Another “Extreme Makeover” for Easter Seals

Remember our blog post last March about the Extreme Home Makeover show? Back then, actress Marlee Matlin had appeared on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to present a $50,000 college scholarship to Stefan Vardon. Stefan’s parents are both deaf and his younger brother has autism. Matlin is an amazing advocate for people with disabilities and is an Easter Seals Honorary Board Member.

This weekend another member of our Easter Seals family will be featured on an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition episode. Eight-year-old Jake Grys has brittle bone disease and receives services at Easter Seals Peoria-Bloomington. One of Jake’s therapists at Easter Seals is Angie DeLost. Angie nominated the Grys family, and on October 28, 2008 they were told their dream of a lifetime was coming true. They were getting a new home.

After a week long vacation at Disney World, the family came back to Illinois to see their brand new home. You can hear the family’s story and view their new place this Sunday, January 11 on ABC TV. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition airs at 7:00 p.m., Central Time.

And this just in: our 2005 Easter Seals national adult representative, Mary Ann Riojas, has just been chosen to receive a brand new home, too!You can visit the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition site to find out more about Mary Ann Riojas and her family,
and while you’re there you can go ahead and sign the guest book, too.

We don’t know exactly when the Riojas’ story will air – they are on their vacation this very moment and demolition of their old house is underway.

Extreme Home Makeover improves the lives of deserving families across the country through the generosity of thousands of volunteers. All materials and labor are donated for every house that is built. Easter Seals has long known the power of its volunteers. Watching this show reinforces in a meaningful way the lesson that Easter Seals volunteers have demonstrated for years – together, we can accomplish great things.


 

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