Building fresh opportunities

Heather Rawlyk

Friday, Jan. 2, 2004 | 4:52 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

January 3 - 4, 2004

Now, the local nonprofit organization seeks a buyer for the donated home.

"Unsolicited gifts like this are few and far between," said Linda Smith, chief development officer of Opportunity Village. "We are honored to receive such a generous donation, and look forward to selling the house and using the funds to continue our work throughout the Las Vegas community."

This is the first year that iShow, the company producing the NextGen Demonstration Home project, is donating the $450,000 home to a local "nonprofit partner," although it is something the company has always wanted to do, iShow President Paul Barnett said.

The home will be featured during the Consumer Electronics Show and International Builders Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center through Jan. 22, Barnett said.

The keys will be handed over to Opportunity Village at noon on Jan. 22, he said.

After interviewing a number of local charities, Barnett chose Opportunity Village, a local organization for people with intellectual disabilities.

"We truly believe in the work they are doing," Barnett said. "We believe in their mission and knew they'd be a perfect match."

Barnett said the work of Opportunity Village hits close to home.

"My aunt has Down syndrome, so what Opportunity Village is doing means something to me," he said. "I really respect what they are doing and wish they had something like that for my aunt growing up."

The home, which is valued at $450,000, will come with all of the amenities and upgrades displayed in the house, including a $90,000 home theater system.

Barnett estimated $250,000 in extra electronics would be installed inside the home.

All American Homes, which is a continuing sponsor of the NextGen Demonstration Home, will arrange for the home to be moved and reassembled at its final location, Barnett said.

"Opportunity Village is a great match with us because they have the resources in the city to accept this kind of donation," he said. "They have the opportunity to take care of things and make this successful."

Barnett said iShow has attempted to donate homes in the past, but has not been successful until this year.

"We've tried before, but it's never worked out," he said. "Last year we ended up selling the NextGen home to a private developer. This year we started early and were successful in finding a great match."

In addition to receiving the house, Opportunity Village will have some of the clients it serves on site, helping. Barnett said he respects that.

"I think it's a great thing for them to get involved handing out brochures and things like that," he said.

The wiring is being finished on the NextGen Demonstration Home before it goes on display for the Consumer Electronics Show. Builders are working on the house in the silver parking lot at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Barnett said.

Calling this portion "the toughest part," Barnett said, "There are a lot of things left to do with the wiring, so we're working hard."

In the meantime, Opportunity Village is looking for someone to buy the donated home.

Opportunity Village is dealing with two scenarios: that someone will donate a piece of residential land with a cement slab already in place so the house can be moved and sold on the lot, or that someone will buy the home outright after it is donated, Smith said.

"We are hoping that someone may have appreciated land and would rather take the charitable tax write-off than pay capital gains," Smith said. "Or, better yet, someone may want to purchase the home outright.

"It's not often someone can buy a new, totally unique, state-of-the-art home and help a charitable organization at the same time," she said. "Either way we need to move the home quickly so we can use the funds from the sale to help the special people we serve."