I never imagined one of the most meaningful projects of my career would come from a tragedy that hit so close to home.

In August 2023, wildfires tore through Lahaina, Hawaii, a place I once called home. Overnight, an entire town was erased. Friends lost everything. I was fortunate. My home still stands, but many people I care about weren’t so lucky.

In those first chaotic days, my wife and I scrambled to help in whatever way we could, raising funds and sending solar generators to Maui so families could power fans and lights. Some still use them today because stable housing remains out of reach.

That experience planted the seed for Flip It Forward.

I’ve spent years building Rain City Capital around a mission of real and lasting mutual success, believing business should be a win-win. After Lahaina, I wanted our success, and our clients’, to tangibly help those who needed it most.

The idea was simple: Buy a house, renovate it, sell it, and donate the proceeds to charity.

Of course, the reality was anything but. It took 14 months, countless hours of labor, and the generosity of incredible people such as longtime client Dona, who donated the project itself. She turned her own potential profit into a gift and poured her heart into the renovation. There were moments when the project felt endless. I remember standing in the gutted shell of the property, wondering what we’d gotten ourselves into.

Today, I get to stand in front of a beautiful, finished home knowing every dollar of profit went to survivors in Lahaina. We donated the funds to employees of a local business that stepped up after the fires to distribute supplies that held the community together.

What I’ve learned through this project is that generosity compounds. Giving isn’t just about the dollars: It’s about the relationships. I’m proud not only of the finished house itself but also of the people who showed up with sweat and heart to make the vision real.

My hope is that Flip It Forward is only the beginning. I do intend to continue Fip It Forward. We are currently looking for our next project and the partners to help us complete it. My hope is other investors, builders, or lenders will take the idea and make it their own, fueling exponential change. If we can be the tip of the spear, sparking others to give back through the work they already do, then the ripple effect could stretch far beyond this one flip in Portland. Anyone who is interested in exploring this possibility can visit www.raincitycapital.com/flipitforward.

Real success isn’t what we build for ourselves—it’s what we give forward.

At the end of the day, I didn’t do this for Rain City. I did it because I could. Because making a difference where it matters most means more than anything else. If we can keep flipping it forward, one house at a time, that’s success worth chasing.