MBA teams with local community to provide much-needed support for veterans
By BOB MCCALL
Director of Safety, Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania
Board Member, Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh
When the Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania (MBA) decided to do more to help the Pittsburgh community, they instinctively turned to their friends at Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh (RTP), an organization committed to ensuring everybody has a safe and healthy home.
Nearly 30 years ago, MBA was the driving force behind bringing the organization, which would eventually become RTP, to the region. Over the years, MBA has consistently supported RTP’s vision and mission.
MBA staff envisioned a plan where they would visit a local veteran’s home on Veteran’s Day to perform some needed repairs, such as painting and cleaning. They dubbed the plan Operation Home Front, and the more they talked about their idea, the bigger it became.
In fact, a simple mention at a summer MBA Board of Directors meeting resulted in over $20,000 in personal and corporate donations from the MBA staff and directors. That donation triggered additional grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as local non-profit Neighborhood Allies. While MBA and RTP now were able to do
more, they quickly realized they needed construction professionals to make their vision possible.
The first call was to MBA member Rocky Bleier Construction Group (RBCG), a veteran-owned general contractor. RBCG is headed by Pittsburgh Steelers legend Rocky Bleier who served in the Vietnam War, where he was awarded both the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Once Rocky heard what MBA wanted to do to help local veterans, he threw the entire resources of his company into the project.
The team at RBCG immediately activated their Operation Fighting Back program and went to work planning the renovations, sourcing subcontractor assistance, soliciting material and labor donations, and rounding up trade professionals to do the work. Finally, Rocky gave every employee in his company Veteran’s Day off so that they could work on the homes of his fellow vets.
The response by the Pittsburgh construction community was also over- whelming. What started as a simple home improvement project for a single veteran quickly grew into major renovations to the homes of two great heroes – Aubrey Kirkland, a 75-year-old Vietnam veteran, and Harold Lee, a 96-year-old World War II veteran. Both live independently and saw their homes transformed for a healthier and safer living experience.
MBA contractors and volunteers added new exterior doors, replaced windows, repaired exterior brick, and installed new kitchen cabinetry, countertops and appliances, as well as a new accessible bathroom. These improvements were in addition to a new furnace, a new concrete driveway and new flooring throughout.
For safety’s sake, plumbing and electrical repairs were made. All told, nearly $40,000 worth of labor and materials were donated and installed.
MBA and its members realize the debt owed to those who served to keep our country safe and free. Pulling together and providing needed repairs to help vets live their lives in safe and healthy homes is a shining example of what the construction community can do to help repay our heroes.