An Extremely Humbling Experience

Many of you have seen my photos and short updates I've posted on Facebook over the past few weeks and especially the the past week about being involved in the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition project. I'll explain how I was lucky enough to witness this incredible act of kindness. For those that don't know, I work at an advertising agency in Montgomery (LWT Communications). One of our big clients is Aronov--which is a real estate company that handles everything from new homes to shopping center development to condominiums on the Gulf. Although they are located in Montgomery, they have a huge presence in the Southeast. 

Aronov was approached by EMHE to be the chosen builder to build a new home for a lucky family in Montgomery. They accepted and came to LWT to seek help in promoting the build. We handled everything from outdoor design promoting the announcement to vendor signage to VIP badges to t-shirts to a custom-built Web site with countdown to you name it! I say "we," that's not accurate. A group of LWT folks handled the majority of it including Cindy as the fearless leader, Kathleen, Karla, the Web dept and I'm sure I'm leaving out some. But I rounded up director's chairs and made a sign!!!!!! Kidding sort of. Anyway, as an employee of LWT I was lucky enough to be able to roll in the VIP area several times including seeing the shooting of the pre-demolition, house build, furniture move (including seeing inside which is limited) and of course the MOVE THAT BUS!

EMHE doesn't give a lot of lead time in their announcement to add to the suspense so needless to say the effort has to happen quick. The Jordan Family was the lucky family chosen to be the recipient of the new home. In the beginning the excitement was about the superstars being in town, a TV show being filmed, etc. But as the week progressed my focus switched to so many more things. 

A family's entire life is changed for the better in the matter of minutes of an announcement. Which is a change for the Jordans whose lives have in the past been changed for the worst in a matter of minutes including  the death of two children--one to domestic violence and one to drunk driving. 

I also looked around a sea of blue volunteer shirts and noticed the excitement and privilege of those that volunteered. Whether to hammer nails or to serve food. It took an army of folks. I heard Cindy mention the Sigma Nus from Huntingdon College and how EMHE couldn't have finished the house without their help from 12-6.....AM! These guys showed up nightly when everyone wanted to sleep to do anything asked of them. I took pride in that as a former SN sweetheart but thought to myself, "those guys will never get the credit they deserve but helped changed a life." There were so many people like that whose contributions added up to a lifetime of giving. 

I heard the sweet Jordan Family father interviewed this evening and had a tear in my eye as he told the news interviewer that he didn't expect to come home to a "castle." A house you and I might think is normal or average. It's a beautiful house indeed. 

I have that feeling inside after big events end. A sadness that the excitement is over. No more stars in town. No more VIP passes. No more MOVE THAT BUS signs to make. No more hearing Kathleen begging for "one more free sign." No more photo ops. No more shuttles to Southlawn. No more "project 621." But more importantly, no more living in sub par conditions for the Jordans. 

Please check out www.extremearonov.com to learn more and below is a link to some photos taken the days I was there. I'll be sure to announce when the airing is. We're hearing late April to early May. I'd also like to add how nice the EMHE cast/crew was while in town. I know they were tired of photos and autographs and being nice but they were so nice. Montgomery is a better place from their brief visit. 

http://gallery.me.com/scottiep/10036