Building More Than a Playhouse: John Adams Students, Local Mentors, and Community Partners Come Together
July 1, 2026
Every once in a while, a project comes along that perfectly captures what Rochester Area Builders is all about.
The Once Upon a Playhouse project, benefiting Family Service Rochester, is one of those projects.
At first glance, it's a playhouse. But spend a few minutes watching the project unfold, and you quickly realize it's about so much more.
It's about students learning hands-on skills. It's about industry professionals sharing their knowledge. It's about local businesses stepping up to support a worthwhile cause. And it's about what can happen when a community comes together around a common goal.
Over the past several weeks, a dedicated group of students from John Adams Middle School has been hard at work building a custom playhouse that will ultimately help support Family Service Rochester.
Along the way, they've learned valuable construction skills, worked as a team, solved problems, and experienced firsthand what it takes to bring a project from concept to completion.
Guiding them throughout the process were industry mentors John Eischen of Carpet One of Rochester and Jay Burke of Heartwood Homes. Their willingness to invest time, share expertise, and work side-by-side with these students helped transform the project into an unforgettable learning experience.
Projects like this don't happen without strong community support.
A special thank you goes to Knutson Construction, Kruse Lumber, and Home Depot for donating materials and supplies, helping ensure the students had everything they needed to bring their vision to life.
The finished playhouse is certainly something to celebrate, but the real success of this project goes beyond the final product. It's the confidence built, the skills learned, the relationships formed, and the example set for what community partnership can accomplish.
Rochester Area Builders is proud to support initiatives that connect students with careers in the building industry while giving back to organizations that make our community stronger.
To everyone who contributed time, materials, mentorship, and enthusiasm to this project: thank you. You've helped build much more than a playhouse.
You've helped build future opportunities, stronger connections, and a lasting impact for Rochester families.
Now, one lucky family will get to take this incredible playhouse home. Raffle tickets are available for purchase at Sargent's on 75th Street, with proceeds benefiting Family Service Rochester and the important work they do throughout our community.
If you haven't seen it yet, be sure to stop by Sargent's and check out the finished playhouse in person. Then grab your raffle tickets for a chance to win a one-of-a-kind backyard addition built by local students, mentors, and community partners who poured their time, talent, and heart into making it a reality.
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