Provo — The Utah Valley Home Builders Association sold their eleventh Cougar House with the proceeds going to the endowed scholarship program at Brigham Young University.  “This was the largest amount we have donated to date,” explains Steve Caldwell,  executive officer for the UVHBA, at a recent luncheon with members of the UVHBA and BYU  athletic staff. The profit from this home was more than $305,000 tipping the total of the funds to over $2 million.  

Members of the UVHBA donate time, labor, and supplies to build each Cougar House. The  home is then sold with the proceeds benefitting current and future student-athletes,  particularly those involved in construction management majors at Brigham Young University 

The project was jumpstarted with the $160,000 lot in Saratoga Springs donated by Jeff  Southard of South Haven Homes and Development. The South Haven team also oversaw the entire project as the general contractor. Sam Morgan of Morgan Fine Homes designed and donated the plans for the over 3,600 SF home. 

“We enjoy and value our partnership with BYU,” says Caldwell. “It is inspiring to see the  UVHBA members, who are otherwise competitors, working in unity on the Cougar House.” 

“The annual Cougar House project has had an incredible impact in creating endowed scholarships at BYU,” explains Cougar Club Director Greg Vehar. “Our ongoing relationship with the Utah Valley Home Builders is very unique; the Cougar House project has been admired and copied by schools across the nation. We deeply appreciate the generous UVHBA members  involved who have made each of these homes possible.” 

Members of the association who donated their time and labor include South Haven Homes and  Development; Halifax Flooring; SW Morgan Fine Home Designs: Gunthers Heating and Air; JR  Plumbing; Jones Paint and Glass; Lazenby Electric; Sunpro; True Drywall; Acute Engineering;  Parrish Construction; Hansen Lighting; Rob Schaffer; Hearth and Home; BMC West; Maven  Design Company; Staker Parsons; Clyde Co; Honey Bucket; Mountainland Design and RJ Lewis. 

This was the eleventh home built by the UVHBA. The first home was built in 2001 in Springville.  Other Cougar Houses have been built all over Utah Valley including Eagle Mountain, Provo, Lehi,  Elk Ridge, Saratoga Springs, Mapleton, and Orem.  

Based in Vineyard and founded in 1975, the UVHBA is the leading association in Utah actively working to protect, preserve and promote housing. A prominent project the association organizes annually is the Utah Valley Parade of Homes, in which the Cougar  House has frequently been featured. To learn more about this non-profit organization or to get involved visit http://www.uvhba.com.