January 24th @ Shea's EMHE PREMIERE

[Michele J]

Makeover' sponsors host show at Shea's
By Mark Sommer
News Staff Reporter
January 11, 2010, 11:30 PM / 0 comments


A community screening of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" featuring West Side residents Delores Powell and her family will be held at 8 p.m. Jan. 24 in Shea's Performing Arts Center.

The expanded two-hour show is also expected to include the revitalization of the Powells' impoverished neighborhood that occurred at the same time from Nov. 7 to Nov. 14, when thousands of volunteers repaired homes, built community gardens, poured sidewalks and planted trees.

The event is co-sponsored by PUSH Buffalo, Buffalo ReUse, ReTree WNY and WNY AmeriCorps. The 8 p.m. viewing of "Extreme Makeover," preceded by a WKBW one-hour special at 7 p.m., is free, with donations suggested at the door.

A cocktail party fundraiser for the nonprofit sponsors will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m., with $15 tickets available at Shea's box office. Details about how to obtain free tickets for the viewing will be announced soon.

"It's a testament to the spirit of service that exists in Buffalo that we broke the show's record for volunteers and that we were able to work on 71 homes," said Mark Lazzara, WNY AmeriCorps' CEO.

"We are truly excited to keep the momentum going," said Michael Gainer, program director for Buffalo ReUse, which deconstructed the Powell home and one other that week.

According to figures released Monday by WNY AmeriCorps, which helped coordinate the volunteers, the weeklong effort affected 71 homes and involved 6,336 volunteers working 53,544 hours, including 1,428 skilled workers and 855 who helped on the food drive.

Home projects included landscaping 30 properties, installing new security lights at 33 homes and 24 major or minor painting projects. Three roofs were installed, five porches renovated, four fences set in, three houses sided and gutters replaced.

In addition, 119 trees were planted, two murals painted, two community gardens built, 388 units of blood given and 85 tons of food collected with a value of $255,300.

Powell, a board member of PUSH Buffalo, and her family plan to attend.

"I couldn't be happier about what this means for Delores and what it means for the neighborhood," said Jen Meccozi, PUSH board chairwoman. "Delores has been fighting for our neighborhoods for a long time, and I know this will motivate her to do even more."

Justin Booth, ReTree Buffalo's executive director, said he looked forward to having millions around the country watch Buffalo shine.

"We are so proud of all the amazing work that has been done here, and so grateful that "Extreme Makeover' gave Buffalo a chance to show its best side to the rest of the country," Booth said.

[Michele J]

bump

[kernwatch]

This excitement over progress in repairing a long-neglected neighborhood is very encouraging.

Do attend! And join up with PUSH or ReUse!

http://www.buffalorising.com/2010/01...l#SlideFrame_1

Extreme Community Viewing Event: ReUse, PUSH, AmericCorps
Elena Cala Buscarino January 12, 2010 3:00 PM Comments: 1

Cancel your house parties! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will be airing their Buffalo show, a two-hour special, on January 24th, from 8 to 10PM. Buffalo ReUse, People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH) Buffalo, and WNY AmeriCorps have reserved Shea's Performing Arts Center from 7 to 10PM, so that you and 2,999 of your closest friends can watch it together.

The show will center around the remake of Delores Powell's residence at 228 Massachusetts on the city's West Side that took place this past fall.

Channel 7, the local ABC affiliate will air their own special prior to Extreme Makeover, including local footage and information surrounding the renovation, the neighborhood and the entities involved.

WNY AmeriCorps Founder and CEO Mark Lazzara, whose enormous team of AmeriCorp volunteers was instrumental in the home makeover, began with thanks to David Homes, the lead agency in rebuilding the Powell home. "It was so exciting to be part of this," Lazzara said.

Michael Gainer of Buffalo ReUse - whose crew removed the previous house in 15 hours - said that he sees the airing event at Shea's as "a red carpet opportunity" to highlight the community's achievements and build momentum for future collaborative endeavors. He called the effort it took to get the Powell home done from start to finish "a good, shining example of collaboration."

PUSH Buffalo Organizing Director Eric Walker said PUSH has been excited since Extreme Makeover first started scouting the area, and said that the culminating rebuild of the Powell home "brought back the notion that the community is the power - the rock" behind efforts like this one. "And we'll continue to work on that assumption, working on a bigger, grander scale." Walker says the event brought attention back "to a street that might have been forgotten."

