Auburn firm aids ‘Extreme' home build

By Alyssa Sunkin/The Citizen

Saturday, August 23, 2008 12:01 AM EDT

As “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” fulfills a Geneva family's dream this week, an Auburn construction company will know they helped cement it in place.
Taped by the two-time Emmy Award winning show, Robinson Concrete supplied concrete and stones to a week-long project to renovate a 200-year-old farmhouse Tim Hill and his family call home.

“It definitely makes you feel good inside,” sales manager Paul Vitale said. “There are rewards - we get paid - but there is a moral thing that says, ‘You have to do this,' and the good feeling you get from that is what we'll have to live with, I guess.”

In the wee-hours of Wednesday morning, Robinson employees poured RediMax concrete along the edges of a new in-ground pool and the house's foundation and floor, Vitale said. Stones were laid for drainage.

Now in its fifth year, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” chronicles the efforts of host Ty Pennington and his band of designers to build homes for families across the country, many of which are disadvantaged, are dedicated to community service.

Tim Hill was an aspiring boxer until an injury while working on a construction site crippled his dreams, according to information provided by ABC. While unable to personally pursue his passion, he established the Geneva Boxing Team to train needy children from the ages of 8 to 21 in boxing to inspire them to pursue their own dreams. Participating on the team is free, and Hill pays for the team's expenses out of his own pocket.

Hill's dream, according to ABC, was to build a small boxing gym to help children in need. That's what “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and several local companies are doing for the family.

One such company, Canastota-based Mahoney Design and Build, contacted Robinson Concrete and asked if the company would be interested in contributing the materials.

“We got involved for two reasons.” Vitale said. “One, ‘Extreme Makeover' is a very popular show and, frankly, the deeds they've been doing is wonderful for people across the country and we always want to get involved in that. And second, our customers who use us every day were asking us to. In this position, we can't turn a cheek on either of those two things.”

Vitale said there is an innate sense of pride in helping others.

“I think it's going to feel pretty darn good to know that you helped them put that together for them,” he said.

The episode is expected to be aired in November.

Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net

The Citizens' Say

Post your comment - click here

There are No comments posted.

REGISTRATION IS FREE.
Registered users sign in here:
*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
 
Unregistered users can register here:

Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts!

Note: Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required!

*Create a Member ID:
*Choose a password:
*Re-enter password:
*E-mail Address:
*Year of Birth:
 

(children under 13 cannot register)

First Name:
Last Name:
Company:
Home Phone:
Business Phone:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
 
E-Citizen
E-Edition
Wheels Etc.
Find a vehicle
Hot Jobs
Find a Job
Homes Etc.
Find a Home
TV Week
Find a program
Search Classifieds
Find, Buy
Place a Classified Ad
Sell
Skaneateles Journal
The Journal
New! Best Bridal
Here comes the bride. . .
Liven Up the Holidays
Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-laaaaaa
Logo HereNew! Off the Menu
Good Eatin'!
Newspaper Ads
See it again
CNY Boats Etc.
Achors aweigh!
New! School Project
A breakdown of the new school project.
Sections
Special Sections

Top Jobs

The Citizen Copyright ©2009
A division of Lee Publications, Inc.
25 Dill Street
Auburn, NY 13021

Contact Us

Add to My Yahoo!