by Matt Wright
For the 3rd consecutive year, Lakeland has been chosen for the St. Jude Dream Home. The home will be located in the Winstead Farms subdivision off Highway 70, which was also the site of the 1st St. Jude home in Lakeland. Once again, Greg Bridgers with Southern Serenity Homes will be the builder.
In two years, the Lakeland projects have generated nearly $3 million dollars for St. Jude. Specifically, $1.45 million in 2019 and $1.5 million in 2020. Program directors like to remind people while those numbers are amazing, it takes $2 million a day to keep the hospital operating. That’s why fundraising programs like the Dream Home are so important.
Dr. Susan Aguillard, chairman of the Dream Home Giveaway program, said they love being back in Lakeland for the 3rd consecutive year. “Over the past several years, we have received only positive feedback about the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway being in Lakeland. The Dream Home ticket patrons have told us they like the overall ambience and atmosphere of the Lakeland community, the schools and especially the convenience it offers for accessing services and businesses within Shelby County,” Dr. Aguillard told Lakeland Currents. Adding, “We have always been welcomed by every community where the Dream Home Giveaway occurred and the Lakeland Community was not an exception. We have seen the Lakeland community rally around the event to help make it one of the largest and most successful fundraisers for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in this area.”
History In Lakeland
St. Jude, and their fundraising arm ALSAC, have worked closely with Lakeland since first partnering with the city under former Mayor Wyatt Bunker in September of 2018. The relationship between St. Jude and Lakeland has remained strong since.
Commissioner Wesley Wright was happy to have the Dream Home back in Lakeland saying, “I am very excited about this year’s model that features an outdoor kitchen and a host of other premium features. While hosting the previous two years, several records were broken and we hope to continue that tradition.” He continued saying, “We were the first town to waive restrictions the organizers previously faced such as permit fees and in lieu of waving the sewer connection, we donated.”
Work on the 2021 Lakeland Dream Home has already started and tickets will be sold this spring while the giveaway will occur this summer.
