November 7 was a gray, rainy, windy autumn day in the northwest. A strong wind turned umbrellas inside out. People raced from shelter to shelter. As the storm continued on the outside, members of the Master Builders Association plus their families and friends descended upon the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue to brighten up the inside.

Volunteers organized by the Master Builders Care Foundation played out its sixth annual Painting a Better Tomorrow event during the storm. This year the organizing committee chose to consolidate resources and create a festive atmosphere for networking and team building. One location was selected, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue was perfect.

Painting two gymnasiums, a teen center, computer room, art room, hallways, offices, recreation area and two stairwells all in one day was simply incredible, stated a Ryan Scott, VP and COO of the Clubs. "We were surprised to be selected. Then to watch this group come in and do such amazing amount of painting in a single day was astonishing. The two volunteers from RC Painting that painted the large gym were incredible!"

Greg Hubert, of Sherwin Williams, was especially helpful. He recruited two teams, and Sherwin Williams donated over 70 gallons of paint. Longtime Painting a Better Tomorrow supporter, Rodda Paint, added with another 50 gallons.

Painting a Better Tomorrow Chair, Art Castellija (Ferguson Enterprises), was thrilled, saying, "It was a pleasure today. Vol

unteers came in and went right to work, taping and spreading paint then later cleaning up. Lunch was fun too! All the pizza and salad one could ever want. To do this for the Boys and Girls Clubs meant a lot to me and those who use their facility. This was one fantastic day!"

Yes, it was a perfect storm inside and out; a windy rainy grey northwest day outside and whirlwind of activity inside. The result was a clean bright cheerful interior, one which the will brighten the day for many boys and girls.

"We're extremely grateful to volunteers of the Master Builders," stated Scott Cameron, Board Chair of the Boys and Girls Clubs. "I wish I could have been there

personally. Unfortunately, this year I was out of town. In previous years my staff and I volunteered for Painting a Better Tomorrow. As a member of the Master Builders Association, I'm glad to see the homebuilding industry doing so much good for the community."

Painting a Better Tomorrow and the Master Builders Care Foundation are supported by the MBA Charity Auction, which will be April 24, 2010, and presented in association with Theatro ZinZanni.