Extreme Home Makeover comes to Madison
Published 8:00 am Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The excitement mounted with every car parked on the edge of the street. Cheerleaders donned their uniforms and held signs to raise spirit. Children and their parents packed the stands of Morgan County High School for a once in a lifetime opportunity — and no it wasn’t a football game. The ABC television show, “Extreme Home Makeover” has found a new home for a week in Madison and one lucky family will be the beneficiary of a community gift: a beautiful new home and a chance for a better life beginning July 10.
The pep rally hosted in the gymnasium on Thursday helped to spread the word that the show had chosen a family from Madison to assist, and the entire community was invited to listen to officials from the show and recruit volunteers to build the home and sign up for shifts and materials. As an additional treat, legendary University of Georgia coach Vince Dooley helped to rally the audience and welcome show officials and
Atlanta Falcons cheerleaders.
“When the show called me and asked me to lead the pep rally, I was just excited to be asked,” Dooley said. “My daughter Deanna and my grandson are such big fans, and I’ve been watching the show as well. I think it is a great thing for this community.”
Dooley was supposed to be visiting his son, Derek, at the University of Tennessee, however as soon as he got the call from the show asking for his help, he knew his place was in Madison.
“I told my son that I’d have to see him later. I sent my wife instead. This is a blessing to a deserving family, and I hope that the house will continue to bless the family,” Dooley said.
People from all over the Madison, Lake Oconee and Milledgeville area gathered at the high school to witness the magic that the show has brought to 193 families. The family in Madison will be the show’s 194th build.
Cindy Young, a paraprofessional at the middle school in Madison, attended the ceremony for community reasons.
“It truly is very exciting. Madison is the kind of town that we can all pull it together when something needs to get done. The family will be very lucky, and I hope they continue to count their blessings,” Young said.
The Morgan County High School cheerleaders helped to keep the spirit high in the gymnasium by learning new cheers specifically for the show, painting signs to advertise and perfected new stunts. Kaylee Breedlove, a cheerleader for the school, reminded her squad that the home created by her community would continue to be a beacon of hope for everyone.
“It just reminds everyone to stay positive. Horrible things may have happened, but everything happens for a reason. This family is so lucky, but they have been through hardship and they will make it out on top,” she said.
Contractors from all over the area were also recruited to speak at the pep rally. The home cannot be built in one week without thousands of volunteers to construct the home in an old-fashioned “barn-raising” style. Ryan Cathey, a contractor for SMART Properties, has never been contracted for such a large project in such a short amount of time.
“It is amazing how many volunteers have been offering time, money and materials. It really is incredible. It couldn’t be any further than what we normally do. It’s awesome,” he said.
Chris Hilsman, a contractor for Pilot Builders, echoed his sentiment.
“We’re going to get this together with a lot of volunteers and companies. The show also has great project managers that will keep this going as smoothly as possible. We’re going to have people in the thousands to raise this house in a week,” he said. “It’s amazing, and such a blessing.”
Sixth- and seventh-graders Rebecca Lindsey, Morgan Howell, Lorrie-elle Lindsey and Callie Arienzo attended the pep rally because they felt they had a pretty good idea of the family that would be chosen.
“It is awesome and so cool. We’re excited because we really hope it is our friend. We’ve been praying for her and this family could be her family,” the girls said.
Milan Vasic, senior producer at Lock and Key Productions, has been with the show since its infancy in 2003, and has seen first hand the good that it has done for thousands of Americans both recipients of the homes and those who have constructed them.
“The show is about finding a positive message and hope. Heroes come in many forms and we celebrate people who have incredible challenges in their lives, but continue to reach out to others to assist them in the community. This show has an incredible ability to bring people together, and you can be a hero to the family by helping with donations and your time,” Vasic said.
To join the Extreme team, log on to www.joinextreme.com/
georgiavolunteer/generalvolunteer.
The site will be continuously updated in order to post schedules, and when the family is announced July 10, information will be provided on parking and the family as well.
The home must be finished in 106 hours before the family comes home in order to be ready for them to move in.