Annual giveaway benefits children with catastrophic diseases

As the ArkLaTex waits expectantly once again for some indication that Mother Nature has not canceled fall, thoughts turn to that other late summer event, the KTBS3/St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway.

The annual event started in 1991 when local pediatrician Dr. Donald Mack was given a modular home, and he decided to raffle it off as a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. St. Jude was the dream of entertainer Danny Thomas as a place where children facing catastrophic childhood diseases could find hope. Legend has it that Dr. Mack was the first physician from this area to refer one of his patients to St. Jude.

This year, more than 40 homes are being given away across the country in a promotion that has grown from a local Shreveport campaign to a national and even international effort.

ALSAC is the organization that is the energy behind the hospital. ALSAC stands for the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities. It was founded in 1957, and its sole mission is to raise the funds and awareness necessary to operate and maintain the hospital. It’s estimated that ALSAC must raise 89 percent of the funds necessary to sustain and grow St. Jude from donors. The Dream Home giveaway is a major contributor to that effort each year.

Tickets for a chance to win this year’s home went for $100. That’s past tense because the record 16,000 tickets were sold out on August 11.

This year, the house was built in Duckwater Landing by Rodgers Homes and Construction of Bossier City and has an estimated value of $675,000. The four-bedroom, 3.5-bath home boasts approximately 3,000 square feet of living space. The two-story dwelling has an open floor plan and a unique media loft. It has a tiled and screened outdoor living area with a side access breezeway leading to a three-car garage. It’s equipped with a number of smart home functions, as well.

Jenny Rodgers, Philip Rodgers and Angie Mazzonne of Rodgers Homes and Construction.

Jenny Rodgers, the lady who keeps the wheels oiled for the construction at Rodgers, described the result. “The house is open-concept with a really awesome outdoor kitchen/patio area like we always have. My father-in-law was the trim carpenter that trimmed out that first house.” She explained that was the modular home Dr. Mack originally raffled. “(Her father-in-law) said, let’s just build a house next year and raffle that off. He started building the house from scratch, and this is year 34. Philip (her husband) has done the last 14 years; his dad did the first 20. This is something his family has been involved in for so long. I’m included, my kids are involved. They know it’s time to do the giveaway. It’s really cool to have that kind of legacy to something so big.”

The Dream Home is designed with an open floor plan.

“There are subs (subcontractors) that have donated every year for years. You don’t even have to ask them, they’re just like, ‘Hey, is it time? Are you ready for me?’ They just show up. It’s amazing.”

— Jenny Rodgers

She said the fundraiser’s success is a community effort.

“There are subs (subcontractors) that have donated every year for years. You don’t even have to ask them, they’re just like, ‘Hey, is it time? Are you ready for me?’ They just show up. It’s amazing. I can name 20 people that give; it’s just incredible the way the community shows up for it. It’s a people thing. We couldn’t do this without this huge community in this area. And the people who buy the tickets — we sold out 16,000 tickets; it’s awesome. It’s a year-round project.”

The living room has plenty of space for relaxing or entertaining.

The KTBS3 station manager is proud the local station has been front and center in the effort over the years. “We’re glad we played a part in launching this thing and making it what it is today. It’s a tremendous promotion for us. It’s one that we have felt very close to for 30-plus years. It has a lot to do with the relationship we had (with) Dr. Mack and his entire family.” George Sirven said he had not been back to St. Jude for several years until he returned to attend a special memorial for Dr. Mack. “When I walked in, you quickly realized that all the work that you do at home is for a very, very good cause.”

One of those families who see the cause is that of Jerry Juneau Jr., according to the Rodgers Homes and Construction website. “Thank you to the Juneau family for the incredibly generous gift of a 100% donated lot in Duckwater Landing! When asked why they gave, Jerry Juneau Jr., said that this donation is small compared to the impact of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and what they have done for childhood cancer.”

Open-house tours of the home are available through September 15, on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. The address is 766 Duckwater Landing in Bossier City.

“You get to see so many of the cool products that donors have given us,” according to Rodgers, “and get ideas for a project you’re doing at your house. We’ve got to show these donors that what they’re doing also really matters. Not just a gift that’s helping a kid with cancer, but these people that walk through the houses, it warms their heart, too.”

Top-of-the-line energy-efficient appliances are installed.

A large island sits in the center of the kitchen making it easy for entertaining.

The kitchen features plenty of cabinet and counter space.

“It’s probably one of the most beautiful homes that Rodgers has built,” according to Sirven. “We are selling more tickets this year than before, 16,000. The drawing this year is September 17. It will happen during our 3 and 4 and 5 p.m. news. And we’ll talk to the winners on the 6 o’clock news.”

The bathroom of the Dream Home was designed with relaxation in mind.

The master bath is complete with stunning deluxe shower and free-standing bathtub and a large walk-in closet.

From humble beginnings to national event, the local folks behind the fundraiser find it hard to fathom its success. “It’s pretty humbling.”

— Jenny Rodgers

From humble beginnings to national event, the local folks behind the fundraiser find it hard to fathom its success. “It’s pretty humbling,” Jenny Rodgers said. “We go to Memphis usually about once a year for a builders’ summit. Some of these builders have been doing it 20 years, some maybe this is their first year, but no one has done it as long as we have. To see how big it is now and to see the impact it has made, it’s pretty amazing to see what they’ve done in Memphis at St. Jude for childhood cancer and to know you’ve been a part of it in some way.

Awake in a room filled with light in this spacious master bedroom.

They really are making such huge strides, it’s incredible.”

Sirven agreed. “It’s hard to believe that we’ve been doing it this long and it has turned into such a powerful fundraiser. Not just here locally but nationwide.”

In spite of the state of real estate this year, Rodgers said the local effort still did well. “St. Jude said our market just did much better than (others). I really think it’s something special about northwest Louisiana. I think it’s just ingrained in people at this point. They’ve been hearing this for so many years, and they just know, like our subs, the time to pour the foundation is the time to buy the ticket.”

Efficency continues into the laundry room, which is attached to the walk-in closet.

“We’re glad we played a part in launching this thing and making it what it is today. It’s a tremendous promotion for us. It’s one that we have felt very close to for 30-plus years.

— George Sirven

The home is equiped with Energy Star central air and heat.

Even though that time is past, as Jenny Rodgers explained, you can still tour the home and see all the new features you might want to try in your own project.

KTBS thanked all of the sponsors involved in the KTBS3/St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway program, saying the local area’s continuing support “helps raise money for St. Jude, where no family ever receives a bill from St. Jude for their child’s care.”

For more information about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and its mission, history and statistics, you can go to http://www.stjude.org/about.