McCARTHY BUILDING COMPANIES TEAMS WITH CHOC CHILDREN’S ON HOMEAID OC PROJECT PLAYHOUSE

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. of Newport Beach and its employee volunteers, the McCarthy Heart Hats, have teamed with CHOC Children’s to build the opportunity playhouse for HomeAid Orange County’s 18th Annual Project Playhouse event which is now underway at Irvine Spectrum Center®.

For the past 17 years, the tiny structures have been predominately built by homebuilders. However, this year, McCarthy became the first commercial builder to donate its services to construct a HomeAid Orange County playhouse.

“We are thrilled to have first time playhouse builder McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. in partnership with CHOC Children’s as our first playhouse commercial builder,” said Gina Scott, HomeAid Orange County, Director of Development. “McCarthy and the rest of our playhouse builders are playing a major role in helping change the lives of hundreds of homeless families. Our hope for 2010 is that more commercial builders will join our cause.”

Completed at the end of July, the playhouse is being displayed along with eight other miniature houses and one large dog house at Irvine Spectrum Center® Giant Wheel Court from August 1 through September 12.

While the rest of the playhouses and the dog house will be auctioned off in a live auction on September 12 with proceeds benefitting HomeAid, the McCarthy and CHOC Children’s playhouse is HomeAid’s “opportunity house” which will raffled off from tickets costing just $1 each. All proceeds from the drawing will benefit CHOC Children’s and HomeAid, supporting their like-minded missions of serving children and families in the community. Tickets will be on sale at Irvine Spectrum Center guest services and at HomeAid Orange County’s Irvine office until September 12.

“When CHOC Children’s approached McCarthy Building Companies about partnering with us on Project Playhouse, we were thrilled by their excitement,” said Mellisa Henry, Director, Marketing, CHOC Children’s. “They demonstrated incredible dedication to us and to our Playhouse. McCarthy Heart Hats succeeded in engaging their partners’ participation, as well, which allowed us to build a magnificent playhouse that truly encourages children to use their imagination, while representing a commitment to the environment.”

Designed by WBSA (Wood, Burghard & Swain Architects), the McCarthy and CHOC Children’s playhouse is named Choco’s Fantasy Farmhouse. The playhouse design takes the shape of a classic white farmhouse whimsically detailed with deep sky blue accents and a front porch with a trellis. Intricate country style details such as a wind vane sits atop the roof featuring a signature bear paw and a “C” for Choco the Bear, instead of the traditional rooster image.

“As you can imagine, building an intricate and tiny structure like this is quite different from building a hospital, school or commercial project that we are used to constructing,” said McCarthy Assistant Project Manager JD Dethrow who spearheaded and worked countless hours on the playhouse. “McCarthy and our trusted subcontractor partners had to work in miniature and find sources to donate or customize tiny windows and doors when constructing the farmhouse which is approximately 100 square feet with 9-foot high ceilings.”

In keeping with the mission of CHOC Children’s to promote health and wellness in children and families, you will not find computers or video games in the farmhouse. Instead, interior designer Laura Zublin of Selleck-Zublin Interior Design provided a comfortable and inviting interior where children will discover an oasis for imaginative play. There is plenty of space for a lucky child to paint, draw or build whatever their creativity inspires. They can retreat up to the cozy loft with a stack of good books to read or a journal to write in.

The playhouse features a hand-scraped distressed walnut floor, farm style light fixtures, bright animal paintings, a cozy bright orange chair, paint table and wooden fruit storage bin that was reinvented to store toys, books and art supplies. Olive green, tan and orange striped window coverings and plenty of plush pillows make the space warm and inviting. With landscape design provided by Warren Tong Landscape Architect and plant materials by Tanaka Farms, children can also enjoy the fresh outdoors while tending to the organic garden with plenty of nutritious fruit, vegetables and herbs.

McCarthy’s dedicated subcontractors and vendors along with other construction volunteers pitched in with thousands of dollars worth of supplies and services to complete the playhouse in record time – exactly three weeks from start to finish. Some of these companies included: BCI Framing and Drywall, Berg Electric, Canyon Insulation, Capparelli/KHS&S; Contractors, CIR Commercial Interiors Resources, DRI Commercial, Inc., ISEC, Johnson & Turner Paint, MJB Flooring, Inc., and ValleyCrest Landscape Development.

Other donations or services were kindly provided by: Ahern Rentals, Aspen Woodworks, Beak the Carpenter, CBI, Chalk Talk, CHOC Children’s at Mission Hospital Child Life Dept., Consolidated Reprographics, Crate and Barrel in South Coast Plaza, Custom Quilting, D.E. Rutherford Builders, Inc., dwellingLIVE, Elite Lighting, EZ Vane, Inc., Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Hampton Lighting, Hardwood Creations / HCI Railing Systems, In House IT, James Marchetta, Jose Ricardo Finishing, Julie Sherwin & Trish Drumming, Juxtaposition Home, Kathy Ranabargar, Kravet Fabric, Laura Mickelson Communications, Loll Furniture, The Mark Company, Pacific Architectural Millwork, Pacific Paradise Nursery, Pindler & Pindler Fabrics, Rosetree Designs, Ryan & Tiffani Ghere, Saroyan Lumber, Sherwin-Williams, Smith & Hawkin, Sweetwater Car Wash, Tanaka Farms, The Road Less Traveled, Universal Upholstery, Westside Building Materials, Whimsicle.net by Laurel Meister and Wood Stuff.

“McCarthy’s employee volunteer group, the McCarthy Heart Hats are excited to have the opportunity to partner with CHOC Children’s to create a one of a kind playhouse that will bring years of enjoyment to a special family in addition to raising funds for families in need in our community,” said McCarthy Assistant Project Manager JD Dethrow. “We offer our extreme gratitude to all of the generous subcontractors, suppliers and volunteers who helped make this project a success!”