For seven days in February, a team of volunteers gathered in Tallahassee, Fla., to help with an ABC-TV “Extreme Makeover” project — constructing a new home for a worthy family with special needs children. As part of the community effort, Cheryl Howard and Dawn Wainright, partners at the Lighting Divas showroom in Thomasville, Ga., donated Nora Lighting for the new residence, including track and rail fixtures for the living areas.
“This exceptional project brought our community together to help a very inspiring family,” said Howard, during the installation. “We were delighted to be able to contribute our time and Nora Lighting products to make their dream a reality.”
George Kadzis, a prison dentist, and his wife Barbara, a lifelong teacher, are the adoptive parents of five handicapped children from Chinese orphanages, in addition to having a son of their own. While the family was dealing with major challenges in their cramped and hurricane-damaged home, George was diagnosed with brain cancer, which took time and energy away from his desire to modify their residence.
Coordinated by local Tallahassee developer, Myddelton Parker Builders, scores of volunteers and building professionals contributed their time around the clock to complete the home in just seven days while the family was sent to Disneyland for a holiday.
Sadly, just two days after the home was completed, George Kadzis passed away from cancer.
Adding to the tragedy, Cheryl Howard's husband was killed in a plane crash on April 4, days before the program aired on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009, as a two-hour special.
“Cheryl and Dawn and their community efforts inspire us all,” said Louise Gardner, marketing and engineering director at Nora Lighting. “It was gratifying to see so many people come together to help a family that was truly deserving. The sad news about Cheryl's husband's recent tragic death was a terrible shock to all of us at Nora. Our hearts and prayers go out to her and the family.”
Now in its sixth season, ABC-TV's “Extreme Makeover” has won two Emmy Awards and the People's Choice Award for Favorite Reality Show/Makeover. Each episode features a race against time on a project that would ordinarily take at least six months to achieve, involving a team of designers, contractors and several hundred workers.
Got an Item for Bulletin Board?
It's easy to have your company included in the pages of Electrical Wholesaling's Bulletin Board. It's as simple as submitting a description and photographs.
Some of the subjects covered in Bulletin Board include:
- Charitable Events/Donations
- Product Promotions
- Contests
- Distributor Support/Training
- Ground Breakings
- Industry Awards/Recognitions
Send pertinent information to Doug Chandler, Executive Editor, 9800 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS 66212. Or you may e-mail information to [email protected]. All electronic photos should be in “jpg,” “tif” or “eps” format at no less than 300 dots per inch. Questions? Call (913) 967-1796.