Beach Jaycees surprise Dragas with award

VIRGINIA BEACH

Helen Dragas wanted to help school-age children have housing stability, so her company donated $1.5 million to fight homelessness in the region.

And last year, The Dragas Co s. spent more than $5 million to fix 73 condos in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach built with tainted Chinese drywall.

The company also paid to relocate residents while work was done.

Because of Dragas' concern for the community, she was surprised on Tuesday by the Virginia Beach Jaycees, who chose her as the city's First Citizen for 2009.

Dragas thought she was just having lunch with her friend Dot Wood in Town Center when she was surprised with flowers and balloons. She smiled and asked, "What did I do?"

"My husband is in on this?" Dragas asked.

"More people than you know," said Doug Harmon, the Jaycees' management director.

Dragas, 48, is the president and CEO of The Dragas Co s. in Virginia Beach, the largest home builder in Hampton Roads.

The $1.5 million donation to address homelessness in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Chesapeake came in 2007.

Fixing local homes built with tainted drywall last year has resulted in a legal battle over insurance reimbursement.

"We felt that she was just an outstanding member of the community and has done a lot out of her own pocket," said Sarah Brown, president of the Beach Jaycees.

"There's so much that needs to be done," Dragas said. "I never do enough."

She has been president and CEO of the company since 1996. She also is a member of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors and serves on or has served on a number of foundations and commissions.

She will receive the award at a banquet in the spring.

This is the 60th First Citizen award. The Virginia Beach Jaycees accept nominations each year, then a committee of Jaycees and previous winners review them and choose.

Dragas received letters of nomination from Mayor Will Sessoms, who is a past recipient, and U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, who called her "a gifted leader in the community, who has dedicated much of her time and effort to making Virginia Beach a better place to live."

Pilot writer Josh Brown contributed to this report.

Patrick Wilson, (757) 222-5150, patrick.wilson@pilotonline.com