Every ten seconds, a report of child abuse is made in the United States. This sobering statistic underscores the urgent need for proactive measures and community support systems.
Recognizing this need and driven by a desire to make a tangible difference, we recently partnered with Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) of Northern Virginia. For 35 years, SCAN has advocated on behalf of abused children and run programs throughout Northern Virginia to educate the community on preventing child abuse and neglect.
Partnering with SCAN
Matt Bieschke, Partner of Alair Alexandria, was familiar with the impactful work of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) as his wife and architect of Alair Alexandria, Deborah Lerner, had served as a CASA in the mid-2000s. He reached out to SCAN, which runs Northern Virginia’s CASA programs, with a vision to collaborate.
“I saw a playhouse fundraiser as a way for my team to impact SCAN in a way that others can’t – anyone can write a check for a donation, but we’re doing what we love – designing, framing, trimming, painting for a great cause,” Bieschke said.
Why a Playhouse?
Building a playhouse had been a cherished dream for Bieschke and Lerner.
“Secretly, we’ve wanted to build a playhouse for our kids for years,” Bieschke shared with a laugh. “Deborah has already designed a few in her head, but we never could agree on where in our yard it would go.”
When the opportunity arose to channel this passion into a project for SCAN, it was an instant connection. A playhouse is a beacon of hope and joy—a space where children can find solace and happiness amidst challenging circumstances.
Inspired by History: The Spite House Connection
The choice of design for the playhouse was deliberate and meaningful. Inspired by Alexandria’s iconic Spite House, the skinniest house in the U.S., the Alair Alexandria team found the perfect symbol for their project.
Spanning just a little over 7ft wide, the Spite House has captivated locals and national visitors since the 1800s. The tales surrounding it vary, from being built to discourage loitering to resolving a neighborly dispute.
Despite its spiteful beginnings, this landmark has evolved into a symbol of unity, echoing the values of community and resilience that drive SCAN.
Building the Playhouse
Bieschke and his team spent nearly 300 hours and donated over $8K in supplies to design, build, and help promote the one-of-a-kind playhouse.
“I think the biggest challenge we encountered was trying not to overbuild,” Bieschke reflected, “It’s a playhouse, not a custom home. But we wanted it to last.”
The playhouse measures 7” wide (just six inches narrower than its famous inspiration), 8” deep, and about 10’9” tall. Its front closely mirrors the Spite House, with a bright blue color, two large yellow windows with black shutters, and a sizable door with a solar-powered porch light. The inside resembles the original; it has multiple stories, stairs, and a loft. The back of the house includes a sliding pole from the second floor to the artificial grass backyard, enclosed by a yellow picket fence.
The Impact
After its grand reveal during Old Town Alexandria’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in March, individuals were invited to contribute $10 to SCAN to be entered to win the Tiny Home, Big Heart playhouse.
Throughout April, the Alair Alexandria team transported the playhouse to new locations in Alexandria to raise awareness of the campaign, thanks to a generous trailer rental donation from Sunbelt Rentals. The winner was drawn on April 24, 2024, in conjunction with Spring2ACTion, Alexandria’s annual day of giving. The campaign raised over $13K for SCAN.
Looking Ahead: A Future of Possibilities
The raffle winner generously donated the playhouse back to SCAN so it may continue to serve as a beacon of hope for the Alexandria community. Alair Alexandria and SCAN look forward to the lasting impact the playhouse fundraiser will create.
“The playhouse project isn’t just about building structures,” Bieschke said. “It’s about building hope. It’s about taking a stand against child abuse and showing we can create meaningful change through creativity and collaboration.”
Alair Alexandria plans to continue growing the playhouse fundraiser, including designing a couple of playhouses next year and having the community pick which one (or two) they will build. This project reminds us that every act of kindness, no matter how small, can make a difference—a sentiment that Alair Alexandria and SCAN of Northern Virginia embody wholeheartedly.
Read more about the Tiny Home, Big Heart playhouse in the articles published by Alexandria Living and The Zebra.