Miami Herald

11 Teenagers in a group foster setting had their home transformed - thanks to a volunteer effort led by The Continental Group.

Teenage boys who live in a group home are going to walk into a fresh new place this weekend.

Actually, it's their old familiar foster house - with new paint, kitchen appliances and furniture.

Dozens of workers - mostly volunteers - hammered, painted and shopped during the week to pull together a grand makeover while the six teens stayed in a hotel.

"The change that we have given to the house, they can't even imagine," said Hector Vargas, senior vice president of The Continental Group, a property management firm that organized the community service project for a nonprofit child welfare agency. "We turned this house into a construction site. It's really changing the living conditions and making a big difference in their lives."

From installing fan lights to rebuilding closets, the renovation project in Liberty City includes fix-ups and added features inside and out. A half basketball court is likely to be a hit with the teens, ages 14 to 17.

About 120 of the firm's employees pitched in, many on their time off, Vargas said. In addition to volunteers from its own staff, Continental Group rounded up donations of money, labor and supplier from some of the company's vendors, Vargas said.

Vargas said he selected the house based on its needs and potential for improvement. He met with the teens and asked about their preferences for bedroom paint colors before kicking off the work.

"They're brightening up the whole house," said Wanda Brantley, residential program administrator for the Center For Family and Child Enrichment, which works with hundreds of foster children and teens in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties.

While information about the teens is private, Brantley said two are interested in football, one is into boxing and another likes to cook.

Vargas said when the teens walked into the house "they just were jumping up for joy. That place went from needing major repairs to being a magnificent home for these six foster children. We put in all new appliances, new furniture - flat screen TVs. We poured a concrete basketball court in the backyard and stocked it with basketballs."

He said that during the reveal, the kids thanked the volunteers, some of whom were crying as the kids jumped up and down.

"The house is looking great," Brantley said. "It promotes more of a family-like atmosphere and it lets them know that people really care. I think it'll encourage them to do well."

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