The "JAN'S HOUSE OF HOPE" Story

Unique “House Boat” Sets Sail for Cancer Awareness

One of the most unique fundraising projects ever to promote cancer awareness set sail in the summer of 2001 along the East Coast. The project, called “Jan’s House of Hope,” was a 3,100 sq. ft. furnished and landscaped dream home with three-car garage. Featuring the latest housing innovations, Jan’s House of Hope was set on a barge and traveled to seven ports of call.

The house was built using systems technology and then set on a barge in New Hampshire . From there, it traveled to Boston , Branford CT , New York City , Philadelphia PA , Baltimore , MD and ended in Norfolk VA. Home Magazine furnished and decorated the house and at each port of call the house was open for a VIP preview party and public open houses. Funds raised at the VIP parties and open houses were donated to local area hospice and cancer awareness programs.

Jan’s House of Hope was named in honor of a brave lady who succumbed to her two and a half-year battle with lung cancer in 1999 at the age of 50. Although the house was named after Jan, the home was dedicated to over 7,000 individuals, (who’s names were submitted to the web site) and who had fought cancer, some successful and others unsuccessful.

The response from individuals that visited the home and their stories was overwhelming. The tour raised money for the 8 host groups and Jan’s House of Hope, plus received over $15,000,000 worth of national coverage in TV, radio, newspapers and trade publications. The story ran in over 320 publications in 32 states, plus was covered in “USA Today”, “People” Magazine, “Home” Magazine, on the “Today Show”, Japanese TV and on Canadian Television.

Individual builders, Local Home Builders Association and State Home Builder Association in the Northeast banded together to provide financial support to the project and provide labor in the construction of the home. In addition to the Northeast regional support hundreds of individual builders throughout the United Sates and Canada also supported the project through donations. Tour highlights can be seen on the Jan’s House of Hope web site: www.janshouseofhope.com. The construction, furnishing, and exhibition of Jan’s House of Hope were funded completely through corporate and individual donations.

To view photos of the tour and additional information on the project and sponsors check out: www.janshouseofhope.com.