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A 2,100-square-foot colonial home being built in Parma will help provide YMCA scholarships to children from Greece, Hilton, Gates and other westside communities.
The Northwest and Westside YMCAs on Wednesday kicked off their YMCA Dream Home fundraiser with a ceremony on Fallwood Terrace.
The home will be constructed over the next 90 days by Matco Builders and Developers, and will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. The overall community will have a chance to weigh in on the home’s ultimate look by voting online on different designs for the exterior and kitchen.
George Romell, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Rochester, said this is the third time his organization has auctioned off a home to support the Invest in Youth Campaign. Prior auctions were held in Henrietta and Greece.
Last year, the YMCA used $174,000 in Invest in Youth funds to provide summer camp, before and after school programs, day care, swim lessons and youth sports to more than 1,700 youngsters on the west side.
“We want to ensure that no one is turned away from our programs by an inability to pay fees,” he said.
For Marco Mattoli, president of Matco Builders, donating his company’s services to the effort was all about giving back to a community that helped support his family during difficult times.
Mattoli’s 10-year-old daughter, Gabriella, died of cancer in August 2010.
“When my daughter passed away, I felt a kindness and sense of community I’ve never known before,” he said. “That kindness is something that I want to share, and this was my opportunity to do that. I’m proud to collaborate with the YMCA and give back to an organization that gives so much to the children and families of our communities every day.”
Romell said the previous two Dream Home campaigns raised between $30,000 and $50,000 for the Invest in Youth fund.
Community members can vote on aspects of the home’s design beginning April 2 through the WHAM (Channel 13) website. Online voting on the kitchen design will begin April 16.
Bidding on the home will run May 5 through July 15, and all bids will be handled through Paula Amico at Keller Williams Realty.
The home, in the All Seasons subdivision, retails for $215,000.
“This really is all about the kids,” said Will Gallagher, vice-president of the Westside District YMCAs. “The more money we can raise, the more good we can do in the community.”
