For sale: Beautiful 3,000-square-foot Craftsman-style home on golf course in Arroyo Grande. Price: $819,000. Built with love. Proceeds benefit Christian education.
That’s not exactly how the realtor phrased the advertisements for the home built on the edge of Cypress Ridge Golf Course, but she could have.
The building project, which was undertaken by Byron Davis and Arpad Soo, grew out of love for Christian education and their local Valley View Junior Academy in Arroyo Grande.
Parent fundraising involvement began more than three years ago. “Enrollment had fallen and programs had to be cut,” remembers Soo’s wife, Adela.
Rallying in a crisis and with much prayer, the school board stepped forward in faith. “A core group of parents stepped in pledging funds and then spread out to ask others to join in,” Adela says. The first step: a music teacher hired on the pledged support of parents.
For the past three years, parents have raised $70,000 annually. Searching for a creative way to increase fundraising, Soo, who had successfully built and sold four custom homes on spec, felt impressed to move in this direction. “We have seen God’s hand working in a tremendous way for His school during the last three years,” says Soo. “That gave us the confidence to proceed.”
Davis, a dentist, purchased the land; Warren Hamrick, an architect and owner of Hamrick Associates in Shell Beach, created the design; and Soo, owner of Cal Coast Building and Plumbing, worked as general contractor.
These three men weren’t the only generous ones. “Everyone has had a part in this,” says Adela. “The tile subcontractor gave us a discount, the painter and the roofer, too; even the real estate person will give us a percentage of her commission.”
It’s turned out to be a good example of how people with a variety of skills and experiences can work together to raise money. When escrow closes, the profit will be between $100,000-150,000 with 100 percent going to the school.
“This project was fun because everyone has given,” says Hamrick. “You have a whole bunch of gifts that added up to a substantial gift.” Their example has also made an impact on the community as local television stations and newspapers shared the story.
The various projects to be funded are the worthy student fund, a new school van, remodel of the front office and kitchen, a new storage building and possibly more. In addition, the operational budget will be supplemented.
Dan Meidinger, principal of Valley View, says he is constantly amazed by the generosity of the community. “Just knowing that someone thinks enough about Christian education to put in this kind of time and energy is so encouraging,” he says. “These are very busy professionals, and their only profit in this is knowing that what they are doing is going into the lives of kids.”
“Valley View staff, students and parents have learned that no matter the hardship or discouragement, when God is leading, we are to confidently step forward,” says Adela.
