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15.02.2005 17:44:00
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Someday Starts Today for Atlanta's Harper Family; Beazer Homes Builds
Someday Starts Today for Atlanta's Harper Family; Beazer Homes Builds Dream House; Raises a Quarter Million Dollars Surprises to be Revealed on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Show Airs Sunday, Feb. 20
Now living in a fairy tale-inspired, 5,300-square-foot English country-style home -- built by Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE: BZH) (www.beazer.com) along with dozens of trade partners -- the destiny of Atlanta's Harper family changed after "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" knocked on their door last month. But the new house is only part of the story. The ABC-TV hit show airing this Sunday, Feb. 20 (8:00-9:00 p.m. EST), as well as the follow-up new series, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - How'd They Do That?" airing on Monday, Feb. 21, will reveal how the family's fortune has improved in other significant ways.
Beazer Homes, its employees and the company's partners raised a quarter million dollars in contributions. The donations include a scholarship fund for the three Harper children and a Home Maintenance Fund for the family, both totaling $200,000. The Harpers, however, were not the only beneficiaries of the "Extreme" visit. The $50,000 Romell Harper Memorial Fund, a tribute to one of the couple's children who died as a toddler, was also established through these contributions.
"Compassion was the driving force behind this project and the single most important characteristic shared by all who worked on the Harper's home," expressed Ian J. McCarthy, president and chief executive officer of Beazer Homes. The makeover show sought out Beazer Homes, an Atlanta-based national homebuilder, to help resolve the Harper's dilemma. After struggling for five years with devastating damage caused by a malfunctioning septic tank and defective construction, the family lost their battle along with their life savings. "Our company has a long tradition of community involvement, and it was deeply moving to witness the contributions and sincere efforts each member of our team made in their desire to help the Harpers. It's amazing what one human being is willing to do to help another."
Even employees in Beazer's 40 markets across the country participated in a meaningful way by contributing to the fundraising efforts. "The funds," said McCarthy, "ensure the Harpers have the necessary financial foundation to maintain their spacious home and provide educational opportunities to help secure their children's futures."
"Beazer doesn't just build homes, we build communities and places where people experience life," added Marilyn Gardner, Beazer Homes' vice president of sales and marketing. "Despite the Harpers' best efforts, their house had become uninhabitable. It is so gratifying to all of us at Beazer to create a home that gives this deserving family a new start in life."
The memorial fund -- established in the name of Romell Harper, -- is being donated to Rainbow House, a children's shelter, located in the Harper's community of Clayton County, Ga. "The Harper family is tremendously grateful to everyone involved in building the house, as well as to their neighbors who so graciously endured the crowds, traffic and noise during construction," said Gardner. "This donation enables them to share their newfound blessings with others, giving back to their community."
On Jan. 16, the crew from ABC-TV's popular series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" awakened the Harper family with its trademark megaphone yell, "Good Morning Harper Family," a call that will forever resonate in their minds. Married for 24 years, the Harpers moved to Atlanta during the late 1990s from a public housing project in Brooklyn, N.Y. After dutifully saving their money, they purchased their "dream home" -- located within walking distance of schools -- in hopes of building a better life for their three children. The home they purchased soon became a living nightmare: a house under siege from a septic tank and poor construction that led to flooding. The water damage and sewage back-ups resulted in devastating destruction over a five-year period, eventually forcing the family to sleep in their minivan every time it rained. The Harpers finally abandoned their home and lived in a motel until their funds were depleted.
In January, while the family (father, Milton; mother, Patricia; and three children: Darius, 17; Lavaughn, 15; and Mister, 8) enjoyed a weeklong Disney Land vacation in California, thousands of people constructed the home in a 'round-the-clock race against time. Beazer had only five days and nine hours to complete the daunting task, which would typically take up to six months.
Demolition of the sewage-infested Harper residence began at the bitter cold break of day on Jan. 18. The construction team laid a new foundation and connected the home to the county sewage system, digging trenches through cooperative neighbors' properties. The building marathon involved approximately 1,800 Beazer employees, partners and volunteers. Although workers endured sub-freezing temperatures, rain and unforeseen obstacles -- such as underlying rock -- construction was completed ahead of schedule. In only 101 hours, Beazer swept away the old and built the new, and then turned the house over to the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" design team.
