Press Release

Patterson Organizes Community Effort to Build Home for Lake Orion Parents Struck by Tragedies

Pontiac, MI, October 30, 2007 – Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson today announced he has assembled a group of concerned business owners and citizens to build a 1,800 square foot home for Cliff and Vicki Schrauger, who lost two sons in a fatal traffic accident and third son is recovering from serious wounds suffered on Father’s Day while serving in Iraq.

The Schraugers also lost their home to foreclosure several months ago while caring for the injured son, David, at a military hospital in Texas.

The goal of the effort named “The Schrauger Home Project,” is to get the family in the new home in six months, mortgage free. No taxpayer money is being used to build the home.

“The magnitude of the personal loss thrust upon this family is unimaginable, and then to be without a home on top of it is just devastating,” Patterson said. “I know there are many good people in the community who want to reach out and help Schraugers any way they can. This is one way to help.”

Brothers Joshua, 17, and Timothy, 14, were killed in a traffic accident in Clinton County on Sept. 29. They were on their way to meet some friends at a sesquicentennial farm where an annual party was taking place. Both boys were students at Lake Orion High School.

David, 24, a U.S. Army specialist, was seriously injured when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle. He suffered, leg, arm, spine and lung injuries and has undergone multiple surgeries. More surgeries are planned.

Clarkston builder Forrest Milzow is heading up construction on the project.

Those who are interested in donating goods or services can go to a website created for the project: www.oakgov.com/house. The site includes a registry of items needed to complete the project such as lumber, bricks, concrete, excavation, plumbing and windows. The site also suggests others ways to help.

The site links to a website created by the Community Bible Church in Waterford to accept donations for the family. Contributions made through the church allow them to be considered a charitable write-off for tax purposes.

Cliff Schrauger, who is a minister, said his family is overwhelmed by the love and support the community has shown his family. Besides David, the couple has another son, Stephen, who is a student at Saginaw Valley State University, and a daughter, Kristina, who is a school teacher in North Carolina.

“We are awestruck, overwhelmed by the love and generosity of the people we don’t even know,” he said. “This has brought us to tears.”