An Extremely Powerful Experience
All the families highlighted on Extreme Makeover, Home Edition have had challenges, but a recent Texas edition was extra special to all of us here at First Choice Power. In January, the show helped “The Beach Family 15” — a mother, father, four biological children and nine adopted and foster children. The family’s home in Kemah was ravaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008.
To help the Beaches get out of the temporary trailer in their backyard, Ty Pennington and his gang set out to build the largest energy-efficient house in the popular show’s history. During the two hours of the show, we saw the Kemah community come together to build a home in 103 hours. The family now has an elevator, a therapy room and bedrooms with doors — no more sharing beds!
Along with powering the construction project, First Choice Power will provide renewable energy at no cost to the family. The Beaches will receive green electricity from First Choice Power for about two years, along with a free energy audit after six months and 12 months. But this sponsorship is more than a donation, it’s a partnership with the Kemah and surrounding community.
We had a dozen employees on site the day the Beach family learned of their future home — and some of their smiling faces even made it on national television when the show aired on April 4. A group of eight First Choice Power employees also participated in the Braveheart Walk celebrating the community and the Beach family. It was 37 degrees as the volunteers awaited the Braveheart Walk and Ty Pennington’s interviews with the family. ”It was cold, but what an inspiring family,” said Gabe Sims, a First Choice Power manager in Texas City. “This project identified a truly heroic family here in our community. They have given a part of themselves to make this a better place to be.”
In a very sad turn of events, the family’s almost-two-year-old daughter, Mercy, died shortly before the show aired. Mercy had been born with many genetic problems, but her health had been improving and her death was unexpected. The show was dedicated to her.
