For Caruso Homes of Crofton, building and selling a “House for Hope” was the perfect opportunity to lend its 20 years of home building experience to a worthy cause.
And now, three charities will benefit from the company?s efforts. The “House for Hope,” located in the Breckenridge community outside of Fredericksburg, Va., recently sold for $163,138, which will be donatedto charity.
Broken down, $81,569 will be given to Hope International, a global, faith-based nonprofit that, under its “House for Hope” program, gives small business loans to entrepreneurs living in poverty; $54,651 will go to Fredericksburg Christian Health Center. The remaining $26,918 will be donated to the Rappahannock Council for Domestic Violence.
“Caruso Homes participates in many philanthropic activities, but one of the things we like best about this is the way the money is uses,” said Jeff Caruso, the company?s chief executive officer. “The money is being used for training people or making microloans to people who have a desire to start a business. With the training and microloans, these people can support themselves from generation to generation. It can change a whole family tree so that none of them will live in poverty.”
Jeff Rutt, Hope International?s founder, said through the “House for Hope” program, the organization has been able to provide loans to more than 60,000 families.
“They are a tremendous vehicle to take what people do every day ? the talents that they have ? and put them to use and to help families transform their lives all over the world,” Rutt said. ” ?Houses for Hope? have raised awareness of what the needs are around the world.”
Caruso said that this is the second time his company has built and sold a “House for Hope.” The previous home was located in Prince George?s County. The way that the program works is Caruso Homes along with its various subcontractors and suppliers donate their time and supplies to build the home, which is then placed on the market. What attracts many potential buyers is that all money from the sale is given to charity.
