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Thursday, June 21, 2007
Community Service Award Winner

Larry Burgess is the owner and operator of Battle Ground-based L.E. Burgess Inc. Along with his wife Tracy, who is the in-house designer, Burgess performs a variety of residential remodels all across Clark County. As Secretary/ Treasurer of the Building Industry Association (BIA) Remodelors Council™, Burgess attends all monthly meetings, has participated in the Clark County Remodeled Homes Tour twice and is an avid supporter of the Council’s mission to promote professionalism in the remodeling industry through BIA programs, education and community service.

His dedication to the principles of the Council has led him to a project he’s currently spearheading: an ADA-compliant residential addition to provide a wheelchair-accessible bedroom and bathroom for Eric Robinett, a 13 year old boy living with cerebral palsy. As a young child, Eric’s condition was challenging but manageable. As he grew up, his family faced the fact that because of the amount of care he required, Eric might not be able to live at home for much longer.

Amanda Buffum, a local high school student and friend of the family, began a campaign last year to raise funds for a remodeling project that would create more space and incorporate new medical equipment to make a life at home possible for Eric and his family. Other friends and acquaintances stepped in to help, and before long the project was in need of a manager. That’s where Burgess came in. He volunteered his time and 30 years of experience as a remodeler to make the Robinett family’s hopes a reality.

“When I started working on the project, a new foundation had been laid and they had raised money for medical equipment,” Burgess said. “I started making calls for donations and from there, it was a huge group effort by dozens of local people and entities to bring it to where it is today. 90 percent of labor and materials were donated.”

A 440 square foot addition was built on the back of the house, creating a huge bedroom and bathroom for Eric. A track system in the ceiling was built to help move him back and forth between the bedroom and bathroom. The bathroom includes a jetted tub to aid in physical therapy for Eric’s cerebral palsy, a condition which causes the muscles to “knot up” over time, Burgess said.
   
In addition, “a flatscreen TV and surround sound system are being donated to create a family gathering place in Eric’s room, which will allow them to spend more time with him. That’s what this is really all about: improving his quality of life.”
   
Despite all of the hard work he’s put into the nearly complete project, Burgess only sees it as part of his commitment to the Remodelors Council™ and to his community. “If there’s any lesson to be taken away from this, it’s that you don’t have to be anyone special to help people. (The Robinetts) could be my neighbors or yours. It’s easy to sit around and talk about helping others but if you actually go and do it, the payback is tenfold when you see it all come together.”