A Phoenix-based home renovation company, Rafterhouse, who recently premiered the pilot episode of their new HGTV show, decided to give back some of their good fortune to a local charter school.
Rafterhouse co-owners Austin King and Chris Liles, along with their wives, helped raise money and donations for Children’s First Academy, a South Phoenix charter school that serves homeless and underprivileged students.
The Kings and Liles raised nearly $5,000 for the school while collecting 90 pairs of shoes and almost 37,000 sheets of copy paper during a viewing party for the show, which premiered last month.
The families raised money for the school by auctioning donated items that were used in the remodeled home featured on the show.
Rafterhouse chose Children’s First Academy after Austin King’s wife, Suzanne, reached out to the Arizona Charter School Association’s Manager of Member Services Ashley Cary to find a school in need.
The company is known for renovating midcentury ranch homes that fit into the landscape of their historic Phoenix neighborhood, Arcadia. They are also equally passionate about serving the community and giving back.
Although there is no guarantee that the show will become a full series, that didn’t stop them from connecting with Children’s First Academy.
“CFA is an organization very close to the heart of Rafterhouse. Their effort and commitment to making their students feel loved and significant is inspirational to us all,” Austin King said. “We will continue supporting their efforts as they selflessly work to give opportunity and hope to the most innocent of our community.”
Many schools serve large numbers of disadvantaged students, but Children’s First Academy is unique: One hundred percent of the students and families are at the poverty line and 40 percent are homeless, which includes students in shelters, transitional housing and multiple families living under one roof.
The school operates a food pantry and clothing bank, where families are allowed to pick up food once a week and clothes once a month. Children who stay for the school’s afterschool programs receive three meals a day, said Principal Rachael Lay.
The donations will go a long way towards meeting the needs of the student population and surrounding community.
“Having shoes come on campus puts smiles on kids’ faces. It’s worth a million dollars,” Lay said. “And the paper provides an opportunity to put supplies in my teachers’ hands for the classrooms.”