"Our team was determined and innovative," remarked Lou Steffens, president of Beazer Homes Georgia Division, which led the building project. "I am proud to be associated with so many talented professionals who work for Beazer, as well as the dozens of partner companies that so generously participated in this effort. This television program offers a wonderful opportunity to showcase the personal service we provide to all of our customers, as well as our ability to focus on solutions - a hallmark of 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.'"
During construction, the series' Executive Producer Tom Forman revealed, "Beazer created a fabulous home for the Harpers -- the biggest house built so far on the show!" The stone and cedar exterior is punctuated by a majestic turret, as well as a covered porte-cochere, connecting the home to the father's adjacent office. Inside the five-bedroom, eight-bath home, each family member has a room created especially for them. The master suite includes a separate sitting room with a fireplace and a luxurious bathroom with a whirlpool tub, as well as an enormous walk-in closet. Additional features include a great room with a soaring vaulted ceiling accented by antique hickory wood beams and brackets recovered from a historic 135 year old dairy barn. The great room opens onto the kitchen and dining area, a solarium and a very distinctive music room.
"The Harper family no longer has to wait for the home they deserve; their someday starts today," declared McCarthy when he presented the house keys and fund certificates to the family.
About Beazer Homes
Beazer Homes USA, Inc., is the country's sixth largest single-family homebuilder with operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Headquartered in Atlanta, the company employs nearly 3,500 people nationwide.
Beazer Homes also provides mortgage origination and title services. For more information visit www.beazer.com.
About ABC-TV's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
ABC-TV's hit show, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," garnered an Emmy nomination during its first season for Outstanding Reality Program. Each episode features a race against time on a project that would ordinarily take at least four months to achieve, involving a team of designers, contractors and several hundred workers who must totally rebuild an entire house in a week. The program is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding, with Tom Forman serving as executive producer.
--30--AN/at*
Business Editors
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 15, 2005--
Now living in a fairy tale-inspired, 5,300-square-foot English country-style home -- built by Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE: BZH) (www.beazer.com) along with dozens of trade partners -- the destiny of Atlanta's Harper family changed after "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" knocked on their door last month. But the new house is only part of the story. The ABC-TV hit show airing this Sunday, Feb. 20 (8:00-9:00 p.m. EST), as well as the follow-up new series, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - How'd They Do That?" airing on Monday, Feb. 21, will reveal how the family's fortune has improved in other significant ways.
Beazer Homes, its employees and the company's partners raised a quarter million dollars in contributions. The donations include a scholarship fund for the three Harper children and a Home Maintenance Fund for the family, both totaling $200,000. The Harpers, however, were not the only beneficiaries of the "Extreme" visit. The $50,000 Romell Harper Memorial Fund, a tribute to one of the couple's children who died as a toddler, was also established through these contributions.
"Compassion was the driving force behind this project and the single most important characteristic shared by all who worked on the Harper's home," expressed Ian J. McCarthy, president and chief executive officer of Beazer Homes. The makeover show sought out Beazer Homes, an Atlanta-based national homebuilder, to help resolve the Harper's dilemma. After struggling for five years with devastating damage caused by a malfunctioning septic tank and defective construction, the family lost their battle along with their life savings. "Our company has a long tradition of community involvement, and it was deeply moving to witness the contributions and sincere efforts each member of our team made in their desire to help the Harpers. It's amazing what one human being is willing to do to help another."
Even employees in Beazer's 40 markets across the country participated in a meaningful way by contributing to the fundraising efforts. "The funds," said McCarthy, "ensure the Harpers have the necessary financial foundation to maintain their spacious home and provide educational opportunities to help secure their children's futures."
"Beazer doesn't just build homes, we build communities and places where people experience life," added Marilyn Gardner, Beazer Homes' vice president of sales and marketing. "Despite the Harpers' best efforts, their house had become uninhabitable. It is so gratifying to all of us at Beazer to create a home that gives this deserving family a new start in life."
