2023 HomeAid Atlanta Award Winners
Building industry nonprofit honors the year’s most outstanding supporters
Atlanta – December 12, 2023 – For over 22 years, HomeAid Atlanta has worked to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness build new lives through construction, community engagement, and education. HomeAid Atlanta’s annual awards celebrate supporters who go above and beyond to help build a future without homelessness. HomeAid Atlanta honored its most outstanding supporters of 2023 on December 7 at the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association’s 25th Annual Holiday Party and Silent Auction hosted by the Atlanta Sales and Marketing Council. The event took place at Ivy Hall in Roswell.
Volunteer of the Year – Amanda Blue, Main Street Designs: Architect Amanda Blue of Main Street Designs has contributed time and expertise to multiple HomeAid Atlanta projects over the years. Her thoughtful and efficient designs create spaces where lives are changed. This year, she designed two new homes as part of HomeAid Atlanta’s project at Breakthru House—one home supporting mothers overcoming addiction allowing their children to remain with them, and one for single women in recovery. She also designed a space for North Georgia Angel House that will provide a place for family visits and to receive donations, limiting access to the main campus and ensuring the safety of the girls and young women who live there. “I look at everything everyone does to make a difference and my role seems like such a small part,” said Amanda Blue, “I get to volunteer my time doing something I truly love—design! It means so much to see the results in the community. I can’t wait to see these projects come to life. It is a pleasure working with HomeAid Atlanta.”
2023 Volunteer of the Year - Amanda Blue, Main Street Designs
Amanda Blue of Main Street Designs (center) receives the HomeAid Atlanta 2023 Volunteer of the Year Award on Dec. 7 at Ivy Hall, with Mandy Crater, HomeAid Atlanta Executive Director and Tony Albachiara, HomeAid Atlanta 2023 Board President.
Trade Partner of the Year – Strack, Inc: With a 75-year history of providing quality work for all types of construction, Strack, Inc. is one of the southeast’s leading heavy civil construction contractors. Following HomeAid’s completion of a new building at Gateway Domestic Violence Center, a total landscaping overhaul was in order. Grading the sloped landscape provided much more work than what was originally to be a week-long project. Strack, Inc. expertly graded the site for over a month, providing more than $50,000 worth of labor on their very first project with HomeAid. Throughout the project, Strack, Inc. dealt with hurdles from the municipality and civil engineer, hauled off dirt, and moved fences and playgrounds up against a deadline for a major HomeAid Care Day, a volunteer workday that would complete the landscaping project.
2023 Trade Partner of the Year - Strack, Inc.
Jonathan Strack, Strack, Inc. CEO, receives the HomeAid Atlanta 2023 Trade Partner of the Year Award from Mandy Crater, HomeAid Atlanta Executive Director.
Builder of the Year – Adam Paterson, Lennar: Adam Paterson, Lennar Area Construction Manager, led work on HomeAid Atlanta’s 2023 renovation at Gwinnett Housing Corporation’s Homeowner Resource Center. His expertise and hard work enabled a smooth construction process from design to completion. Since the June 5 ribbon cutting, the center provides countless families with homeownership education and opportunities. Paterson jumped right into another project, leading a HomeAid Atlanta remodeling effort to add nine units of affordable housing at Veterans Empowerment Organization. “I am truly honored that you would hold me in such high regard,” said Adam Paterson, “I am beyond grateful to be HomeAid Atlanta’s Builder of the Year.”
2023 Builder of the Year - Adam Paterson, Lennar
HomeAid Atlanta Executive Director Mandy Crater presents the HomeAid Atlanta 2023 Builder of the Year Award to Adam Paterson, Lennar Area Construction Manager.
HomeAid Atlanta is a nonprofit organization founded in 2001, with a mission to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness build new lives through construction, community engagement, and education. HomeAid builds, renovates, and maintains facilities for nonprofits serving people experiencing homelessness. HomeAid has completed over 180 construction projects at locations for victims of domestic violence, teen mothers, veterans and more, utilizing connections with building industry professionals and community organizations. HomeAid also provides essential items like diapers, wipes, and hygiene products to those affected by homelessness. HomeAid is the designated charity of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association. Learn more at www.homeaidatlanta.org.