Our Ideal Homes team immensely enjoyed the United Way Norman Day of Caring 2011. Our fearless group leader, Kent Dahl, rallied a crew of volunteers to assist with construction projects at the Center for Children and Families (CCFI). Kent Dahl and Dan Rice finished the demolition of a closet in the play therapy / observation room. This dynamic duo then rebuilt the closet to house a special two way mirror.

Joe Ochoa, Jeannie Hitchcock and Jenny Juvera constructed hospital light fixtures for the play rooms. They used the same design as the fixtures built by Ideal volunteers in 2010. The final product is a great example of what teamwork can accomplish in a short amount of time.

The final project included resizing an existing wooden stage platform with a hiding space and shelving. The stage was then placed back in the play therapy / observation room and painted. Joe Shore, Mark Vander Wal, Beckie Neff and I all worked on this project.

The projects allowed us to work closely together as a team, while helping support a wonderful organization. It was my first visit to the center. The CCFI staff was welcoming and appreciative. They repeatedly expressed their gratitude. Their explanations let us know how much of an impact these projects would have on the families who came to them for help.

To see a few photographs visit our Facebook page. There are also photographs from many other Ideal Homes events available to view.

Ideal Homes was ranked #10 on the Best Places to Work in OK 2011 roster. okcBIZ was a wonderful host nearly two months ago at the Skirvin Hilton June 16 during the awards dinner. okcBIZ and Best Places to Work OK began collaboration several years ago to select and honor those companies who provide exceptional workplaces for their employees. It is still a program both business owners and employees enthusiastically support. I have only been with Ideal for a little over half a year and am proud to unabashedly tout the outstanding company culture.

This post is an opportunity to share highlights which are not easily summed up by external sources. Those who know me well know my propensity to buck the system on occasion. A company in which creative solutions are encouraged and strategy is supported has the ability to even tame my spirit. Even as I was typing this, one of the owners came into my office to offer compliments on performance and feedback from people he knows. That courteousness causes me to work even harder.

It is a humbling experience to work as a respected professional next to leadership who practices everything they ask of employees. Ideal Homes believes in personal and professional growth. There is no harassment, no flagrant gossiping, no condescension and no disrespect. There is support, encouragement, appreciation and respect. The mission, vision and core values of Ideal are consistently put into practice.

Cumulatively Ideal Homes is involved in over 65 unique charitable organizations. The organizations range from American Cancer Society to OK Ethics Consortium to ReTHREAD OKC. Over $300,000 is reinvested in the community on an annual basis.  That is roughly $1,000 per home sold. This does not take into account individual donations given by the owners and employees.

“Inspired leaders and inspired organizations regardless of their size, regardless of their industry all think, act and communicate from the inside out.” Simon Sinek stated this in September 2009 during his ted talk. Ideal Homes is an inspired organization and the organization is run by inspired leaders. In turn they inspire employees, contractors, home buyers and other builders to remain accountable and energized. Thankfully they saw value in me and chose to add me to their team.

The Ideal Homes power team of Kristy Dean, Operations & Communications Coordinator, and Suzanne Vicsek, Director of Accounting Department, successfully co-chaired the 2011 Relay for Life Norman and gathered over $101,000 for the American Cancer Society. They have run the Relay for Life Norman for the past three years with Kristy serving as chair for the prior two years and Suzanne serving as accounting chair.

HOPE for Those Affected by Cancer

There were over 350 participants in this year’s relay, which was held May 20, 2011 at the Norman High School gymnasium.

During the Luminaria Ceremony over 300 small bags with glow sticks donated from ROBYN promotions were arranged to spell, “HOPE”.

400 plus names were read during the ceremony paying tribute to those who have lost their lives to cancer as well as to those who have survived the battle with cancer.

Ideal Homes has been a part of the Relay for Life Norman for 11 years. Two live auctions are held annually to drive fundraising efforts. One of the live auctions is held at a monthly staff meeting for Ideal Homes employees. The employees during the live auction held at this year’s April staff meeting raised $3,200, which is close to the amount raised during the live auction held the night of the relay.

The corporate citizens and eleven committee members who provided support during this year’s relay are greatly appreciated. Corporate sponsors include East Side Wal Mart, Chick-Filet, Office Max, Ideal Homes, Mercy Oncology, Home Creations and Citywide Mortgage. They significantly contributed to the fundraising dollars through generous donations. “We would not have had the level of success we experienced without all of the committe dedication and the sponsor support.” – Kristy Dean.

Funds are still being accepted for the Relay for Life Norman ; you can visit www.relayforlife.org/normanok for more information.

Contact Kristy Dean kdean@ideal-homes.com or 405-219-1344 if you are interested in being involved with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life Norman 2012.

This post co-authored by Kristy Dean of Ideal Homes.

Last year when we built a home for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, we set show records with our food drive. So we’re doing it again (not the show…but the food drive), working with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma to collect food and funds for their 2011 Feeding Hope and Letter Carriers Food Drive.

Our goal is to collect 5,000 pounds of food. You can help us by collecting food from your friends and neighbors and bringing it to at any one of our 18 drop-off locations during May.

