Inspiration comes in many forms, but it takes a little dedication and hard work to make a vision into a masterpiece. And that’s exactly what five children from Portsmouth’s Douglass Park Unit of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia did on a chilly March afternoon when they painted a mural on the wall in the garage of a Homearama home.

The home will serve as the Charity House at Tidewater Builders Association at Spring Homearama 2010 set for May 8-23 at Founders Pointe is Isle of Wight County.   When the home is sold, the proceeds will benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia to help fund programs aimed at helping at-risk young people succeed in school and realize their life’s potential.

The home is one of eight fully furnished and landscaped homes that will be on display during the event.

The mural was designed by Neisha Bethly, a senior program director with the BGCSEVA, after visiting the community.  “I wanted something that represented the area,” said Bethly about her inspiration for the painting. “As I was walking down the pier, I saw the plaques that described the local wildlife and its habitat,” she said of the 844-foot observation pier near the Charity House.

The finished product was a scene depicting the neighboring Batten Bay with a heron resting in the marsh. “I superimposed the dogwood and tulip with the marsh” to add a touch of spring to the mural, Bethly added.

Putting their artistic touch on the mural were Boys & Girls Club members: Armond Townsell, Gary Thomas, Markel Harding, Dimetry Brown, all 11 years old, and Barbara Toussant, 9.

A labor of love
Portsmouth-based builder Eric Sasser and his team at Simply Custom by Sasser Construction, the semi-custom division of Sasser Construction, are building the Charity House.
“Community involvement has been a hallmark of Sasser Construction since our beginnings and in these difficult economic times, it’s even more critical that we all do what we can, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to help those in need,” Sasser said. “The charity of choice this year, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast
Virginia, does such fine works and helps so many in our community, Sasser Construction is honored to build this year’s Charity House.”

Sasser’s company was recently named Southern Living 2010 Custom Builder of the Year. It has twice participated in the Habitat for Humanity Home Builders Blitz where homes are constructed in five days – first in 2006 in Portsmouth and then as lead builder in 2008 in Suffolk.  The company also built out the Maryview Foundation Health Center in Portsmouth that serves the area’s uninsured.

To offset construction costs for the 3,300-square-foot transitional-style Charity House, the following contributors donated products and services: Andrews Roofing; Batchelder & Collins; Bay Cabinets; Bay Sand; Bennett’s Creek Nursery; Bill Hallman Masonry; Boykin Roofing; Burton Lumber; Coleman-Novak Inc.; Dal Tile; East Coast Appliance Inc.; Eastern Window and Door; 84 Lumber; Ferguson Enterprises Inc.; Fireside Hearth & Home; Florida Tile; Forrest Exterminating; Inside Design; Kempsville Building Materials; Landworks Unlimited; Lansing Building Products; Lumber Liquidators; Miller’s Overhead Door; Mosaic Tile; Pendleton Enterprises; R&R Painting LLC; Ross Ellis; Saunders Supply; Shepard Electric; Taylormade; Tony Swain, Twilight Construction; V2K Window Décor & More; Winn Stone; and York Lighting.

A place of hope
Now in its 91st year, the BGCSEVA has grown from the single club begun in 1919 in Norfolk to 10 club units throughout the region from Franklin to Exmore on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

BGCSEVA serves boys and girls of low- to moderate-income families, many of which are headed by single parents and/or grandparents. In communities where school dropout rates are high, BGCSEVA stands as a beacon of hope for young people in need of nurturing, understanding and guidance in meeting the demands of homework, socialization and building self-esteem. Trained professional staff also provide positive adult mentors and role models for the children.

In addition to the showcase homes, Spring Homearama features an Idea Center with hundreds of products for the home and garden. It’s open May 8-23, noon until 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and until 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

General admission cost $10 for a one-day pass and $17 for a two-day pass. Active duty and retired military guests and seniors (62 or better) get a $3 discount Mon.-Thurs., and a $1 discount on weekends. Children 12 and under and guests in wheelchairs are free. Ticket sales will stop one hour before closing.

More information and a $3 discount coupon are available at www.homearama.tv.