Pardee Homes honored

Pardee Homes has been honored as this year's Outstanding Corporation by the Las Vegas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals during the 16th Annual National Philanthropy Day Awards, based on the company's efforts to completely renovate the St. Jude's Ranch for Children campus in Boulder City with an estimated value in excess of $1 million.

Through HomeAid Southern Nevada, Pardee and more than 100 volunteer subcontractors early this year transformed the cottages and grounds that are now home to nearly 50 abused, neglected and abandoned children.

Under the banner of "Building Hope," Pardee led the volunteer force of workers -- some 400-strong -- in the renovation and refurbishing of eight cottages totaling more than 56,000 square feet; more than two acres of new landscaping; more than 1,000 tons of new asphalt; some 1,500 linear feet of concrete paving and thousands of gallons of paint.

In addition, Pardee donated furniture and decorations from 10 professionally decorated model homes.

"Project Building Hope was one of the most meaningful projects that Pardee has undertaken in our 55 years of building homes and communities in Southern Nevada," said Carlos Zuluaga, Pardee general superintendent, in accepting the award.

"It brought out the best in our industry and demonstrated to the rest of the community what goodwill and good work can do to improve the lives of the less fortunate among us," Zuluaga said.

Other organizations that have benefited from Pardee's efforts are HomeAid Southern Nevada, The Shade Tree Shelter for homeless women and children and the Clark County Public Education Foundation.