College, builders, home owners benefit from ‘College Home’
A Lethbridge family has settled into its new “College Home.”
Now the parents will have to decide who’s going to college.
Tyler Tamura, Melissa Zunti and their three children are enjoying their new Copperwood home, completed earlier this year by Daytona Homes as part of a fiveyear initiative.
Along with other members of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association - Lethbridge Region, Daytona is using proceeds from that particular project to support the college’s $25-million trades and technology campaign. Daytona’s $90,747 contribution adds to the $426,000 raised by Lethbridge contractors during the campaign’s first two years, towards a goal of $1 million.
In return, the college is offering a $2,500 student award to purchasers of homes dedicated to the campaign. Tamura said he and his partner aren’t sure who will use it.
Both attended the University of Lethbridge, are now raising a family ranging from eight months to six years old — and aren’t about to return to classes.
“I’m sure one of the kids will put it to use down the road,” he said.
But it was the home’s features, not the scholarship, that clinched the deal, Tamura pointed out.
“We want to thank Daytona for building such a beautiful home.”
Guy Bellis, Daytona’s general manager, was equally upbeat.
“Daytona Homes is delighted to have partnered in this wonderful initiative that will provide a solid foundation for the future skilled trades force of our local community,” he said, adding his praise for the skills of today’s trades people.
“Our team is proud to have contributed towards helping to strengthen the educational landscape for many generations, that will ultimately add value to our city and region.”
College president Paula Burns paid tribute to the generosity of local builders, suppliers and trades people.
“It’s exciting to see how the whole community comes together,” she said.
Launched in 2013, the “College Home” project sees Home Builders’ member contractors volunteer to complete two homes each year — one per builder — on a rotating five-year basis. This year’s second home, by Signature Homes, is still available for sale.
“This is an amazing project, and the support we have received and the impact it has made since the beginning makes all of the hard work that our members have put in worth it,” said Home Builders’ regional president Angela Cornforth in a prepared statement.
Work on the college’s new trades and technology centre began in the spring of 2014, with students moving into its first-completed phase a year ago. The second phase is scheduled to open next September.
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