Rebuild Upstate raises more than $67,000 for home preservation at second annual silent auction event
March 7, 2025
Rebuild Upstate, a local nonprofit dedicated to preserving safe and affordable housing for individuals and families in need, celebrated its wildly successful A Toast to Home event last week.
Guests of A Toast To Home enjoyed culinary delights from Larkin’s, all while networking with community members and local businesses who share a passion for affordable housing. Throughout the night, guests contributed toward Rebuild Upstate’s home repair program by bidding on silent auction items and making contributions. In total, the evening raised more than $67,000.
Rebuild Upstate CEO Jake Beaty states: “We are honored that so many community members care about the safety of their neighbors. Every ticket sold and every donation given at A Toast To Home will ensure another older adult or neighbor in need gets the repairs they need to feel safe again.”
More than 200 were in attendance at the celebratory occasion, held in Larkin’s Sawmill. The night was sponsored by: NAI Earle Furman, Founders Federal Credit Union, The Spinx Family Foundation, and United Bank.
Rebuild Upstate honored longtime community partner Tim Womack of the South Carolina Appalachian Council of Governments (SCACOG) with the 2025 Community Champion Award. This award recognizes an outstanding community member who has gone above and beyond with their contributions to the Upstate.
Tim leads the Area Agency on Aging Department for SCACOG and has served since 2010. Rebuild Upstate has collaborated with Tim and SCACOG since 2013. This partnership is the organization’s longest contract grant relationship and enables home repairs for persons 60 years of age and older living on 200% or less of the Federal Poverty Guideline.
Over the life of the partnership with SCACOG, Rebuild Upstate has deployed over $1.92 million making over 950 homes of older adults safer and enabling these low-income homeowners to age in place.
“By collaborating with Rebuild Upstate, we’ve been able to maximize state funding, ensuring we can help even more seniors in need. I’m excited to continue this meaningful partnership and work together to create a stronger, safer, and more vibrant community for all!” Tim Womack, SCACOG
Rebuild Upstate is committed to keeping low-income homeowners safe and living in dignity with home repairs and accessibility improvements in existing houses and neighborhoods. Home repairs can range from small plumbing fixes to roof and floor replacements. Accessibility improvements range from installing grab bars and railings for vulnerable populations to building wheelchair ramps for those with disabilities.
