Published November 2001

Kids win with this
real estate partnership

Homebuilders sometimes get a bad rap, an image that they’re out for every dollar they can get. Realistically, in a costly, competitive marketplace like Snohomish County, that’s probably an understandable goal, though. Builders and developers have expenses that demand frugal planning in their quest to create quality homes and hold on to their niche in the marketplace.

But it’s heartwarming to discover that competitive survival fervor doesn’t always take first place.

Consider the example of developer and builder Steve Edwards, Director of Medallion Group. He’s building Woodsong, a 39-home development with homes costing less than $300,000 in Lynnwood north of the Alderwood Mall.

Expecting to pay impact fees for the development to the Edmonds School District, as usual, Edwards was surprised to find that because the district has been able to keep up with growth, it isn’t assessing impact fees on new homes for the time being. More money stays in his pocket, right?

Not this time. Edwards and his partner, Nizar Damji, wanted to help children in other ways. Both men said they “believe that children are our future.”

So Edwards and Damji decided to contribute $500 for each sold home to a scholarship program for Edmonds School District students — when Woodsong is sold out, the fund will have an extra $19,500 from the Medallion Group, thanks to their generosity. That money comes from their profits, not from those who buy their homes.

Home buyers also get to choose which of three child-related charities will receive their homes’ donated funds — the school district’s summer-school scholarship program, its full-day kindergarten program or Clothes For Kids, a Lynnwood nonprofit agency that provides free clothing to needy children.

But the goodness in their program didn’t end there. Because Edwards and Damji inspired others in their industry, even more money and community involvement was generated.

Windermere real estate agent Dick Kellett, who handles the listings for Woodsong, took their idea to the Windermere Foundation. The result was a partnership between Medallion, Windermere Foundation, Seattle Mortgage and Chicago Title Co. Together, they will contribute another $1,000 for each home sold — an additional $39,000 for helping children.

“This is a wonderful thing the builder is doing, and it makes you realize that several small contributions can add up to a huge benefit,” said Barbara Lamoureaux of the Windermere Foundation, which is coordinating the collection and disbursement of the donations.

Now Edwards and Damji hope more builders and developers will follow their lead.

Thanks, too, should go to the Edmonds School District for not simply filling their own coffers with impact funds that aren’t presently needed.

Speaking of people being motivated to meet others’ needs, it’s worth heaping some praise on Sharie Ennis, too. She started Clothes For Kids 16 years ago after seeing so many needy children at the hospital where she worked.

“I realized what a struggle it is on a limited budget to supply needs for children,” Ennis said. “Last year, we served the needs of 1,260 kids and filled 1,600 wardrobes with a change of clothes every day for a full week. Kids need to feel good about themselves.”

You can bet that these adults and businesses feel good about themselves, too.

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