Individually and corporately, we at John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods believe in sharing our good fortune with others. It's been a part of our thinking since the company was founded in 1970. We've been privileged to do this in hundreds of ways over the years and remain committed to sharing our time, talents and resources to help those in the communities where we live and work whether through financial support, charitable building initiatives, as a partner in education or through a culture of volunteerism.
In 1983, Second Mile, the official charitable arm of John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods was created to provide a venue for our company members to give back. Second Mile lends financial support to non-profit organizations that focus on one of six priority areas:
- Children at risk
- Families in crisis
- Hunger
- Homelessness and affordable housing
- The Elderly
- Literacy
More than $3 million in voluntary donations have been disbursed to non-profit organizations across the Southeast by Second Mile's committee of company members. In addition to financial gifts, JWH&N and its company members have demonstrated a commitment to giving through the donation of their time and talent.
Second Mile in Action:
The World Children's Center - Inaugural Student Home Build
In 2009, John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods became marked the completion of the very first student home at the World Children's Center. Located just west of Atlanta in Tallapoosa, GA, The World Children's Center was created to build programs that provide housing, ensure safety and foster education for underserved children. When completely built, the World Children's Center will provide housing, food, clothing and educational and enrichment opportunities to an estimated 800 children.
High Five for New Orleans - $1 Million Dollars for Katrina Relief
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods joined forces with its affiliated companies, company members and trade partners to create A High Five for New Orleans - a $1 million fundraising campaign benefiting the victims on the Gulf Coasts. In the days immediately following the disaster, generous company member donations of more than $70,000 were tripled by matching donation from John Wieland Homes and its giving arm Second Mile for an initial cash donation in excess of $212,000. Then the High Five building program was launched as John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods began construction on five of its most popular homes across the Southeast with the profits from the sale of each designated for the High Five relief effort. Trade partners, trusted suppliers, vendors and company members donated their products and their time to help minimize cost and maximize profit on each High Five home.
In the end, High Five homes were constructed and sold in five different John Wieland neighborhoods - River Green in Atlanta, Dunes West in Charleston, BridgeMill in Charlotte, Westhaven in Nashville and Sunset Oaks in Raleigh. At an event in New Orleans, the proceeds from the High Five effort were presented personally by John Wieland to the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation to benefit many of the city's first responders in rebuilding their homes and neighborhoods.
John Wieland Receives Hearthstone Builder Lifetime Public Service Award
At a special presentation, the Hearthstone Builder National Lifetime Public Service Award was awarded to John Wieland. The largest and most prestigious philanthropic prize in the housing industry, the Hearthstone Award is presented each year to a builder who has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to public and charitable service. The judges selected Mr. Wieland for his outstanding dedication to public service and for his untiring willingness to help those in need. In the words of the Hearthstone committee, "John Wieland cares about the communities his company serves and has demonstrated the scope of his commitment through a lifetime of public service. His willingness to extend a helping hand and give back to the community has inspired countless others to join him in efforts to provide assistance for those in need, eliminate substandard housing, improve education, support programs to assist families and children at risk and enrich community cultural offerings. Simply put, John Wieland cares." To honor John Wieland's service, a donation of $250,000 has been made in his name by the Hearthstone Builder Public Lifetime Service Award to the John Wieland Fund at The Homebuilding Industry Foundation.
The Second Mile Home at Atlanta Union Mission's Village Atlanta
In partnership with Home Aid Atlanta, John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods proudly dedicated the Second Mile Home at the Atlanta Union Mission's Village Atlanta campus in South Fulton. With a value estimated at $1 million, the 9000 square foot facility is an 11-unit apartment building to provide safe transitional housing for women and children in need and doubles the housing capacity in this campus location. Each of the apartments (three two-bedroom and eight one-bedroom apartments) includes its own kitchen and dining area and private bath. The home also includes gathering areas for residents, laundry facilities and is fully handicapped accessible. The home was constructed with the help of 250 volunteers, including John Wieland company members and trade partners, and named in honor of the 20th anniversary of John Wieland's Second Mile community outreach program.
The Second Chance Home at Families First in Atlanta
John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods completed construction of the Second Chance Home, the newest housing facility for Families First of Atlanta. John Wieland Homes & Neighborhoods is pleased to announce that it has completed construction of the newest housing facility for Families First of Atlanta. The 10,000+ square foot building, which Wieland constructed for the organization at cost, will provide transitional housing for young pregnant and parenting girls who will also receive assistance with healthcare, education and parenting training through Families First’s programs. Located in South Atlanta, the facility includes eight rooms with private baths for young girls and their children as well as three large common areas, a fully equipped double kitchen, laundry room and a computer lab. The building also includes housing for the Families First “house mother” and conference room and office space for two on-site social workers.
The Wieland Wildlife Home at Zoo Atlanta
Zoo Atlanta's educational animal collection is front and center thanks to John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods with the help of its trade partners and suppliers. The zoo and John Wieland are dedicated to quality of life and teamed up to make a safe secure habitat for these special animals that work with the staff to educate visitors about animals and the environment. The Wieland Wildlife Home is meant to commemorate the importance of Wieland's relationship with the community. The 2500 square foot facility is home to a collection of birds, snakes, turtles and small mammals and specially designed and constructed to accommodate the varied needs of the zoo's diverse group of animal ambassadors.
John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods Receives Innovative/Collaborative Award from MACVC
John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods was recognized by the Metro Atlanta Corporate Volunteer Council (MACVC) with its Innovative/Collaborative Award for collaboration with with non-profits to address the need for affordable housing.
United Way Receives $1M from John Wieland Homes
John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods donates $1M to United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta Inc.'s 2004 Annual Campaign.