Monday, April 27, 1998 | 9:49 a.m.
Patricia Broadbent spends most of her time helping others.
Saturday others helped her and 29 other homeowners in Las Vegas Valley whose homes were in need of refurbishment.
More than 2,000 volunteers from 33 corporate sponsors worked in strong winds and occasional rain showers as part of the annual Christmas in April program.
Christmas in April is a national nonprofit organization with more than 200 chapters around the country, including Las Vegas, dedicated to renovating homes of low-income families as well as the elderly and disabled.
The Las Vegas chapter of the organization, which was founded in Midland, Texas, in 1988, was started in 1993.
Since the organization's inception 10 years ago, 850,000 volunteers have rehabilitated more than 31,300 homes. Their work has a market value of more than $198 million.
Las Vegas volunteers have rehabilitated 110 homes in the past five years.
The organization relies on corporate sponsors, volunteers, donations of material and labor, private contributions and Community Development Block Grants.
In addition to private residences, the Las Vegas chapter also has rehabilitated facilities of nonprofit organizations such as the Girl Scouts and a youth group home.
This year volunteers will work on the Nike House, a haven for adolescent girls, and do roof repairs for Westcare's adult services and detoxification center.
Broadbent, who lives in the 3100 block of Webster Street, was grateful to Christmas in April and the more than 60 volunteers who arrived at her home around 7 a.m. Saturday and began a whirlwind of activity -- relocating the sprinkler system in the front yard, putting on a new roof, painting, repairing ceilings, installing two showers, installing a 220-volt dryer outlet and putting in a donated washer, dryer and refrigerator.
"Christmas in April took such a burden off," Broadbent said.
Broadbent takes care of infant foster children for Clark County.
She has adopted two of them -- both HIV patients.
Thirteen-year-old Hydeia has become a nationally known activist in the fight against AIDS, speaking on the issue around the country.
Much of Broadbent's time is taking care of her two children -- in a few days she will take them on a routine trip to the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Md., where they will spend several days being treated with a battery of experimental AIDS treatments.
When Broadbent isn't taking care of her own children and her foster children, she also is active in educating people about AIDS.
She said she never hides the fact that the two children she adopted have AIDS and is bringing them up to be self-confident and to understand the disease has nothing to do with their lifestyle.
"I teach them there are two kinds of people -- the ignorant and the stupid," Broadbent said. "We can educate the ignorant, but we can't do anything with the stupid so ignore them."
Broadbent said most of the work that was done on her home was health-related.
The leaking roof allowed water to seep into the house, which can allow fungus to grow which could affect the health of her children.
Denise Cook, an architect with Lucchesi Galati, oversaw the project at Broadbent's home.
She said the budget for the Broadbent residence was $2,500.
The most spent on any project Saturday was $5,000, according to Cook
The Broadbent project was sponsored by Lucchesi Galati and by Carter & Burgess.
The two companies donated money to buy materials and also provided most of the volunteers. Nellis Air Force Base and Clark County supplied the rest.
Home Depot supplies material at cost, Cook said. The Zeller family provided professional trades people who worked on the plumbing and drywall.
A rehabilitation project at the home of Mary Hogan, in the 1200 block of W. Carey Avenue, was considered a relatively "light-weight" undertaking, said the men in charge there.
The budget for the Hogan home was $1,500.
Bruce Feldman, with Enviro-Tech International, said more than 50 volunteers trimmed trees and bushes, built a dog house, put in a flower bed, painted the interior, did some paneling work, replaced a security door and put plastic panel around a bath.
Feldman credited Jeff Marvin, also of Enviro-Tech, with putting the project together and getting everything done, though nothing could be done about the weather.
Marvin said volunteers will have to return next weekend to paint the outside of the house and install a door.
Enviro-Tech provided 45 volunteers and Nellis Air Force Base provided 12.
Feldman said this was the first year his company got involved with the Christmas in April program, but probably will make it a practice of participating from now on.
Nevada Power Co. expanded its role in the program this year.
It is furnishing energy efficiency improvements to the 30 refurbished homes, including electrical up-grades and weatherization to windows and doors. The company also will install security lighting and conduct energy audits.
NPC also sponsored the rehabilitation of the home of Thomas Stefan, 73, of the 4300 block of Dover Place.
Christmas in April gets its homes for the project from names submitted by churches, charities and other groups and individuals.
A committee makes the final selection after interviewing candidates.
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