Home Feature: Hope at Home
Story by Aubrey Reynolds
Photography by The Win Crew
For Brittany Key, the St. Jude Dream Home® Giveaway is far more than a project. It is a personal mission rooted in family experiences. “Growing up with close family members diagnosed with cancer, I witnessed firsthand the difficult journey it takes you on,” Key says. “That experience inspired me to do everything I could to help share the mission of St. Jude across the state of Kentucky.”
This year’s Dream Home, built by Sweets Design Build, Inc., is a beautiful 2,200 sq. ft. property valued at approximately $440,000. Featuring four bedrooms and two bathrooms, the home blends functionality with comfort, making it an ideal space for a family. For Key, watching the structure rise from an empty lot into a welcoming home has been one of the most rewarding parts of the project. “Every nail, every wall, every detail reflects the heart of a community coming together to support the mission of St. Jude,” she says.
Key’s role touches nearly every stage of the effort. From the groundbreaking to promotional campaigns on television and radio, securing prizes to calling the winners, she helps weave together the many moving parts of this year-round initiative. It takes countless hands to bring the Dream Home to life, and she is grateful to be surrounded by a network of builders, sponsors and community partners who share the same passion.
The Dream Home Giveaway carries a purpose far greater than its walls. Proceeds directly support the lifesaving work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food. “The feeling of seeing and hearing patient stories, current and past, will forever be a feeling of hope and gratitude,” Key says.
That spirit of generosity fuels the project each year. Local builders and subcontractors donate their time and skills. Businesses step in to sponsor prizes and help spread the word. Families across the region purchase tickets, knowing their contributions directly help children fighting cancer and other life-threatening diseases. “The success of this project is a true reflection of the power of community,” Key says.
This year holds special meaning for her personally. “It’s my first year being fully immersed into this project and the relationships I’ve built with the people involved has been so impactful,” she explains. Those connections are as lasting as the walls of the home itself.
When the winner finally steps inside, Key hopes they feel more than excitement over a new house. “I hope they feel the love and generosity that built this home. Every detail reflects a community united in hope,” she says.
For those inspired to take part, Key encourages involvement through volunteering, raising awareness or becoming a Partner in Hope. “Because all a family should worry about is helping their child live,” she says.
A special thanks to these vendors and sponsors:
31-W Insulation
Sweets Design & Excavation
B&P Glass
Lee Brick & Block
C&C Pluming
CED
Coffman Home Décor
Top Shelf Shelving
Square D
Joseph Byler Construction
Ferguson
Franklin Aluminum
Cole Lumber
Rexell
Kentucky Wholesale
Coots and Sons
Hometown Air Solutions
J & J Electric
Landmark Engineering
Toby Sweets Construction
Window World
Lawton Insurance
Short Drywall
Overhead Door
Signs Express
MC Granite
Nashville Plywood
Joel Reyes
Sweets Design Build, Inc.
Clear Touch Cleaners
Virge Pest Control
Trim Specialties
Youngs Manufacturing
Cain Sod Farms
Wherry Brothers
Tile Trends
PPG Paints
Couburn
Berquist
Shop At Home Carpets
BG Dumpster
Greg Gary
Stor-Mor Portable Buildings
Houchen’s Food Group
Quinn’s Vacation Villas
BG Home Furnishings
