THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 1, 1994 TAG: 9411290131
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
St. Nick is making an early delivery this year to the Boys and Girls Club of South Hampton Roads.
The group is receiving the 1994 Charity House, which has been constructed specifically for the organization as a fund-raiser. The house, located in Lafayette Shores, will be open this weekend for public tours.
The land for the house was donated by Lafayette Shores developer Bill Wright and his brother, Nick. Wright's longtime association with the Boys and Girls Clubs prompted him to donate the $102,000 home site.
``It's been a labor of love working with the Boys and Girls Clubs and seeing what they can do to help the youths of our community,'' said Wright, who also led the effort to design and build the house.
Wright's family has been involved with the Boys and Girls Clubs for 50 years, he said. His father, Nick Wright Sr., was president of the group from the early 1940s until his death in 1958. Bill Wright served as president from 1984 to 1988 and has been on the board of directors since then.
``The whole board has been supportive of the endeavor, and many have participated,'' Wright said. ``Ultimately, (the house) will be used as a residence.''
The completed home, which was constructed by American Heritage Group Inc., is valued at $450,000. The club hopes to raise more than $150,000. Public house tours will begin Friday and end Sunday.
Proceeds from the sale of the house will go to the 1994 United Way Capital Campaign. The Boys and Girls Club - one of the 15 designated agencies that will benefit from the fund-raiser - will put the money toward a goal of $2.5 million to build a 30,000-square-foot facility in the Lynnhaven/Green Run area of Virginia Beach.
Wright said the group secured 4.5 acres at the corner of Rosemont Road and Buckner Boulevard to build a club, library and two small baseball fields.
``We certainly hope someone will come forth and buy the house,'' Wright said. ``We feel real confident it will be successful endeavor.''
Portions of the house's interior decorations and antiques will be purchased tonight at a private silent auction during the Grand Gala Preview. However, the items will remain in the house during the tours.
Al Seely of Seely Interiors Ltd. handled the house's inside designs. Seely said he joined the project because of his involvement in high school with the Boys Club in Albany, Ga. After losing touch with the organization over the years, he said, the Charity House was a good chance for him to give back to the group.
``What a wonderful opportunity to do something I had experience with,'' Seely said. ``It's amazing how many people have been so giving immediately without having to be asked. It just has been very worthwhile.''
The house is also a sort of birthday present for the Boys and Girls Club of Hampton Roads, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Additional donations came from Benjamin Moore Paints & Norfolk Paint Company, Central Fidelity Bank, and Long and Foster Realtors of Norfolk.
Seely, a state licensed designer, said in designing the interior he tried to strike a balance between the styles seen in magazines such as Architectural Digest and Southern Living.
``I've been able to do some interesting designs to (the house),'' he said. ``I'm excited to see it complete. I'm curious to see how it's received.''
Everyone, especially the Boys and Girls Club, seems happy with the finished product, Wright said.
``It's getting awfully exciting,'' he said. ``It's going to be a great Christmas for the Boys and Girls Club and for the kids of our community.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON
This house in Lafayette Shores is being sold to benefit the Boys and
Girls Club of South Hampton Roads.
OPEN HOUSE
The 1994 Boys and Girls Charity House will be open to the public
at no charge from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
by CNB