**Please note, this event has already passed and this information remains for informational purposes.**
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the Emmy-award winning hit TV show on ABC Television, is coming to the Gator Nation to surprise one deserving family with an extreme home makeover early next month. Ark Remodeling & Construction has been selected as the builder for the Gainesville project.
"It is an honor to take on the challenge of building a house within a week for a very deserving family in our community," said Ricky Strickland, President, Ark Remodeling & Construction. "We are committed to taking care of people and making a difference in everything we do. We are proud to support bringing our Gainesville community together and show that even in tough economic times, we can rally together to make a difference for one of our neighbors in need," said Strickland.
Five deserving families are being considered from Gainesville. And on December 7th, one of the families will be given a surprise wake-up call when Ty Pennington and the design team knock on their door and their hopes and dreams come true. The show designers along with, Ark Remodeling & Construction, its trade partners, sponsors and hundreds of volunteers will work together to build a dream home within one week.
A pep rally is planned at 8 a.m. Dec. 2 for all skilled and unskilled volunteers and subcontractors of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Ark Remodeling & Construction build at Grace Methodist Church, 9325 W. Newberry Road (http://www.gracefl.org/times-directions).
"This pep rally will be an informational as well as inspirational day for all attending," Strickland said. "So many have already signed up as partners for the project through material and monetary donations and volunteers for the build, and this will be the day to rally us all as one."
The show's executive producer, Conrad Ricketts, will attend and provide information about what's happening with the project for general and skilled volunteers, subs and trades.
For anyone interested in signing up as a volunteer, there are still ways to participate. Please visit the build project Web site at www.arkextremebuild.com for up-to-date information opn sponsorships, volunteering, materials needed and more.
Blood Drive Information
ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” taps into Gainesville’s community spirit to help one family, but the show is also helping local heroes make a difference for the entire community by Giving Beyond Extreme, and no carpentry skills are needed.
From Dec. 9-14, a LifeSouth Community Blood Centers blood mobile will be parked at the build location. Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan says, “This is a wonderful opportunity for people to connect with one another, become a community hero by donating blood, and pick-up a complimentary ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ T-shirt.”
Donors in Gainesville and Alachua can also get involved by stopping by one of LifeSouth’s three donor centers located at 4039 Newberry Rd. and 1221 NW 13th St. in Gainesville and at 15652 NW U.S. 441, Suite F in Alachua. All donors will receive a limited edition Extreme Makeover: Home Edition blood donor T-shirt. Read more...