Fischer & Frichtel Carpenters Spend Their Free Time Building a Playhouse to Benefit the March of Dimes
Fischer & Frichtel is the Platinum sponsor of the 2017 March of Dimes March for Babies, which will take place in Forest Park on April 29. This 2-mile charity walk is designed to benefit the March of Dimes, a wonderful organization that funds scientific research to prevent premature birth, birth defects and infant loss.
To honor the event, employees of the Fischer & Frichtel Carpentry division decided to build a dream playhouse– an adorable 8-foot-by-10-foot playhouse with a 4-foot porch, which will be raffled off, with 100% of the proceeds going to the March of Dimes.
Designed by Vice President of Fischer & Frichtel Carpentry Specialties, Donny Bethmann (and his 9-year-old daughter), and built by the Fischer & Frichtel carpentry team, the colorful appearance of the playhouse was inspired by the villas at The Villages of Provence community.
“The colors of the playhouse are very reminiscent of the homes, but the door is bright purple, which is an ode to our organization – it’s our color,” said Stacy Abeles, executive director of market development at March of Dimes. “It’s just a way to tie our mission into what it is they do, which is build homes for families.”
This one-of-a-kind playhouse includes spindled railing, a vaulted ceiling and a paneled exterior. You may have seen it featured on the Fischer & Frichtel float at the Cottleville St. Patrick’s Day Parade, then on tour around some of F&F’s communities, wrapping up this week at the Reserve at Brook Hill in St. Charles.
“The Playhouse was a labor of love for our team,” said Bethmann. “We know it will bring smiles to the faces of kids who play in it. It’s also built with the same care and attention to detail that define every home we build, right down to the Tyvek house wrap, windows and sidings in our homes.”
The carpentry team contributed free time to building the home – more than 100 hours were donated, along with the materials donated by Fischer & Frichtel subcontractors. Foremen Spencer Schukar and Ray Boyd helped manage the team of 30 people. “We have a great crew of employees when it comes to building for a good cause,” Bethmann added.
The March of Dimes staff expressed their gratitude toward the Fischer & Frichtel construction crew and their efforts on the playhouse, which they said exceeded their expectations. “The team at Fischer & Frichtel spent an exorbitant amount of time planning and executing the build for this playhouse,” Abeles said. “It really is a replication of the quality product that they put in their communities. … We are exceedingly grateful for their generosity and the time and talent it took to build this playhouse.”
Raffle tickets for the playhouse will be sold at the March for Babies event on April 29 or online at: www.marchofdimes.org/events/fandfplayhouse. The winning ticket will be announced on Tuesday, May 2, 2017.
Funds raised by the March for Babies are a lifeline for infants in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU), connecting them with critical care they desperately need.
Last year, the organization funded research grants in the U.S. totaling nearly $24 million. To learn about the March of Dimes, please visit: www.marchofdimes.org.
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