MORE INFORMATION
– For more information on ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,’ visit http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/
– For a complete listing of local companies who donated time, products and services, visit www.HOVhomesExtreme.com.
– To donate to the family fund, visit www.HOVhomesExtreme.com and click on ‘Donate.’
By KRISTY DAVIES
Courier-Post Staff
PENNSAUKEN
The final touches on landscaping and the moving in of furniture today concluded a hectic week of the filming of the construction of an “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” house.
As camera crews gathered outside the home, hundreds of volunteers gathered outside a Levitz furniture truck ready to take directions from Ty Pennington, the show’s host, who kicked off the move-in process.
Designers Ed Sanders, Paul DiMeo, Tanya McQueen, Rib Hillis and Pennington finalized their projects and designs late today in preparation for the revealing of the home Sunday.
They are building the house for the Marrero family of Camden. Victor Marrero and his five sons were featured on ABC’s “20/20” in a documentary on children growing up in poverty. Cameras followed three Camden families for 18 months. That resulted in an outpouring of attention.
The Marreros found out about the “Extreme Makeover” last Sunday and were sent on vacation to Spain, courtesy of Disney.
Ground was broken for the building on Federal Street at noon Tuesday. Twenty-four hours later, the frame and sheathing were up. By Thursday, because of the round-the-clock construction, all of the siding was complete, as well as the interior wallboards, electrical system, plumbing, heating and air conditioning. By the end of the day Thursday, cabinets and tiling were completed.
The construction of the home has been filmed by “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” production company Lock & Key Productions of Los Angeles.
About 80 crew members traveled into town to shoot the show. They include camera crews, muralists, producers, electricians, security workers and location workers.
“We shoot more than 600 hours of footage,” said Diane Korman, senior producer of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” “We have to edit it down to 44 minutes. Even the footage is extreme.”
Some of that footage included Pennington at Sears in the Moorestown Mall as he purchased Sears’ products as he does in every episode.
As the filming crews came in, so did area businesses. Commerce Bank assisted J.S Hovnanian & Sons, the builder chosen for the project, by setting up a family fund for its Web site.
“Our bank will encourage anyone with spare change to use the bank’s free Penny Arcade coin counting machines and then donate all, or a portion of, the money to the family,” said Rebecca Acevedo, spokeswoman for Commerce Bank.
Joseph’s Landscaping of Williamstown donated about $65,000 worth of material and labor to the home.
The landscaping company provided a majority of the landscaping material, pavers, walls and steps, pergola in the back, irrigation system and lighting system, said Steven Joseph, president of the Gloucester County business.
More than a dozen varieties of plants enhance the grounds of the new home.
“I feel it’s a great experience to be giving back to the community and ultimately for the family,” said Joseph. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Acme grocery stores donated all of the food for the volunteers, VIPs and to fill the Marreros’ refrigerator.
The revealing of the home and “Move that bus!” will occur sometime between 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday.
