A Home for Blake, 2-Year-Old Son of Jessie Davis
July 21 2007 - 1:30PM
PR Newswire (US)
-- Countrywide Donating House to Blake, Grandma and Crowded Family
-- HARTVILLE, Ohio, July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- After the nightmare
they've been through for the past two months, the young son and
other members of murder victim Jessie Davis' family had a dream
granted on Saturday. At a festival to raise money for the Blake
Davis Trust Fund and its campaign for Blake's Bright Tomorrow on
Saturday in Hartville, Ohio, the 2- year-old, his grandmother,
Patty Porter, and other family members received a big surprise.
Countrywide Home Loans announced that it would donate a home to the
trust fund to be renovated by volunteers from the Homebuilders
Association of Portage and Summit Counties and given to Porter and
Blake as their family residence. Jessie Davis, nine months pregnant
with Blake's sister, Chloe, went missing from her Lake Township,
Ohio, home in June. Her disappearance prompted a massive volunteer
search effort that prompted national media attention. Her body was
discovered 10 days later. Porter took her grandson into her already
crowded small apartment home in Green, Ohio, where six now live.
"Countrywide has facilitated the dream of homeownership for
millions of American families, and this family needs and deserves a
home of their own," said John Turcanik, Regional Builder Manager
for Countrywide. "Studies show that homeownership promotes family
stability. We hope this gift will provide a sense of security for
Blake, as well as a place for him to grow and a yard for him to
play in." Countrywide's participation in the Blake's Bright
Tomorrow initiative began when the idea was presented to Turcanik
by Carmine Torio, executive vice president of the local
Homebuilders Association. Torio said the members of his
organization were eager to volunteer to renovate a house where
Patty can raise Blake. "This demonstrates the kind of relationship
that Countrywide fosters not just with its customers and associates
in the building industry, but with the communities it serves," said
Torio. "We are excited to get started on renovations, just as soon
as a suitable house is selected." "When Countrywide told us earlier
this week that they would give us a house for Patty, Blake and
their family, it really made our day. More importantly, it will
make a lifetime of difference to them," said Gay Stevens- Fragale
of the Blake Davis Trust Fund. "This is a giant leap toward Blake's
Bright Tomorrow." "This never would have happened without the
leadership provided by organizers of the Blake Davis Trust Fund and
the motivation of the local homebuilders," said Turcanik.
"Countrywide is glad they asked us to be part of making this
special gift." Donations to the Blake Davis Trust Fund can be made
on-line at BlakesBrightTomorrow.com, or mailed to: 101 Central
Plaza South, Suite 1000; Canton, OH 44702. DATASOURCE: Blake Davis
Trust Fund CONTACT: Gay Stevens-Fragale of Blake Davis Trust Fund,
+1-704-400-8829; or Rick Simon of Countrywide, +1-818-426-3872 Web
site: http://www.countrywide.com/
http://www.blakesbrighttomorrow.com/
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