Aligning with its mission to give back to people and the communities that it serves, Rick's Custom Fencing and Decking just wrapped up its 2024 sponsorship of the Clark County Home & Garden Idea Fair while simultaneously raising money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Put on by Clark Public Utilities, the two-day Idea Fair this year welcomed approximately 15,000 people. It is the only local home show for southwest Washington residents and provides home solutions for every budget and other unique ideas to take your home, garden, or patio to the next level.  Rick’s has had a location in Vancouver for more than 25 years and looks forward to participating in this special event every year.

“This year’s event was truly one for the record books,” said Dameon Pesanti, PIOIMedia Specialist for Clark Public Utilities. “Every year we intentionally design a lot of continuity to the show while also adding new features. That way, returning guests are familiar with the layout and orientation and able to find their old favorites, but still pleasantly surprised by new elements. This year, we put additional emphasis on the services we, as a utility, provide to our customers and our corporate citizen initiatives around environmental stewardship and energy savings.”

For Rick’s Custom Fencing and Decking, it was not only an opportunity to meet new customers, it was a chance to collaborate with St. Jude’s and help people in need. This collaboration isn’t new, either. Rick's Custom Fencing and Decking has forged a meaningful partnership with St. Jude for the last few years, including through the Dream Home Showplace, a collaborative effort that unites industry professionals to construct a new home, with all proceeds from its sale directed to St. Jude.

This year, Rick’s set up a table in an interactive area of the Idea Fair where attendees could take a moment to write a card to a child or family getting treatment at the hospital. This ‘Send a Smile’ initiative encouraged people to draw a picture, write a favorite quote or verse, or personal note of kindness or inspiration and put it in the ‘Send a Smile’ box. Rick’s received over 100 cards – each of which will go directly to families experiencing medical challenges this year. For each card, Rick’s donated $25 to St. Jude’s, which provides a total of $2,500 to the worthwhile organization.

Rashree Abernathy, Lead Advisor, Area Development at St. Jude’s shared, “St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has had an indelible imprint on the Pacific Northwest for several decades. Our hospital may not be here, but our research and protocols are. This means any child who is battling cancer, or a life-threatening illness is likely to be treated with St. Jude protocols, care plans, and even receive consultations from St. Jude doctors. When you give to St. Jude, you are helping children local to the Pacific Northwest and far beyond. Through the generous support of donors and partners, like Rick’s Custom Decking & Fencing…we can advance our unique mission to finding cures and saving children. Everywhere.”

Ready to support local?
Rick’s Custom Fencing & Decking, founded in 1980, is a local family-owned and operated company with five locations across Portland and the Tri-Cities areas. Their commitment to people and the communities that make up our beautiful state is showcased in their dedication to giving back. The company loves working with local wood products and its team has the knowledge and expertise you can trust for your springtime or summer deck or fencing project.

Do you have questions about their community impact, or want a free estimate and design consultation for your upcoming project? Contact Rick’s today.