$20,000 CHALLENGE GRANT ISSUED BY LOCAL HOME BUILDER TO EASTERN PANHANDLE COMMUNITY

For the third year in a row, Dan Ryan Builders is asking the Eastern Panhandle community to join them in fighting homelessness in the Eastern Panhandle.

The local community is asked to meet the 2007-2008 Dan Ryan Builders’ Challenge Gift by donating directly to Eastern Panhandle nonprofit groups that are doing their part to end homelessness in Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan County.

Then, Dan Ryan Builders will match each donation, up to $20,000, by adding to the Housing Action endowment fund entrusted to the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation. This endowment works each year to end the battle against homelessness and affordable housing by providing annual grants to charities that address the problem in the Eastern Panhandle.

Martinsburg Division President, Ken Gardner, states, "We are very pleased we could continue to help this worthy cause for the third year in a row. Our goal is to challenge others to help with the problem of homelessness in the Eastern Panhandle."

At any given time in the tri-county area, there are as many 200 individuals without a warm place to come home. The majority are men between the ages of 25 and 55 years old and a significant number of homeless people in our area are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Nationally, homeless families, typically consisting of a single mother and two children under the age of six, comprise nearly 40% of the homelessness epidemic.

Any individual, family, organization, or church group can make a contribution to a local charity fighting homelessness, such as CCAP – Loaves and Fishes, Habitat for Humanity of the Eastern Panhandle, Jefferson County Community Ministries, Martinsburg Rescue Mission, Morgan County Starting Points, Shalom Center, Salvation Army, Men of Vision and Valor, the Shenandoah Women’s Center, Community Networks Inc. – Bethany House, or St. Vincent De Paul Society of Berkeley or Morgan County, and other groups addressing the problem. After making a donation, the donor simply contacts the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation, notifying them of their donation.

The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation, founded in 1995, provides financial stewardship for $6.7 million in endowment. Donors craft the vision to determine how their fund serves the community. Community foundations number more than 700 across America and 26 in West Virginia. If you’re interested in learning more about how you can give a gift that lasts lifetimes, contact the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation at (304) 264-0353.

2007 Builder of Integrity Award

Frederick, MD – Dan Ryan Builders, Inc., a residential builder headquartered locally, has received the “2007 Builder of Integrity” award from Quality Builders Warranty Corporation (QBW). Recipients of this exclusive award demonstrate a commitment to excellence in customer service and quality construction.

As a member of the QBW Program, Dan Ryan Builders, Inc. has undergone a strict screening process to ensure their commitment to technical excellence, professional dealing, ethical practice, and financial stability. All members of the program are screened thoroughly on a regular basis, to ensure their continued dedication to quality. From that group, only a small number of homebuilders nationwide receive the “Builder of Integrity” award. As a member of the QBW Program, Dan Ryan Builders, Inc. has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in customer service that has gone above and beyond the industry norm.

Quality Builders Warranty Corporation, a national ten-year new home warranty program, has been enrolling builders of the highest skill and integrity into its premier program since 1985. QBW members provide a 10-year warranty insured by Liberty Mutual on all their homes. Visit www.qbwc.com for more information.

Pangborn Park Fountain and Gardens Dedication

The City of Hagerstown has a newly built addition on its grounds, the Pangborn Park Fountain and Gardens. The public is invited to attend a dedication ceremony which will take place on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. at the park’s location at 530 Pangborn Boulevard.

Pangborn Park was donated to the City of Hagerstown by Pangborn Industries and is known for its beautiful, lush landscape. The park already offers two pavilions, an expansive array of playground equipment, racquetball courts and lighted tennis courts, a sand base volleyball court, horseshoe pits, lawn bowling court, baseball diamond, formal garden and a stunning man-made pond stocked with fish. Pathways meander through the park, including a recently added lighted path, with bridges across the Park’s stream, which connects Pangborn Park to the Fairgrounds Park.

The addition of the new fountain with its surrounding garden completes Pangborn Park and anchors it with a visual landmark. The construction of the fountain and gardens has updated a space in the park that had been previously untouched for some time. It has now been transformed into a more welcoming, usable area for park visitors. Parks Superintendent, Junior Mason said, “The entire project has been an interesting and creative process. It is amazing to see the difference between what the area looked like before the fountain and gardens were completed and now after it’s finished.” City employees completed all of the construction and landscaping except for the plumbing, electric and blacktop installation. “Next Spring,” Mr. Mason added, “With a little more planting left to do, the fountain will explode in vibrant color and plant life.”

Of the project’s total cost of $86,000 for the construction of the fountain and gardens, $50,000 was paid for by a Maryland State Highway Grant Scenic By-ways Program, $16,000 was paid for by Program Open Space, $10,000 was funded by the City of Hagerstown General Fund and $10,000 was donated by Dan Ryan Builders. “This is a great opportunity for Dan Ryan Builders to give back to the City of Hagerstown. We really appreciate the support we’ve received from the Mayor and City Council Members helping us with our mission of creating the best value in home ownership. The City was great with our Park Overlook community and continues to be at our new community Seneca Ridge,” said John Migliore, Dan Ryan Builders Hagerstown Division President. In a continuous effort to improve the aesthetics and quality of our community’s environment, the City undertakes projects which will contribute to the healthy growth and lifestyle of residents, in hopes to provide people with an ever increasing variety of activities and programs that promote healthy living. The attention to Pangborn Park is no exception. “The Pangborn Park Fountain and Gardens addition is another beautification project that the City of Hagerstown is doing to make our community a better place to live. The positive impact of projects such as this one will truly effect and build upon the great livable quality of Hagerstown,” said City Engineer Rodney Tissue.

Dan Ryan Builders Gives to United Way

Ken Gardner, Martinsburg Division President of Dan Ryan Builders attended a campaign progress review meeting of the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle to announce that they would be making a $25,000 donation to the 2007-08 fund drive. Gardner said that “We at Dan Ryan Builders are very excited that we are able to continue our support of the United Way in this down turn of the housing market. It’s a great feeling for all of us to give back to the community.”

According to Paula Miller, United Way real estate division leader, this donation put the real estate/development division well over our division goal just a few weeks into our campaign. Ken Tyler, the Campaign Chairman of United Way said “Dan Ryan Builders has been a good partner for us in the past, and they are showing tremendous leadership this year as well. We are hopeful that other builders and developers will follow Dan Ryan’s lead.”

The United Way of the Eastern Panhandle partners with nonprofits, businesses, and the community to mobilize financial and human resources, facilitate community problem solving, build the capacity of the nonprofit community through training and technical assistance, and identify and develop solutions to unmet community needs.

For more information on the web go to www.uwayep.org or contact Vicki Shean at United Way of the Eastern Panhandle at (304) 596-5529 or uwepdrd@comcast.net.