By Dawn Fluhler

Many have asked what will happen in the long-term for the family who has ongoing medical bills, and now a bigger home to maintain. Though the new home came at no cost to the family, utilities and home maintenance were not included.

Fortunately, the community, sponsors and builder planned ahead to help the family.

A charity auction during build week raised more than $18,000 for the family to use toward home and medical expenses. Dr. Tavel Optical Group donated 15 years of eye care to the family. This is a significant contribution, valued at more than $30,000. And Ball State University awarded four-year, full-tuition scholarships to each of the four Cowan-Brown children. At today’s tuition rate, these scholarships have a total value near $120,000.

As for the home, Hallmark Homes home has included its standard warranty on the Cowan-Brown home. This includes a 2-year workmanship warranty and a 10-year structural warranty covering anything normally covered under the RWC National Warranty Guidelines. Hallmark will perform a 30-day, 11-month and 23-month walk-through with the family.

Read more…

By Logan Braman

In today’s economic situation, giving back to the community might seem like the last concern on the minds of CEOs and presidents of companies nationwide. That’s not the case for Schneider Electric, a $45 billion global company with ties to Indiana through the Square D factory in Peru.

Amy Huntington, president of Schneider Electric U.S., flew to Indiana to visit the build site before the Cowan-Brown’s new home was complete. She said Schneider Electric’s involvement with the build was a way for the company to give back.

“Giving back to the community is a big part of our philosophy and our culture,” she said. “It’s been exciting for us to see so many of our employees from the Peru plant come out and lend a hand.”

Read more…

By Logan Braman

A new house wasn’t all the Cowan-Brown family received during the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” build. The children, Ryan, Trevor, Mason and Kori, also received a gift from Ball State University.

The day after the build was finished, the Cowan-Browns met in their new front yard for a press conference with a twist. Tony Proudfoot, associate vice president for Marketing and Communications at Ball State, came to the build site on behalf of President Jo Ann Gora. The news he carried was a shocker to the Cowan-Brown family.

“If you continue to work and study hard and if you apply and are admitted to Ball State University, we will provide each of you with a scholarship to support the full cost of tuition for in-state students,” Proudfoot told the family. “Working through the Ball State Foundation, we will supplement any state or federal gift aid to cover tuition.”

Read more…

By Rhett Umphress

Jayson Manship is the director of operations at URBaCS. Along with partner and president Rob Wagoner, they are 50/50 partners of their technology and software company that works with small to mid-size businesses on their Web site, social media, blogging…basically all the online aspect that a company needs today.

URBaCS became involved in the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” build when Derek Wilder, CEO of Hallmark Homes, called him and asked him to work on the build as a media liaison. They asked him to put together a social media strategy for Hallmark.

This is not URBaCS’ first build. The duo worked on the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” build in Indianapolis along with Estridge, the construction company that worked on the Indy home. When Wilder went to Estridge looking for people that had experience at that build to help in Bunker Hill, they recommended URBaCS. URBaCS had worked with Hallmark before and was willing to join the numerous sponsors that the construction company was recruiting.

Read more…

When reading through a list of sponsors for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”, an optical group may not be something you would expect. We recently spoke with Guy Laeufer of Dr. Tavel Optical Group, and asked him how he and the Tavel Optical Group became involved.

Laeufer said that they were originally approached by Winnie Schwinghammer from Hallmark Homes and asked to become a sponsor.

“Our contribution was providing eye care to the family until each child is out of college,” he said.

This equates to 15 years total years of eye care, with a retail value of over $30,000. It includes exams and eyeglasses if the doctor prescribes them.

In addition to the family contribution, Dr. Tavel also gave each volunteer and his/her family a 50% discount on eyeglasses for their hard work and for their great volunteerism, Laeufer said.

Dr. Tavel Optical Group is Indiana’s largest and oldest family eyecare professional group. They have been in business for over 65 years in Indiana, with 19 locations throughout the state (and growing)

Doctors of optometry are in each locations performing eye examinations everyday they are open. Several locations have on-site, same-day lab service.

When asked how an optical group could help build a new home, Mr. Laeufer proudly said,  ”On Thursday, I helped set up the flooring of the spectator tent and VIP tent.”

Thank you Dr. Tavel Optical Group and Mr. Guy Laeufer for your generous contribution to the Cowen-Brown Family. There is no match to the creativity and generosity of our sponsors.

Tom Jackson is the owner of Jackson Systems LLC.  Tom said that Jackson Systems donated a complete HVAC zone control system to maintain proper temperatures throughout the house, as well as a UV light and humidifier to ensure clean indoor air.

Founded in 1997, Jackson Systems is an award-winning HVAC company specializing in zone control.

Jackson’s company became involved in the build when asked by their client, T.A. Kaiser, to join them in donating to the family. Jackson said that giving back to the community is very important to his company.

“Being involved in the construction industry and our strong commitment to our local community, helping the Cowan[-Brown] family was a natural fit. We know our zone control and indoor air quality products will insure a comfortable and clean home,” he said.

Tom Jackson’s company is another of the many companies who helped make this build a success.

We recently spoke with Brenda Murr of Mermaid Pool and Spa. This is what Brenda had to say about her experience with the Hallmark Homes build.

“We were first contacted by architect Kato Smith, who had originally designed the complex of our company building. He couldn’t tell us much except that it was a makeover; [he] never mentioned it was ABC. He did ask if we’d be willing to possibly donate some casual furniture to the makeover. Our answer was a quick, and eager ‘yes.’ Later, we would learn it was an ‘Extreme’ makeover near Peru. We were to be part of something big!”

So, on a cold, soggy Saturday, at 7:30 a.m., the Mermaid Pool team loaded up a borrowed box truck (to protect the furniture) for a one hour trip to their ‘Extreme’ adventure. Upon arrival, they were immediately struck by the magnitude of the situation – and the tremendous energy being put forth. Despite horrendous building conditions – rain, storms, cold, bone-chilling wind- one could not escape the energy of those who were participating. As they waited their turn to deliver the furniture to Heather in ‘Bin City,’ they really felt like they became a part of the build.

“What a thrill for us. Although our donation was just a small piece in this large puzzle, we were so proud to be part of it. We hope the family will prosper from the love of all those whom they will never know. We are grateful for the opportunity to help,” Murr said.

By Rhett Umphress

Aaron Williams is the owner of Aaron’s Auction Team, and he ran the auction on Saturday at the Grissom Air Force Base.

Williams said that the auction was a great success, with 292 registered bidders.

“We had a great turnout,” Williams said. “Everyone had a great time.”

He estimates that more than $18,000 were raised in the auction. $5,000 of it came from the pillows that Kori made. Another notable item was the autographed David Cook guitar, which went for $1100.

Read more…

By Rhett Umphress

Nena Broniak, owner of Sunset Grill Catering, has been at the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” build site for the past four days. Broniak and her crew have spent two days serving food to spectators and volunteers at the Grissom Air Force Base and two at the build site.

“I’ve been involved with charity for 34 years,” Broniak said. “I like to help people that are in need.”

Read more…

By Eric Hultz

“If you can’t swing a hammer, you can feed the one that can,” Pastarrific Chef Cythia Yazdani said.

Yazdani and Pastarrific have been out at the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” build since Wednesday with a different dish for the hundreds of volunteers every night.

Like so many people are out there donating their time to help the Cowan-Brown family, Pastarrific has been here not only to help them but help support the community that has supported the company for all these years.

“Kokomo has supported us, so we wanted to support them,” Yazdani said. “Not just giving back to Kokomo but the surrounding areas.”

Read more…