By Aurora Zeledon
When we were approached by G.T. Issa Premier Homes last year and asked to donate a house plan to the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway in Chattanooga, Tennessee that they were building, we were honored. Keep reading to learn more about this special project.
The design that they specifically asked for is plan 1067-2 above. This layout was designed exclusively for us by House Plan Zone, who quickly and graciously agreed to partner with us to donate the plan. Thank you, House Plan Zone!
Interview with G.T. Issa Premier Homes
What is the St. Jude Dream Home?
The St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway is one of the largest nationwide fundraisers for St. Jude. The St. Jude Dream Home is a very special home where everything is donated from the grass outside to the roofing shingles on top! We do this to ensure we raise as much money as possible for the children at the St. Jude Research Hospital. In 2020 the Dream Home giveaway raised more than $1.35 million to support the mission, and we hope to raise just as much or more for the cause. Being partners with such an amazing organization and getting to help their efforts by working with the community always brings a smile to our faces. Our subs and staff work tirelessly together to donate time, money, and energy in order to build our favorite dream home each year. This would never be possible without the help of the many people and companies who sacrifice some, so the families at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital can focus on what is most important.
Read more about the St. Jude Dream Home in Chattanooga, Tennessee here
How did G. T. Issa Premier Homes get involved?
This year will be our 9th year building the St. Jude Dream Home, so we have been the builder for a while now! The Dream Home Giveaway has been a yearly event/project in Chattanooga for over 10+ years, and we have been fortunate enough to be the builder for the past 8 and counting! This is an annual event that we partner with St. Jude on. They actually have Dream Homes built all throughout the year and all across the nation! I'm not entirely sure what all cities/states participate [Editor's note: find a list of cities with the St. Jude Dream Home program here], but I do know it is one of St. Jude's biggest projects and that they give away 40 homes in total across the U.S. We are very proud to have been partnering with them for the past 8 years and look forward to continuing!
Who receives the home?
A winner is chosen at random. The purchase of a $100 ticket gives you the opportunity to win the St Jude Dream Home. The $100 ticket is not tax deductible as a charitable donation for the IRS, since there are prizes involved. This year the ticket sales sold out in record-breaking time.
How did this design get selected?
The floor plan chosen for the Dream Home was a creative decision made by our builder and designer. They believed it to be a perfect fit for the development and lot. They pride themselves on adding intricate and unique design details to make the home special.
Plan 1067-2 features an open layout with plenty of storage.
What happens on the official date that the home is handed over?
The winner is chosen at random from the people that purchased the $100 ticket. The winner will receive a phone call informing them. Along with that they will be sent a Winner Notification Agreement by certified U.S. mail. The winner will have 7 days to return the agreement and accept the prize "as is." Per IRS regulations, the taxes on prizes valued greater than $5,000 are to be paid upon acceptance of the prize. The IRS requires ALSAC/St. Jude to collect the taxes before the transfer of property. The taxes on the home are the responsibility of the winner. St Jude suggests that the winner consult with a tax professional or their CPA.
Who won the home? Heather Rankin won the 2021 St Jude Dream Home in Barnsley Park.
See the news article here and the announcement from St. Jude here.
Thank you, G.T. Issa and St. Jude!
Love this house plan? Learn more about it here.
