Hayden Homes embarks on $25M giving campaign, starting with Walla Walla library

During the next five years, Oregon-based home-building company Hayden Homes plans to give $25 million to charitable causes across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

The campaign, called Give As You Go, started earlier this week with a $100,000 gift to the Walla Walla Public Library. The donation will go toward constructing Hayden Homes Creativity Center, which will be completed during the upcoming library renovation project.

Library Director Heather VanTassell said the center will be a place for young people to explore, create and feel a sense of belonging. It will be designed for hands-on learning through art and science, technology, engineering and math activities.

"We often say the library is the heart of the community," VanTassell said. "But it's also true that the community is the heart of the library. This is especially true in Walla Walla and it's why we're so thrilled to be embarking on this renovation project. It's an investment in a space where people will continue to grow and connect and imagine for generations to come."

The donation was presented during a ceremony at the library on Wednesday, April 22. After the event, kids who came to participate in the weekly After School at the Library program were given free Earth Day-theme books, purchased by Hayden Homes from Book & Game Co. in Walla Walla.

Otto Stalberger, 8, and his twin brother Rudy participated in writing a message for the library time capsule.

"I like the library because you're able to pick out books even if you don't have enough money because it's free," Rudy said.

But the donation to the library is just the beginning for Hayden Homes' campaign.

During the Give As You Go campaign, Hayden Homes will donate $300 to a local nonprofit for each home sold.

Hayden Homes CEO Dennis Murphy said the company sells about 1,700 homes a year, with about 100 of those in the Walla Walla area.

"Every time Hayden Homes sells a house, we'll donate $300 to charity - it'll happen every day," Murphy said. "And when you buy a Hayden home, you'll be able to nominate a local nonprofit … then we will consider making that part of the donation."

He said the Give As You Go Fund would directly impact each community where homes are sold.

"Every quarter - 90 days - we'll be writing checks to local nonprofits," Murphy said. "It's locals making the decisions on the housing that they built to help nonprofits in the communities they live in. It's pretty powerful to have that local and immediate touch."

Union-Bulletin photographer Kezia Setyawan contributed to this story.

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