Our team has the opportunity to transform so many spaces each year, but the projects we get most excited about are the ones where we are able to give back to our community in a special way. When we met Bob Kurtz, we had a feeling he would understand: After giving 20 years of his life to military service in the U.S. Air Force, this Ann Arbor native has turned his efforts to supporting other local veterans in need through various organizations, including the Veteran Resource Center. Bob has even received an award from the American Legion for his dedication to fellow veterans.

For all that Bob has done for our local community and our nation at large, we learned that his own home had some big structural and safety concerns that needed to be addressed, so we wanted to help in the best way we know how.

Project Details

Initially, our team planned on fixing the sink in Bob’s bathroom, but as we got started, we discovered a much more pressing issue—the sewer wasn’t working properly, which meant that sewer gas had been leaking into Bob’s home. Bob had no idea about the gas leak but said he came to realize that it may have been contributing to some significant health concerns.

We immediately fixed the leak; cleaned up the contamination that had gathered beneath Bob’s house; made sure his plumbing was in proper working order; repaired the sink and added new flooring and lighting to his bathroom. We also got a replacement hallway runner, fixed the steps leading to his front door and repaired his roof.

When we finished, Bob said it was a “day and night difference,” and we are so glad that he can now relax in his home without worry.

A Team Effort

There’s no way the Forward team could have gotten this job done without the generosity of so many of our trade partners who immediately offered their services upon learning about Bob and the project. Chelsea Plumbing fitted the bathroom with new rough plumbing and fixtures; Koby Craftsmen provided the underlayment and labor to install it; Nelson Floor Covering donated the flooring; and Aardvark Manufacturing Home Service & Supply contributed time and materials.

After the American Legion found out about our group effort, they decided to recognize this project with an award, which means a lot to our team and our company’s Pay It Forward initiative. However, in our mind, the real reward is knowing that we were able to give something back to a man who has given so much to us all. 

We are so glad that we met Bob and feel truly honored that we had the opportunity to do this project for him.

Get Involved

Does this kind of opportunity interest you? We are always looking for people who want to volunteer their time for a cause like this, so please email info@planforward.net to learn how you can get involved in our Paying It Forward project.

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