Extreme Makeover Home Edition

Many of you know that the ABC Extreme Makeover team came to Moorhead, MN to build a new home for a well deserving family.  The Grommesh family of Moorhead was the recipient due to the son, Garrett, having spina bifida and the daughter, Peighton, with a pancreatic enzyme deficiency known as Axenfeld-Reiger's syndrome. The house they owned was in good condition, but not wheelchair accessible.  Since their original house was still "liveable", the Grommesh family decided to "Pay it Forward" and give their former house to the Hajdari family.  In addition, Concordia College donated full tuition for the two Grommesh children and $10,000 for four years for each of the Hajdari children.  The Extreme Makeover episode for this build will be aired the first Sunday of December and the theme is "Pay it Forward"! 

Unfortunately I was not able to participate in the build due to the overwhelming amount of volunteers that signed up.  It was estimated that over 6,000 people signed up to help and they only need between 3,000-4,000 volunteers. I did, however, go to the big reveal of the house to the family.  I was able to get close right in front of the house. The Extreme Makeover team was astonished that over 8,000 people came to watch the reveal.  They said it was the biggest crowd and most community support they have ever had for the Extreme Makeover show.  It is true, we are "Minnesota Nice".

Hope Inc. was a big supporter of the Extreme Makeover build since they are a wheelchair organization.  Hope Inc. wanted to host an event to support the build since Garrett uses a wheelchair.  So, on Friday, October 8th they attempted to make the Guinness Book of World Records by creating a word using the most wheelchairs.  They did make a new record with over 400 wheelchairs.  Since my aunt, Joyce Newton, is the Executive Director of HERO, and donated 23 wheelchairs, she invited me to make an appearance and be apart of this amazing event.  I met Miss Wheelchair Minnesota, Tonya and she was so excited to be apart of this event.

 

Always,

Tiffany Schulstad-Peterson

Miss Moorhead, 2010