To those around him, Joe McKee was a hard-working family man with a long and successful career in business. However, what many didn’t know is that he also harbored a lifelong dream of one day becoming a homebuilder. To fulfill this desire, he put his passion for homebuilding into constructing several homes for his family, but ultimately was robbed of making his homebuilding business dream a reality by Alzheimer’s. After a hard-fought 10-year battle, upon Joe’s passing, his sons Pat and Mike formed McKee Homes in memory of their father, as a way to live out the dream he wasn’t able to realize. To this day, making the vision of a world without Alzheimer’s a reality is at the core of everything the company does and was the catalyst for establishing the Joe McKee Memorial Alzheimer’s Fund and the start of its Community Embrace program, which partners with the Alzheimer’s Association and other key charitable organizations. The Community Embrace program keeps Joe’s memory alive by helping various individuals in the community who may not be able to help themselves, particularly those families dealing with Alzheimer’s.
“As a family-owned business that believes in the power of doing the right thing for its customers, trade partners, employees, and community, our collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association is so much more than a corporate partnership; it’s a passion that drives everything we do,” explains Pat McKee, co-founder of McKee Homes. “We are committed to leveraging our resources and expertise to support the Association’s vital work in finding a cure and offering help to those also impacted by this devastating disease. Together, we’re striving for a future where Alzheimer’s no longer steals away dreams and memories, as it did with my dad.”
McKee Homes donates a percentage of every home sold to the Joe McKee Memorial Alzheimer’s Fund with a goal of raising $750,000 by 2025. Another way McKee Homes invests in creating a world without Alzheimer’s is by supporting various Walks to End Alzheimer’s events across North Carolina as presenting sponsor. Over the course of the next few months, McKee Homes has formed five dedicated and passionate teams committed to fundraising for and completing each of these walks as a way to put the company mission into action and fight for a different future when it comes to Alzheimer’s. In locations all throughout North Carolina where McKee Homes is already building new homes and communities, including Fayetteville, Moore County, the Triangle, Wilmington, and this year’s newest addition, Jacksonville, team members will share stories of hope, walk alongside each other in grief and loss, and ultimately make a significant impact as they pursue McKee Homes’ goal of raising over $100,000 this year.
McKee Homes is also partnering with the One Pack NIL collective to help connect student-athletes with opportunities to support the cause. One Pack was created to allow student athletes at NC State University to build their brand and use their platform to make a positive impact in their community. The partnership between McKee Homes and One Pack connects these athletes with the Alzheimer’s Association, where they can support regional walks and fundraising initiatives and ultimately bring awareness to the impact of Alzheimer’s.
“We are thrilled to add the One Pack partnership to our Alzheimer’s efforts,” said McKee. “As an NC State alum and lifelong fan, it’s incredible to see these young athletes using their platform to support a cause so close to our hearts. Together, we’re making a real impact in the fight against Alzheimer’s.”
“This unique partnership between the Alzheimer’s Association, McKee Homes and One Pack is an NIL success story,” said Chris Vurnakes, Executive Director of One Pack at NC State. “The campaign featuring our student athletes will help amplify the message of ALZ, and ultimately raise more funds in their fight to end Alzheimer’s. Thank you to the Alzheimer’s Association for their incredible work in this space and to McKee Homes for their leadership in our community.”
As part of this collaboration between the three organizations, NC State athletes have the opportunity to participate and support the cause in several ways. One way is joining the McKee Homes-One Pack Walk team to participate in a Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Through this experience, athletes can set a fundraising goal, consider a self-donation, and invite friends to participate alongside them and donate to the cause. Additionally, athletes are encouraged to leverage their social media platforms in support of the walks to recruit other participants and use the power of sports to create immeasurable change for those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Several NC State athletes are knocking it out of the park in their support of the Alzheimer’s Association through One Pack. Anthony Carter Jr. is a junior from Charlotte, North Carolina. He’s an incredibly successful offensive guard, starting 11 of 13 games last season at left guard for Wolfpack football. He’s also a three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll recipient and was named an Academic All-ACC performer in 2022 and 2023. Most recently, the National Football Foundation’s Bill Dooley Chapter announced Carter as one of this year’s University Scholar-Athlete Award recipients. This past July, Carter generously shared his passion for the cause with his audience in support of the Alzheimer’s Association.
Tim McKay is an NC State graduate student and football player from Raleigh. In his 2023 season, he started as a right guard for the first time in his career and remained there for the duration of the season. McKay was recently named to the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame’s 2024 Hampshire Honor Society this past April. He was also a recipient of the NFF 2022 University Scholar-Athlete Award, an All-ACC Academic performer, and a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy in 2022 and 2023. An accomplished academic and athlete, McKay is also a passionate supporter of the Alzheimer’s Association through One Pack, and with the support of McKee Homes, shared an inspiring post to his 2,800 followers this past July.
McKee Homes stands as a lasting reminder of Joe’s enduring legacy and the impact that Alzheimer’s has had on the lives of many. By partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association and leveraging the power of sports through the One Pack NIL collective, McKee Homes is not just honoring Joe’s memory, but actively pursuing a future free from Alzheimer’s. Through its Community Embrace program, the Joe McKee Memorial Alzheimer’s Fund, and other charitable initiatives, McKee Homes continues to impact lives for good, proving that the company’s commitment to enriching the quality of life of individuals in its communities is more than just words—it’s the very foundation upon which they build.
Want to support one of One Pack’s student-athletes in their fight against Alzheimer’s? Make a gift today to the Alzheimer’s Association in support of your favorite player.
The Alzheimer’s Association hosts 17 walks across North Carolina. The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association® mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s.
AUTHOR: Rachel Greene
Rachel Greene, the Director of Marketing and Market Research at McKee Homes, is passionate about using her skills to positively impact the communities where the company builds.
Alzheimer's Association North Carolina Blog 