The memorial fund -- established in the name of Romell Harper, -- is being donated to Rainbow House, a children's shelter, located in the Harper's community of Clayton County, Ga. "The Harper family is tremendously grateful to everyone involved in building the house, as well as to their neighbors who so graciously endured the crowds, traffic and noise during construction," said Gardner. "This donation enables them to share their newfound blessings with others, giving back to their community."
On Jan. 16, the crew from ABC-TV's popular series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" awakened the Harper family with its trademark megaphone yell, "Good Morning Harper Family," a call that will forever resonate in their minds. Married for 24 years, the Harpers moved to Atlanta during the late 1990s from a public housing project in Brooklyn, N.Y. After dutifully saving their money, they purchased their "dream home" -- located within walking distance of schools -- in hopes of building a better life for their three children. The home they purchased soon became a living nightmare: a house under siege from a septic tank and poor construction that led to flooding. The water damage and sewage back-ups resulted in devastating destruction over a five-year period, eventually forcing the family to sleep in their minivan every time it rained. The Harpers finally abandoned their home and lived in a motel until their funds were depleted.
In January, while the family (father, Milton; mother, Patricia; and three children: Darius, 17; Lavaughn, 15; and Mister, 8) enjoyed a weeklong Disney Land vacation in California, thousands of people constructed the home in a 'round-the-clock race against time. Beazer had only five days and nine hours to complete the daunting task, which would typically take up to six months.
Demolition of the sewage-infested Harper residence began at the bitter cold break of day on Jan. 18. The construction team laid a new foundation and connected the home to the county sewage system, digging trenches through cooperative neighbors' properties. The building marathon involved approximately 1,800 Beazer employees, partners and volunteers. Although workers endured sub-freezing temperatures, rain and unforeseen obstacles -- such as underlying rock -- construction was completed ahead of schedule. In only 101 hours, Beazer swept away the old and built the new, and then turned the house over to the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" design team.
"Our team was determined and innovative," remarked Lou Steffens, president of Beazer Homes Georgia Division, which led the building project. "I am proud to be associated with so many talented professionals who work for Beazer, as well as the dozens of partner companies that so generously participated in this effort. This television program offers a wonderful opportunity to showcase the personal service we provide to all of our customers, as well as our ability to focus on solutions - a hallmark of 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.'"
During construction, the series' Executive Producer Tom Forman revealed, "Beazer created a fabulous home for the Harpers -- the biggest house built so far on the show!" The stone and cedar exterior is punctuated by a majestic turret, as well as a covered porte-cochere, connecting the home to the father's adjacent office. Inside the five-bedroom, eight-bath home, each family member has a room created especially for them. The master suite includes a separate sitting room with a fireplace and a luxurious bathroom with a whirlpool tub, as well as an enormous walk-in closet. Additional features include a great room with a soaring vaulted ceiling accented by antique hickory wood beams and brackets recovered from a historic 135 year old dairy barn. The great room opens onto the kitchen and dining area, a solarium and a very distinctive music room.
"The Harper family no longer has to wait for the home they deserve; their someday starts today," declared McCarthy when he presented the house keys and fund certificates to the family.
About Beazer Homes
Beazer Homes USA, Inc., is the country's sixth largest single-family homebuilder with operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Headquartered in Atlanta, the company employs nearly 3,500 people nationwide.
Beazer Homes also provides mortgage origination and title services. For more information visit www.beazer.com.
About ABC-TV's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
ABC-TV's hit show, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," garnered an Emmy nomination during its first season for Outstanding Reality Program. Each episode features a race against time on a project that would ordinarily take at least four months to achieve, involving a team of designers, contractors and several hundred workers who must totally rebuild an entire house in a week. The program is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding, with Tom Forman serving as executive producer.
--30--AN/at*
CONTACT: For Beazer Homes, Atlanta Media Contacts: Wetherhead Communications Alison Ilg, 770-565-5440 alisonipr@aol.com or Debra Patterson, 404-843-8786 debrapat@aol.com or Beazer Homes Leslie Kratcoski, 770-829-3764 lkratcos@beazer.com
KEYWORD: GEORGIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: REAL ESTATE BUILDING/CONSTRUCTION SOURCE: Beazer Homes
Copyright Business Wire 2005
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