,” he said.
The interior also needed modernization, Flannery said.
“Laura has an interior design background; she was like, ‘I’m going to make this place modern and functional,’ ” Flannery said. “Laura just fell in love with the place and its mission.”
The project included doubling the conference space, removing offices and opening up the space. Old cubicles were torn down, letting in light from the windows.
“We threw those out and got modern, sleek cubicles that allowed more daylight,” he said.
All the cabinetry was removed, as well as the front desk. A new entry was created, and executive suites opened up with more space.
“We took out an office and created an open lounge area,” Flannery said. “We renovated all offices. Each area got a renovation to suit its needs.”
All of the flooring was removed and replaced with stained concrete and custom area rugs. Ceilings were replaced and walls torn down. New light fixtures were installed.
The roof was repaired and windows recaulked. The firealarm system was also replaced and the sprinkler system revised.
“It was a complete makeover,” Flannery said.
In addition, Pontikes brought in custom art for the walls, including lithographs from the 1800s that tell the story of Christ. Amural of clouds, complete with verses of Scripture, was painted in the entry. The lobby was filled with donated kites from Kites Unlimited in Galveston.
“It looks like a place where kids want to be,” Flannery said.
Now the building is fully operational. Recently, all employees returned to work in a whole new building, Tengler said.
Satterfield & Pontikes Construction issued her a pink hardhat, so she could follow the construction process.
“I had a front-row seat to a major miracle,” she said. “I sometimes would just be overcome with tears. I didn’t have words.”
Tengler compared the renovation to a symphony, with George and Laura Pontikes as conductors and all of the subcontractors playing a part.
“Finally, our building looks safe and happy,” she said. “And I get to witness it every day.”
Arrow’s new headquarters has the welcoming atmosphere to match its mission: providing a stable space for children who often need it most, those who have suffered abuse, trauma, neglect or trafficking.
Regardless of the challenge, the faith-based organization steps up to support the children and train foster families.
“That’s what Arrow does every day,” Tengler said. “Their lives may be broken and fractured, but that doesn’t mean we can’t give them hope.”
For her, the renovation stands as symbol of that, a meaningful transformation that has given the nonprofit new life.
“Now, we get to see fresh, bright colors, clean walls, new works of art, new cubicles,” Tengler said. “You feel like someone cared, like someone else believed in you. George and Laura brought hope not only to the kids and families we serve but also to our staff.”
Laura Pontikes, who was adopted herself, said that the project was healing for her personally.
“This was a real gift for me, to be able to do this,” she said. “This found me. I felt called to do it, and it was just a miracle the way it all took place.”
Flannery was grateful he could concentrate on an uplifting project in the midst of the pandemic.
“It was a complete breath of fresh air,” he said. “It was the highlight of 2020 for me. It was something positive to focus on, and I think it was that way for everyone.”
In addition, two of the subcontractors who worked on the project are currently completing coursework to bring foster children into their homes.