Lazzara finished by saying that he was thrilled by the idea of the community coming together to watch the ABC special, saying, "We touched 71 houses in that neighborhood. We have been and always will be dedicated to serving the least and the lost."

There will be tables set up at the event by all of the non-profits involved, so that volunteers can join and sign up for future endeavors.

3,000 tickets in all will be available, with a limit of two per person, at ReUse, PUSH and the Shea's box office. There is no charge for the tickets, but a $10 "free will donation" is hoped for. Shea's concessions will be open on the 24th.

[Michele J]

A cocktail party fundraiser for the nonprofit sponsors will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m., with $15 tickets available at Shea's box office ..this will include food and there will be a cash bar. tickets for the cocktail reception will be limited to 500 and information on when tickets will be available will be announced shortly.

7:00-7:40 p.m. Ch 7 behind the scenes of Extreme Special
7:40 p.m. - 7:59 p.m. brief overview of the Extreme weeks with statements by supporting organizations
8-10 p.m. viewing of Extreme Makeover Buffalo
10 - 10:15 p.m. short overview of continued volunteerism in Buffalo.
For entry at 7pm all tickets will be distributed in advance of the evening's events. no tickets at the door, unless they are still available. tickets to be obtained from Shea's box office, buffalo reuse, or PUSH. tickets are complimentary, with a $10 per ticket suggested donation at the door. tickets will be available on friday.

If you are buying a ticket for the cocktail reception it covers the whole event.

[cookie]

Don't forget, even if you cannot attend, you can still make donations!!!

[Michele J]

We are looking for donations of food for the premiere and we will display a banner/information about their location. there support will also be recognized in the event program. If you or anyone you know owns/manages restaurants, food markets, bakeries or specialty shops, that would definitely be willing to participate, please put them in touch with me. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of time.
This will be a great opportunity to spotlight locally owned businesses as there will most likely be about 3,000 people in attendance and much press coverage.

[Michele J]

TOMORROW, Friday January 15th. Tickets can be picked up at Shea's Box Office at 650 Main St, open M-F 10-5pm and Sat 10-2pm. They can also be picked up, starting Saturday, at PUSH Buffalo at 271 Grant St and Buffalo ReUse at 298 Northampton St. LIMIT 2 Per Person**

[Michele J]

tickets are moving..make sure you arent left out!

[Michele J]

Just saw the preview for the show...It looks FANTASTIC!

[Michele J]

pick up tickets at Shea's box office as we are almost sold out at ReUse..tickets are going quickly

[Michele J]

Buffalo shines in ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’
By Alan Pergament
News TV Critic
Updated: January 19, 2010, 9:24 AM / 1 comment
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Buzz up!
"Wow." "Amazing." "Great."

Those were the enthusiastic words that designer Paige Hemmis kept repeating about the episode of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" that is set in Buffalo. The show - a special two-hour episode - airs at 8 p.m. Sunday on ABC.

Hemmis said the Buffalo episode is one of the more memorable of the 85 to 90 that she has been involved in over seven seasons.

When asked to rate the Buffalo show, featuring Jamaican immigrant Delores Powell and her four children, Hemmis said: "I would say definitely Top 10. Not only is the family amazing, but the community is so good.

"Delores moved to the United States when she had nothing from Jamaica, she bought this home, she created a wonderful environment for kids," added Hemmis. "Love was definitely there. They just needed a little help with the house."

Hemmis was one of three designers, along with carpenter and host Ty Pennington, who were here in November for the rebuilding of the Massachusetts Avenue home.

Hemmis also said she expects that Buffalo will get a boost from Sunday's episode.

"I'm hoping," said Hemmis. "Everyone told us it is going to be so cold in Buffalo and it is a rough neighborhood. One … it was warmer than all of our other shows. We had wonderful weather and the people we met there … for us, it was not a rough neighborhood, it was a caring neighborhood, a diverse neighborhood .‚.‚. Obviously it was not an affluent neighborhood.

"Everyone stopped what they were doing and helped us for that week. It is going to shine such a wonderful light on Buffalo, and I hope it really does because that's how we feel about it. Buffalo is such an amazing town .‚.‚. It was such a wonderful experience from start to finish. It was great."

Hemmis also took a brief break to visit the Powell family in Florida and help box up shoes to send to Delores' elementary school in Jamaica.

