Dylan’s House Event Raises $14K for Construction of New Houses

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Dylan’s House is working toward building houses to assist people with autism, and a recent event helped support that goal.

The nonprofit organization devoted to empowering and enriching the lives of people with autism in the Mahoning Valley held a fundraising event at Firefly Farm in Canfield on Oct. 10. During the event, Dylan’s House announced key partnerships and raised more than $14,000 for houses that will be built in Boardman and Struthers.

“We need these homes all throughout our communities,” said Amy Shope, co-founder of Dylan’s House. “There are so many individuals we can help, and building in Boardman and Struthers is a great start for the work we’re hoping to do.”

Struthers Mayor Catherine Cercone Miller announced that land will be donated for the construction of a house in the city.

“We are extremely excited to be the first new house in the series of new homes for Dylan’s House,” Miller said. “We believe that Struthers is going to be a perfect piece to their puzzle.”

The project will be managed by Dawn Ochman, president and CEO of Dawn Inc., a construction company based in Warren.

“We are honored and so proud that Dawn Inc. is going to be a part of this impactful project,” Ochman said. “So many of our hearts have been touched by autism. What the Shope family and Dylan’s House have done for the autism community is truly amazing, and we want to help.”

The second home will be built in Boardman on land donated by Sam and Donna Boak. Sam is the founder and CEO of Boak & Sons.

Trisha Howe, executive director of the Home Builders Association of the Mahoning Valley, announced that the house in Boardman will be located on South Avenue and will be co-managed by Alexander Construction and Custom Designed Homes by Mark Ramunno.

“We at the HBA take things like this very seriously because we want to be a part of the community in which we live,” Howe said. “I am very excited about bringing on several of our members to donate, support and give their time to help support this cause in Boardman.”

The response has been “overwhelming,” Shope said. 

“We had people come up to us during the event who wanted to make additional donations for things like the appliances for the houses,” she said. “It’s just great to see so many people who are as passionate about our work as we are.”

Pictured at top: From left are Mark Ramunno, Trisha Howe, Amy Shope, Kevin Shope, Dawn Ochman and Mayor Catherine Cercone Miller.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.