Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
AHA donates home-decorating accents to popular television show

AtHome America is on a mission to change America one heart, one home and one family at a time! We are proud to have contributed $25,000 in total retail products to ABC's Emmy-nominated Extreme Makeover: Home Edition!

Episode One!

AHA's first appearance on Extreme Makeover was March 19, 2006, with $2,000 retail donated to the Rainford Family in Florida. Stricken with an aggressive type of cancer, Dunstan Rainford's dying wish was to fix up his house, which was ravaged by Hurricane Wilma, for his children. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition answered the call, and with the help of AtHome America, made Dunstan's dream come true!

Episode Two!

A few months later, AHA made back-to-back appearances once more on the show. On May 7, 2006, more than $5,000 retail was donated to the Peter family in New York. When their home was completely destroyed in a fire, they were left with nothing! They had no heat or hot water, and very little electricity. They had to cook on a makeshift stove, and covered their windows with plastic. And although their home was reduced to ashes, their spirits remained strong!

Episode Three!

On May 14, 2006, AtHome America was, once again, one of the companies to help a large and loving Italian family from Somers, New York, transform their tiny house into a spacious and attractive home. Jim and Gina Arena are parents to six daughters: Casey, 16, Jessica, 15, Victoria, 13, Amanda, 10, Jamie, 8, and Emma, 3. Sadly, their only son, Jimmy, died of an inoperable brain tumor on September 28, 2005, shortly after his sixth birthday.

The plans for the renovation included tearing down the original 1,500-square foot structure and replacing it with a new one with close to 3,500-square feet of space. AtHome America provided many of the home-decorating accessories, such as candles, picture frames and furniture. We also provided stylish, everyday necessities, such as lamps and kitchen dishes.

The Arena family moved into their new home after the show premiered on ABC on May 14. Not only did they return from a trip to Walt Disney® World Resort to discover a new home, but they are also beginning to prepare for another even happier and more important milestone: the birth of another child. Gina is expecting again — and it's a boy!

Episode Four!

On Sunday, September 24, AtHome America was featured on the 2006-2007 season premiere of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and donated almost $3,500 retail to the show.

The episode focused on the Rogers Family in North Pole, Alaska. Betsy Rogers, her nine children, her brother and his children all lived in a two-bedroom home. More than 300 friends and neighbors nominated the Rogers family for the ABC reality show. Television crews arrived July 8, to notify the family they had been selected for the show, and promised they would have a new dream home within a week. Producers anticipated needing nearly 1,000 volunteers to make it happen … and happen it did!

While the family was whisked away to Disneyland for a week, crews of carpenters, electricians, plumbers and other volunteers demolished the old 900-square-foot home, which was literally coming apart at the seams, and rebuilt a new home to house the 13 family members, complete with tons of AtHome America products! AHA provided many of the home-decorating accessories, such as candles, picture frames and furniture. We also provided stylish, everyday necessities, such as lamps, mirrors and towel holders and kitchen dishes.

Episode Five!

The Farina family of St. Meinrad, Indiana, received more than $5,000 retail of AHA products, including furniture, dishes, candles and other home-decorating items. The show aired on ABC on Sunday, November 12, 2006.

Shawna Farina, 26, is a mother of three and has been battling breast cancer for more than a year. Despite her difficult situation, she managed to raise more than $70,000 (after undergoing major surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment for breast cancer) through the Relay for Life. Monies raised go toward breast cancer research efforts and awareness programs.

While Shawna, her husband Steve and their three children enjoyed a week-long cruise, crews of volunteers, plumbers, electricians and other contractors tore down the family’s 135-year-old home and built a new one in its place. AtHome America was proud to contribute to the home-decorating with our versatile products.