"She said when she grew up she didn't have any shoes," said Hemmis. "We worked with a company, Soles4Souls. They send shoes all over the world. We went to Florida and they helped us box up hundreds and hundreds of shoes to send to her grade school in Jamaica."

Hemmis said going to Orlando to surprise the family and share Delores' dream was her personal highlight.

"She said when you have shoes, you start looking up," said Hemmis. "You no longer have to look down, but you look up. I think it is something you and I would take for granted. Wow, something so stripped to basic needs. .‚.‚. I love when we can pick up someone else's dream and help them with that."

Hemmis said the show's cast and production team lobbied to expand the program from its normal one hour to two hours because of the "amazing" Powell family and the amazing efforts of the Western New York community to expand the renovation to other homes in the area.

"We sort of keep pushing for that," said Hemmis. "We kept saying there was so much amazing stuff, that we were doing so many additional houses, how could you possibly fit it into one hour?"

She worked on five homes in addition to the Powell home, leaving little time to do much in Buffalo but have a few meals at local restaurants, including Chophouse, Mother's and Hutch's.

"We ended up doing the entire neighborhood," noted Hemmis, speaking from the middle of a field in South Carolina on her latest assignment. "We've done it a couple of times before, but those were like big season finales and there was all this planning. This was kind of more organic. The locals stepped up and said, "We wanted to help and here's how we can help.' It was amazing, because it truly came from the community rather than a show saying, "We need to do this.'‚"

She understands why the uplifting show has been so successful for so long.

"Part of it is we're doing a good thing," said Hemmis. "We're helping people. In the beginning, we had no idea that we'd be liked or picked up by the network. I remember sitting down and watching the first show. .‚.‚. It was like "Wow it really does pull at your heartstrings and hopefully inspires other people to help.' I think that's why it is successful. .‚.‚. We also throw in the silliness, so it is entertaining to watch. At the end of the day, we are making a difference and I think it inspires other people to make a difference in their own community. And that's a pretty big compliment to us."

The location of the Powell house gave designer Hemmis some obstacles to overcome.

"There we were, in a city street, we only had 14 feet across in this house," said Hemmis. "For designers, it was a little challenging because we didn't have the space that we would have liked. We had to keep it looking like the neighborhood, because obviously you didn't want to build a castle. It was a wonderfully appointed row home. It is three stories high. It gave them the space that they need and still keeping with the neighborhood, which we always like to do."

The episode also features appearances from singer Ashanti and some celebrity furniture movers … the Buffalo Bills.

"Ashanti was amazing," said Hemmis. "It was cute. She showed up in her diva attire and pretty soon she's got a hammer, she's painting. She put all the glamour away and really got to work, which is awesome."

"Ashanti said she grew up in a neighborhood very similar and she kind of had a similar story, but the family absolutely loved her. It was a dream of the family to have her involved as well."

Hemmis, who was in the reality series "The Superstars" that also featured the Buffalo Bills' Terrell Owens this summer, was disappointed that T.O.'s schedule prevented him from coming to the house during the build. But other Bills made it.

"The Bills came to move furniture," said Hemmis. "All of the Buffalo Bills were such good guys. I think you have this image of what football players are going to be, and there they were helping us and saying, "What can we do? How can we help more?' It was a great experience."

e-mail: apergament@buffnews.com

[Michele J]

Tickets are available at the following locations:
3770 Union Road Cheektowaga, NY 14225 716-206-0790
1400 McKinley Mall Hamburg, NY 14075 716-827-4991
2409 Military Road Niagara Falls, NY 14304 716-297-9207
2880 Sheridan Drive Tonawanda, NY 14150 716-835-6155
Hours: Mon - Sat 10am - 9pm...Sunday 11am - 6pm
Tickets are also available at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202.

LIMIT OF 2 PER PERSON

[sharky]

It's going to be hard to sit through the whole episode. Do people actually watch this show on a weekly basis?
the ABC people are annoying as hell

[Michele J]

Amazing night! Buffalo..we rocked it!
I am so proud of my friends,our group buffalo reuse and all of the people who volunteered their time and talents!

[shortstuff]

Watched Extreme last night, and my tears were extreme for sure. What a story that family had. I can only say that Buffalo is the place of hearts and caring people.

I was totally blown away. Beautiful show.

One question though, where does all the money come from that was provided to help this family?

The family, was wonderful!!!!