Groups donate to Dist. 211 trades program

The Residential Construction Employers Council, along with the Residential Home Builders Alliance, recently raised more than $10,000 in donations for High School District 211's Building Trades Program. RCEC along with RB Construction, GW Thiel, Monarch Construction, and Advantage Contractor Solutions, donated 100 Carhartt jackets with a total value of approximately $6,500. The Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters made a monetary donation of $2,500 and RHBA provided 100 pairs of safety gloves. In addition, Procaccio Painting and Drywall, Parksite and Mr. and Mrs. Len Strahanoski made monetary donations. Other gifts included safety shirts, sweatshirts, tape measures, safety gloves, and gift cards for food and groceries. Students enrolled in the Building Trades Program design and construct a home in the Northwest suburbs. From blueprints to completion, the process usually takes two years. Homes are sold at market value. Conant, Fremd, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, and Schaumburg high schools participate in the program. "As members of the building community, we are pleased to be in a position to support the next generation of tradespeople," said Cathy Kirin, executive vice president for RCEC and RHBA. "These students may be Chicagoland's next architects, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, or homebuilders."