This article Reprinted from Western Roofing magazine, March/April 2007, Volume 30, number 2

Donated Roof

Coordinated Effort Required to Recover the KCC Family House in California

by Marc Dodson, editor

It all started when the Kids Cancer Connection (KCC) Family House in Woodland Hills, Calif., realized they needed a new roof as part of a major remodeling effort. The KCC Family House provides temporary housing at no cost for out-of-area families with children undergoing cancer treatment in the Los Angeles area.

The Family House is also home to the Positive Appearance Center. Children diagnosed with cancer and their siblings receive a myriad of services here including soft hats and baseball caps, clothing and shoes, skin care products, wigs, natural cosmetics, etc.

The house offers year-round social activities including parties, entertainment, art therapy, and other Child Life services. In addition, the house offers a setting for educational services for children with compromised immune systems unable to attend school. KCC offers peer-counseling services and resource information for families sponsored by the Wellness Community. The Cancer Research Library allows families to utilize the latest computer technology to connect with medical professionals and caregivers around the globe.

With the old roof of the Family House showing its age and beyond any state of reasonable repair, KCC director Steven Firestein contacted Charlie Frost, current president of the WSRCA, to ask the association to donate a roof. Frost notified Arlene Lawson, executive director of the WSRCA, of KCC’s plight. Could WSRCA help? Lawson had just the right big-hearted roofing contractor in mind, Johnny Zamrzla of Western Pacific Roofing, Lancaster, Calif.

Zamrzla, a former WSRCA president and one of the driving forces behind the formation of the WSRCA, was eager to lend a hand. Frost then contacted Malarkey Roofing who donated their dimensional 30-year shingles for the project. Western Pacific contacted Shawn Kirkland at JB Wholesale in Canyon Country, Calif., who donated the nails, flashings, edge metal, and delivered the materials and supplies to the jobsite.

Jeff Martin, of Western Pacific, took over and supervised the project. Martin stated that with a five-man crew, the job was knocked out during a few days in early January. The 20 square roof was built on a 4:12 pitch. The project began with a tear-off in one area and replacement of some of the wood decking. This was followed by a 15 lbs. underlayment and finally the Malarkey shingles. Martin stated there were no delays and everything on the project went smoothly.

At the completion of the job, WSRCA paid Western Pacific for their work. Western Pacific then turned around and donated that amount back to the Davis Memorial Foundation; the education and scholastic organization that operates with the backing and support of the WSRCA.

The KCC Family House is being renovated with the help of numerous trade associations, companies, and volunteers both locally and around the country, and they are very grateful. Firestein says, “We are in the process of making the KCC Family House a clean, bright, and comfortable place for the kids of KCC and their families.” The new roof goes along way toward achieving that goal. •••