Oklahomans Are Known For Their Generosity.
And when it comes to kids, that generosity knows no boundaries.
Now a couple of local homebuilders have donated their time and talents
to a cause: helping fight childhood hunger. Wayne Griffiths Homes and Christopher Lee & Company are teaming up with KWTV Channel 9 for the Regional Food Bank’s “Food for Kids” program.
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The way it works is simple and fun. For $10, folks can tour the new homes and see the latest trends in building and home décor. All the proceeds raised go toward helping chronically hungry children in Oklahoma.
Besides helping a great cause, the homes themselves are spectacular sights to behold.
The first one is nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac in the beautiful Rose Creek development just west of Edmond, near Portland. The home is located at 3508 N.W. 172nd Circle, and was built by Christopher Lee & Company. It’s Mediterranean-style with a “transitional” interior. It is both classical and elegant at the same time.
“This is a very social floor plan, built for entertaining,” says Lee. “The home is large, with 7,000 square feet of livable space. It has five bedrooms, six baths and a seven-car garage.”
It is a home built for a busy lifestyle and a growing family.
“This home sits on two lots, right on the lake,” Lee said. “When you first walk inside, one of the first things guests will notice are the very tall ceilings. They are 12 feet with large open spans. And the lake views from the home are tremendous.”
Twin spiral staircases lead to the second floor. There, the kids enjoy their own playroom as well as their own library. And what kid wouldn’t enjoy the built-in slide from the second floor down to the first?
There are a lot of amenities for the big kids as well. A large wet bar, home theater and almost every luxury imaginable can be found in this Rose Creek home.
“We always give extra attention to the fine details when building a home,” Lee said. “The kitchen is huge, and has two islands. Carrera marble countertops and furniture-quality cabinets give an added touch of elegance.
“The exquisite features continue outside as well. A large pool and hot tub are a focal point of the outdoor living area. We also added a steam shower for convenience and luxury.
“The back patio has a built-in fire pit, and with a touch of a button power screens will enclose the entire area.
“We really appreciate our homeowners for letting us show their beautiful home,” Lee added. “My wife Cindy is a licensed social worker, and she works tirelessly for kids and families that are battling many different kinds of trauma. Hunger is one of the most overlooked. Our company is very proud to be involved in this tour, and we hope through our work some of this suffering may be alleviated.”
The other home on the tour is also in Edmond, and equally chic. It is located at 5701 N. Bryant, and was custom built by Wayne Griffiths Homes. This large French Country estate showcases the latest in luxury living.
“The owners of this elegant 6,000-square-foot home built it on an acreage in north Edmond,” said Sue Griffiths. “They wanted to create a refuge where they could escape from the busy schedules of their daily lives. They also wanted a place where they could entertain family and friends, or just relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of the country. They have certainly done so.”
As guests approach the house, one of the first things they will notice is the blend of stone, brick and stucco.
“Entering through the heavy iron doors, pay special attention to the study on the right. The doors are at least 100 years old, if not 200,” Griffiths said. “We have been building custom homes for more than 35 years, and we put everything into this one.
“The home has six fireplaces, a climate-controlled wine cellar, a theater room and an upstairs game room with a built-in bar. The spiral staircase off the back entry leads to third story lookout with panoramic views of the city and countryside. That is really the place to be on the Fourth of July,” Griffiths says with a laugh.
Throughout the home, the builders have installed custom cabinetry with special attention to the kitchen and master suite. Interior designer Andrea Meister has worked closely with the homeowner for a one-of-a-kind look.
“This really is a spectacular home,” Griffiths said. “The views from inside pull you to the back yard. The pool and pergola, an outdoor kitchen and beautiful landscaping make this such a peaceful retreat.
“We also added phantom screens to the upper deck and downstairs patio. They can be lowered anytime to keep out the Oklahoma weather and extend the outdoor living to all year round,” she added.
“Our homeowners were one of the first to want to participate in this event,” Griffiths said. “Not only as builders, but as parents and grandparents, we cannot think of anything more important than helping with this program and feeding hungry children.”
“We are excited to be a part of this year’s Concept Homes Tour,”
said Rodney W. Bivens, Executive Director of the Regional Food Bank.
“We are all about collaboration – and what better representation
of that than a Concept Home? The philosophy of bringing together innovation and creative solutions aligns perfectly with how the Regional Food Bank approaches the fight against
hunger in Oklahoma.”
The public is invited to tour these homes from September 12 through September 21. They are open Fridays from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door or $8 in advance, and can be purchased at Bob Mills Furniture.
The Regional Food Bank was established in 1980 and is Oklahoma’s largest hunger-relief organization. In 2014, they distributed nearly 48 million pounds of food and products through a network of more than 1,100 charitable feeding programs and schools in 53 counties.
Each week, the organization provides enough food to feed more than 100,000 hungry Oklahomans.
The “Food for Kids” program started after the Regional Food Bank received a call one Monday morning from a local principal, telling them about a young boy who had passed out. The little fellow was hungry and had nothing to eat all weekend except a hot dog with no bun.
In its first year the program served 180 chronically hungry children. By the end of last year, that number had grown to more than 18,500 kids.
“We are grateful that News 9 and the Concept Homes Tour selected the Regional Food Bank and our ‘Food for Kids’ childhood hunger programs as the recipient of the proceeds from this year’s tour,” Bivens said.
“After people tour these two amazing homes, they will leave with not only an appreciation for the newest innovations in home building, but also knowing they have helped feed a hungry child with their donation,” he added. For every 20 tickets sold, one chronically hungry child will have food every weekend for an entire school year. Without food, children cannot learn, grow or thrive. One principal said it best: ‘When hunger ends, learning begins.’”
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Building Partners
• Christopher Lee & Company Fine Homes
• Wayne Griffiths Homes
• Complete Landsculpture
• Culinary Kitchen
• Garage Door Company LLC
• Harry’s T.V., Video & Appliances
• Hill & Company
• Luxe Kitchen & Bath
• Marble Designs
• Mill Creek Carpet & Tile
• Pristine Pools
• Reroof America Contractors
Tour Partners
• News9.com
• Food for Kids
• Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
• Slice Magazine
• Amini’s Galleria
• Bob Mills Furniture
• H Interiors
• Meister Designs
• Traditions Fine Furniture & Design
