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PENNSYLVANIA BUILDER RECEIVES COVETED CHARITABLE AWARD IN

HOMEBUILDING INDUSTRY

The Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Award is the single largest charitable award program in the homebuilding industry and the award is the most coveted in the housing industry. In 2008, Pennsylvania-based Jeff Rutt, founder of Keystone Custom Homes, is the recipient of the $200,000 prize.

Every community has heroes – builders who seem to spend as much time helping others as running their own business. They give money, they give time and they give of themselves. BUILDER magazine and HEARTHSTONE, together with founding sponsor Kohler Company, joined forces to create an award program to recognize builders who go the extra mile to help others. The 2008 Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Award will be presented to Lancaster, PA native, Jeff Rutt, founder of Keystone Custom Homes and HOPE International.

According to a letter received by Jeff Rutt, the winners of the award and their charities will be honored at an award dinner during the International Builders’ Show to be held in Orlando, FL on Valentine’s Day, February 14. Rutt will appear on the cover of BUILDER magazine, as well as receive a check for $200,000 to be awarded to the charity of his choice.

“The charity will be HOPE International,” said Jeff Rutt. “The entire philosophy of HOPE is based on the old proverb, ‘If you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. If you TEACH a man HOW to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime.’ Our mission with HOPE is to offer permanent solutions to poverty around the world.”

HOPE International, founded by Rutt in 1997, is a non profit organization serving the poor in developing countries around the word through micro-credit lending programs and children’s ministries. Rutt supplied the ‘seed’ money: approximately $1,000,000 of his own money. He continues to give a personal financial donation to support the program.

“HOPE is a three pronged mission,” added Rutt. “The HOPE Credit program gives loans to people—on an average of $250.00-- to start or enhance their own small business. The recipient repays the loan with interest and the funds are re-used over and over again. Our repayment rate is approximately 99%! My favorite story is of a young widowed mother who could barely feed, clothe or shelter her family, but dreamt of starting her own business of selling shoes from a kiosk at a local farmer’s market. She is just one story among thousands of success stories!”

In addition, there is the Houses for HOPE program that has built over 56 houses nationwide, 20 of which were built by Rutt’s own company, Keystone Custom Homes,. With a total net revenue of over $10 million, the net proceeds from the sales of these homes further expand the credit lending program and the children’s ministry program.

“The children’s ministry program is probably the closest to my heart,” added Rutt. “To me, faith is seen in the eyes of a child—so big, innocent, in awe. When children come to HOPE’s weeklong summer camps, they are taught to speak English and to learn about the Gospel through crafts, skits, songs and games. Then later, they attend the Tomorrow Clubs where their faith will grow. And so will our faith in tomorrow that the world we be a better place.”

In addition to running his own multi-million dollar homebuilding company with over 120 employees, Rutt also is the positive force that runs the 32 member HOPE International staff. The operation has distributed hundreds of thousands of loans, expanded into the Phillipines, Romania and India making 13 the total number of countries served. He plans to double the number of clients by 2010.

In the nominating letter that earned Rutt the award, David Weekley, chairman of the Houston, TX based David Weekley Homes, wrote, “As president of Keystone Custom Homes, Jeff has built a legacy of commitment to local charitable causes in Lancaster, PA. As Founder of HOPE International, Jeff has guided the growth of an organization to reach thousands of people in 13 developing nations to find real-life transforming solutions to poverty.”

Rutt, the married father of three, resides in Lancaster, PA. Founder of Keystone Custom Homes in 1992, his company made it possible in 2007 (a year in which the sales were up over 20%) for over 300 families to enjoy the benefits of owning a brand new Keystone Custom Home, a strong investment into the local economy that avoided layoffs, ensured needed work for many suppliers and trade partners and allowed new contributions to HOPE International as well as local charities while contributing to the company's growth.  

HEARTHSTONE BUILDER HUMANITARIAN panel of judges selected the winner based on Lifetime Commitment, Depth of Commitment, Significance of builder’s contributions to community, Inspirational value, Significance of charity, and the Ability of charities to use the award.

Below is a link to the video that will be shown at the Hearthstone Builder Humanitarian Award. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLuoADHC5C4