Since the real estate market tanked, Tom Walters and his wife decided to lower the price of their 6,000-square-foot, six bedroom, four and ½ bath, historic Edgewater home to $50.
But for a worthy cause.
After reading an article in The Capital this spring about a local nonprofit struggling with its funding, Mr. Walters reached out to Larry Griffin, director of We Care and Friends, an organization established in 1991 that focuses on programs to rehabilitate those who suffer from longterm drug or alcohol abuse. Mr. Walters suggested that Mr. Griffin use the Walters' house for a raffle at $50 per ticket, and he offered to share 10 percent of the sale's profits with the charity.
"(The article) must've got to him because he opened his heart to me and the organization and what We Care would get out of it," Mr. Griffin said. "So when he asked me, I said, 'Yeah, boy.' Because most definitely it could help us out a lot."
Mr. Walters and Mr. Griffin hope to raise at least $150,000 for the charity, which would go toward paying the salary of one administrative staff person and bringing back more year-round, children-aimed programs, among other projects Mr. Griffin has in mind for the near future.
The drawing is set for Sept. 27, as We Care scurries to sell enough tickets to make the event profitable. So far the organization has sold 2,000 tickets, but Mr. Walters said the goal is 31,000.
"My concern is that everyone is going to wait 'til the last minute," Mr. Walters said. "There might be a large influx the week before to buy tickets. I hope we don't get a deluge right up at the last minute."
Last year We Care helped nearly 100 people sober up, but with rising costs and pending budget cuts earlier this year, his program was in jeopardy of losing all of its funding. The city eventually pulled through with its grant, but the threat of losing the services of the program was enough to encourage Mr. Walters to get involved.
"We liked what they were doing for the community and thought we could work together well on this," he said.
But he admits that an eerie coincidence helped solidify his decision to work with We Care on the house raffle. After leaving one meeting with Mr. Griffin at his office on W. Washington Street, Mr. Walters said he happened to walk past a cemetery no more than 100 yards away from the We Care office, where he saw the grave marker for Alexander Randall, the original owner of the house.
"That kind of made my hairs stand up on end," Mr. Walters laughed.
We Care provides many rehabilitative services for families affected by substance abuse, including intervention with police and representation in court. It organizes pre-admission health appointments, meetings with families, and transportation to care facilities.
"I really thank the Lord there are people like Mr. Walters with compassion who want to help the people I help. It's hard to find folks like that," Mr. Griffin said. "He's my new brother, and his wife is my new sister."
The house at 1 Poplar Point Road, located at the corner of Poplar Point Road and Route 2, sits on a 2-acre parcel just outside of Annapolis.
When the home was built in the 1840s, the original structure was a log cabin, owned by the late Mr. Randall, a well-known Annapolis attorney in the mid-19th century.
Over the years, three additions were constructed to the house to now include an in-law suite. The larger addition measures nearly 4,400 square feet over three levels, replete with a gourmet kitchen and high-end appliances.
The winner will receive the home free of mortgage or liens and will not be required to pay any closing costs.
To purchase tickets, visit www.fiftydollarhouse.com, or call 443-758-5164.
