BLSJ Charitable Foundation Mission Statement
The mission of the Charitable Foundation of the Builders League of South Jersey is to provide shelter-related assistance and to support charities with similar needs within the communities we serve.
Announcing the joint program of Builders League of South Jersey, National Association of Home Builders and the National Football League Former Players Association are (from left) Bill Cappuccio of MarJam Supply; NFLPA-Philadelphia chapter President Gregory Brown; Ron Davis, NFLPA National Steering Committee member; Builders League Secretary Mitchell Zbik, NFLPA-Philadelphia chapter Vice President Joe Wilson, NFLPA-Philadelphia chapter Secretary Art Scott and Builders League President Jason Schaeffer of Schaeffer Family Homes.
Builders League of South Jersey, NFL Players Association launch charitable partnership to renovate homes in southern NJ
CHERRY HILL, N.J. MARCH 7, 2012 - The closest most New Jersey homebuilders ever got to a professional football player was designing the ultimate media room so homebuyers could watch their favorite teams on high definition wall-size projection television systems.
With an eye toward expanding charitable projects within the region the two sides are now a little closer to home.
The Builders League of South Jersey and the Philadelphia chapter of National Football League Former Players Association have announced a partnership to rehabilitate homes for returning veterans and needy families within southern New Jersey.
Through Touchdown for Homes, a national charitable outreach program developed by theNational Association of Homes Builders and the NFLPA Former Players Association, the partnership will build projects in communities that have an NFLPA chapter and a local homebuilders association with a charitable outreach program. The Philadelphia NFLPA chapter is composed of retired players from across the country, who are now living within the Philadelphia Metro area.
“We are really excited to partner with the Builders League on projects that will bring the heart and soul back to teamwork in a way that professional athletes understand,” said National Steering Committee member Ron Davis, who was born in Camden, played for Deptford High School, and played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Atlanta Falcons in the 1970s.
“It’s time for everyone to reach out to the community more with some of these charitable projects,” said Gregory Brown, Philadelphia Chapter President of the NFL Former Players Association and a Voorhees resident. “Former professional athletes know how important that is to connect with the communities that once supported us. As well, it helps us live with our abilities once we are no longer playing professionally. We’re building a new kind of program. Ultimately we want to build a home for a returning veteran or a needy individual.”
The goal of Touchdown for Homes is to strengthen communities by providing comfortable and suitable housing opportunities for individuals, families and veterans in need. The program was inspired by the Dallas former NFL players’ chapter that, through its successful Holiday House program, has built a home a year for a disadvantaged family for the past 12 years with the help of local homebuilders.
Since its national launch earlier this year, former NFL players, NAHB members and consulting professionals from around the country have been working together in communities, including Dallas, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Knoxville, Minneapolis, Seattle and San Antonio/Austin.
“This is something to believe in. We need to be out there helping people to get back home,” said Bill Cappuccio of MarJam Supply, a member of the Builders League’s Remodelers Council.
Members of the Builders League’s Charitable Foundation recently met with members of the NFLPA Philadelphia chapter to begin reviewing potential projects in southern New Jersey that would be a good fit for both organizations. They expect to begin the first renovation project this spring and hope to conduct a new home construction project in the future.
“Providing our residents with a healthy place to call home has always been our priority. We are extremely excited to be able to partner with an organization that understands teamwork and the need for community outreach,” said Builders League President Jason Schaeffer of Schaeffer Family Homes in Berlin. “There are needy projects in every community in southern New Jersey, from simple renovation projects to complete remodels. Ultimately, we are all neighbors helping neighbors. With this partnership, we are hoping to rival the success of the Dallas chapter by showcasing how New Jersey residents always response to a neighbor in need.”
ABOUT THE NFLPA: The National Football League Former Players Association is the union for professional football players in the National Football League. Established in 1956, the NFLPA has a long history of assuring proper recognition and representation of players’ interests.
BLSJ Charitable Foundation Donates to Housing Groups
The Builders League of South Jersey Charitable Foundation continued its tradition of helping housing-related groups by making contributions of $500 each to the Metropolitan Camden Habitat for Humanity, Gloucester County Habitat for Humanity, Burlington County Habitat for Humanity, Cumberland County Habitat for Humanity and the Habitat for Humanity Cape May County.
Last year, the Charitable Foundation donated $10,000 as a sponsor to the Habitat for Humanity Atlantic County’s construction of the first Habitat for Humanity home to be built in the United States under the guidelines of New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program NJ ENERGY STAR Homes and the National Association of Home Builders National Green Building Program.
The Foundation continued its assistance of the Family Service Organization by collecting toys, food and cash during our Holiday Toy Drive at our Holiday Party and Installation of Officers and Board of Directors in December.
Since 2002, the Charitable Foundation has awarded more than $110,008 in donations to worthy organizations for food and housing assistance.
