ForKids Celebrates New Community Campaign During Affordable Housing Month

Supporters, partners, volunteers, and friends of ForKids gathered May 21 for the inaugural Raise the Roof Rock Out Rally, celebrating the conclusion of our first Raise the Roof community campaign and the collective result of neighbors helping neighbors across Hampton Roads.

Launched during National Affordable Housing Month, Raise the Roof is a two-week community care campaign that invited local businesses, faith communities, schools, civic groups, families, and individuals to support children and families experiencing housing instability. Participants raised funds, collected move-in essentials, spread awareness, and found creative ways to give back throughout the month.

As a first-year campaign, Raise the Roof brought together more than two dozen participating teams from across Hampton Roads, including businesses, congregations, civic organizations, youth groups, volunteers, board members, and community supporters.

“We launched Raise the Roof because affordable housing affects all of us,” said ForKids CEO Thaler McCormick. “When people come together to raise awareness, support families, and invest in solutions, they help make our community stronger for everyone.”

During the event, attendees heard from ForKids Economic Mobility Mentor II Denedra Tyler-Richardson, who shared why community support matters to the families she serves.

“When people hear words like homelessness or housing instability, sometimes they only think about statistics,” Tyler-Richardson said. “At ForKids, we see people. We see parents working hard, children who deserve stability and safety, and families doing everything they can to move forward. Sometimes people don’t need someone to save them. They just need someone to believe in them while they rebuild.”

Tyler-Richardson said community support helps families achieve stable housing, increase income, and build brighter futures for their children.

Guests also heard from ForKids Alumna Larisa Toms, who shared her personal journey to housing stability and reflected on the impact community support had on her family.

The evening concluded with recognition of the campaign’s top-performing teams:

Business/Corporate Group

• Jerry Harris Remodeling (First Place)
• ITA International (Second Place)

School/Youth Group

• Seahorse Circle (First Place)

Civic Group

• Chesapeake-Virginia Beach Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. (First Place)
• Portsmouth Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. (Second Place)

Religious Organization

• Great Bridge United Methodist Church Friendship Circle (First Place)
• Open Door Church (Second Place)