Drop-Off Locations

Edmond:

• Valencia – 18704 Casero Drive (north on May past NW 178th).
• Valencia – 2605 NW 180th Street (between Penn and May on NW 178th).
• Valencia – 2540 NW 180th Street (between Penn and May on NW 178th).
• Valencia – 2200 NW 182nd Street (north on Penn past NW 178th).
• Marble Leaf – 15025 Madder Drive (between Penn and Western on NW 150th).

Mustang/Yukon:

• Fountain Grass – 9737 SW 24th Terrace (SW 24th Terrace and Morgan Road).
• Somers Pointe – 13020 SW 4th Street (south of Reno on Hwy 92/Garth Brooks Blvd).

Moore:

• Design Center – 9211 S. I-35 (west-side service road, between exits 119
  and 120)
• Country Place – 2341 SW 135th Street (between Penn and May on SW 134th).
• Featherstone – 912 SW 158th Street (south of SW 149th Street on Western Avenue).
• Wildflower – 15425 Nightshade Street (south of SW 149th Street on Western Avenue).

Norman:

• Ideal Homes office – 1320 N. Porter in Norman (just north of Robinson)
• Carrington Place – 4124 Cannon Drive (between Tecumseh and Franklin Road on NW 36th Avenue).
• Green Leaf Trails – 900 Bear Mountain Drive (east of 12^th Ave. NW on Tecumseh).
• Red Canyon Ranch – 801 Carolyn Ridge Road (west of 12^th Ave. NE on Tecumseh).
• Trail Woods – 2409 Trailwood Drive (On Rock Creek Road (between HWY 77 and Porter).

Midwest City:

• Sundance – 12612 SE 16th Court (east of Anderson Road on SE 15th Street).

Stillwater:

• Stonecrest – 5006 N Nancy Lee Drive (At the intersection of N Washington Street and W Richmond Road, turn left on Richmond and head West for less than 1/4 of a mile).

Most needed food donations

• Canned meats
• Meat-based soups
• Canned fruits
• Canned vegetables
• Peanut butter
• Rice and beans
• No homemade or glass items please!

Or you can make a donation

Log on to Ideal’s donation page on the RFB web site to make a donation online.

Thanks for your help.

The Ideal Homes Team

I was asked to write a blog post as an introduction of my position. Those of you who thought you came to the Ideal Homes blog with expectation of reading enlightening industry related tidbits, please accept my apology. You will read instead a possibly boring post, but know it is written with love.

It is wonderful to report after over ten years experience in the Oklahoma City corporate realm my home has been found with a home builder committed to excellence. My passion is to build community among people and Ideal Homes passionately builds communities for people.

Ideal Homes was a builder / developer partner of mine when I worked with Cox Communications. During meetings their primary question was, “how does this help our home buyers?” Based on the parameters of our partnership, they executed all deliverables as needed and were more than willing to openly communicate. They definitely earned the 2010 Builder of the Year honor extended to them by Professional Builder Magazine.

Their Core Values: Integrity, Quality, Leadership and Relationships drive their interactions with purchasers of new homes as well as vendors, partners, local communities and employees. Their Vision: “Building the American dream through mutually beneficial relationships with customers, contractors and co-workers” sets the tone of their corporate environment.

It is an honor to have joined the Ideal Homes family. Serving in the capacity of Community Outreach Specialist will give me the opportunity to be an extension of Ideal Homes among local corporate entities, chambers, civic organizations and via online mediums. I look forward to writing future blog posts to further share both their story and the stories of their home buyers.

If you or anyone you know in Oklahoma City, Norman, Stillwater, Midwest City, Mustang or Edmond look to purchase a new home, please consider Ideal Homes. Their Mission: “Quality Affordable Homes, Today and Tomorrow” is even reflected in their Design Center options, quality and affordability of upgrades.

Remember, “Anything Else is Less than Ideal!” Thank you for perusing this post and your feedback is greatly appreciated.

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Ideal Homes has been absolutely amazed by the flood of Oklahomans who want to be a part of Ideal’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

One way you can get involved is by participating in Ideal’s Extreme Food Drive. When the show came to us, we were excited not only about changing the life of a deserving family but by energizing residents of central Oklahoma to do something amazing for the entire community. As Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has traveled throughout the United States filming over 170 episodes, they realized that even more could be given back to the community.

That’s why Ideal Homes has partnered with the United Way to raise 23,000 pounds of food. The goal is large, but we’re up for the challenge and we need your help. Check out the Food & Blood Drive page on www.IdealExtremeHome.com for details and drop off locations.  If you’re interested in setting up a drop off box at your organization or workplace, email Jenny at jhamar@ideal-homes.com. Let’s show everyone what central Oklahoma can do!

The entire Ideal Homes team is excited to announce that we have partnered with the hit ABC reality show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to build a new home for one of five truly heroic Oklahoma City metro area families.  We are extremely honored that we’ve been selected for this great project that reaches millions of people and touches so many lives.

Ty Pennington’s famous door knock will come on February 1, 2010.  The past several weeks have been exciting as we’ve made tireless preparation for the first Extreme Makeover in Central Oklahoma.  We need thousands of volunteers.  Check out IdealExtremeHome.com for project details.  The family will be revealed on February 1st.  We hope you’ll join us.  Stay tuned!