3 Ways We Give Back to Local Communities
How we're paying it forward in your area - and how you can help.
Giving back to our community is more than an act of social responsibility, it’s a source of pride for our entire membership. Every day, we pay it forward to help promote the housing industry and make Wisconsin an even better place to live, work, and thrive. Let’s take a closer look at three ways our loyal members help us make a difference in local communities in your area:
1. Promote the residential construction industry
2. Advocate for affordable housing
3. Support local charitable enterprises
Continue reading to learn more about the ways we’re working to give back and discover how you can get involved.
1. Promote the residential construction industry
Our philanthropic arm, the Wisconsin Builders Foundation, strives to advance the residential construction industry by providing training, education, and high ethical standards to the housing industry.
What we do:
- Host an annual golf outing fundraiser to raise scholarship money for trade students
- Partner with Seventhwave to produce the Better Buildings: Better Business Conference that provides continuing education opportunities to tradespersons
- Award scholarships to Wisconsin students in or entering an institution of higher learning in the building trades
- Raise funds earmarked for purchasing tools for high school programs in the La Crosse and Sheboygan areas
- Collaborate with Department of Public Instruction in creating a career path curriculum for students interested in the building trades
Our efforts address the trades labor shortage and ensure that the availability, affordability, and the housing industry as a whole remains strong in the state.
2. Advocate for affordable housing
Through legislative advocacy at the state level, we work tirelessly to keep housing affordable for Wisconsin families to ensure we honor our vision to make “affordable, innovative, and environmentally conscious homes accessible to all.”
What we do:
Regularly meet with state legislators
Keep a watchful eye on the industry
Champion bills that keep housing affordable
Our efforts address the trades labor shortage and ensure that the availability, affordability, and the housing industry as a whole remains strong in the state.
3. Support local charitable enterprises
Twenty-one local associations across the state participate in various community-building and charitable enterprises to promote the residential construction industry, keep housing affordable in Wisconsin, and lend a helping hand to those in need.
What we do:
- Volunteer with local charitable organizations that help veterans and those who are less fortunate, such as Operation Finally Home and Habitat for Humanity
- Participate in trades career days throughout the state where attendance is steadily climbing
- Donate materials and supplies to tech programs and schools
- Support various student-build programs
Interested in helping us make a difference? Learn more about getting involved with the WB Foundation and the responsibilities of a WBA Board of Directors member!