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The Project
Signs of Perfection, Inc. have been honored to be asked to participate and sponsor a HUGE community volunteer project for "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and their 100th episode which was filmed late this summer between August 21st and August 28th in Minnesota! Our entire staff volunteered at the site during the 106 hours allotted to completely demolish and rebuild a brand new home! Be sure to check out our S.O.P. On-Site Daily Journal to find out more about the home, the show, and other goodies we found out along the way. Along with volunteering our time at the site, we were also able to donate, produce and install over 6,000 square feet of signage to give recognition to the local Minnesota businesses who were involved with this project or made donations to help the deserving family be blessed with a beautiful new home by "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition".
The Family
Our first hint at which family was picked for the 100th episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was given to us on Tuesday August 13th at the first production meeting. "All I can tell is that four young children witnessed something no person should ever have to witness." explained Conrad Ricketts, the producer of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The identity of the family could not be released in order to assure that it was not leaked to the local media and ruin the initial surprise of the family when Ty Pennington shows up on their doorstep. Now the show has been filmed and we were able to witness the whole process, we are lucky enough to have been told this family's amazing story. The producers of the show were even excited about what this family has achieved after such hardships.
Check here to find out the story behind the family; and be sure to watch the episode! November 25th on ABC at 6:00pm Central.
Our Honor
"After attending one of the project meetings with the producers of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, I realized just how important this project is. It's not only important to the families who are given a new home, but it's also important to the community that is blessed with the opportunity to come together for a great cause that truly effects thousands of people, families and local businesses. Not to mention I think Ty Pennington is the BOMB!"
~Pam Bailey, Owner, Signs of Perfection, Inc. (Leading up to the beginning of the project) 08-05-2007
"Every episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition we have watched since contributing has been emotionally overwhelming. Knowing now how much from the local community goes into this entire project is something to be spoken of. This project truly does help the family and it's community in all aspects possible. Every local business that worked on this project donated EVERYTHING! They really DO get it done in LESS than a week! We saw it with our own eyes! They were very strict about quality and safety throughout the process, the TJB team did an unimaginable job of keeping everything in order and well crafted. We are more than proud to have helped and been a part of this."
~S.O.P.Team (After the project was completed) 11-03-2007
Get Involved
The filming may be over, but the story is yet to be told! Be sure to watch the 100th episode (2 hour special) on November 25th on ABC at 6:00pm central. To show your support with donations, go here. For a full list of all local companies that are involved and donating to this project, go here.
Shout Outs
Big shout outs first to the entire team at TJB Homes, Inc. and Management Specialties for looking to us to get involved with this project. TJB Homes, Inc. are the builders that managed this entire project, and they did a world class job keeping everything organized and on schedule, especially Jason for single handedly project managing this entire event and Tiffany for organizing all of the sponsors and donations. Our friend Colleen at Management Specialties has also done her fair share of organizing and volunteering to help this project along, and also introduced us to Kari, the lovely designer that created the fresh image and branding for this event.
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Midwest Sign and Screen Supplies have not only been our top vendor for over 10 years, but also great friends who are celebrating their 75th anniversary. They not only donated all of the materials used in our 6,000+ square feet of signage, but offered their support 24 hours a day during this project. We were also lucky enough to have Minnesota's classiest sign installer, Greg Hilgers on board; he donated his time and efforts to help us install all of the signage.
For a full list of all local companies that are involved and donating to this project, go here.
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S.O.P. On-Site Daily Journal
The entire Signs of Perfection staff have been involved and volunteering at the site during the taping of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and updated our S.O.P. On-Site Daily Journal every day with more news about the family, updates on the house and any other info we could dig up while helping out.
Tuesday August 21st 11:42am
We are so excited to finally be able to tell everyone about this exciting news! Goosebumps are present on everyone involved, Pam (the owner) and Christi (our new account representative) have been pacing the hallways at Signs of Perfection checking every last detail to make sure we are ready for the install. We have handled impossible deadlines before, and this has been no exception. We first got word of this project in late July, and did not have approval to start production until Monday last week. 5 workdays and a long weekend at the shop later, we are all done with the signage and ready to install! We are also excited as can be to find out more about the Swenson-Lee family and details about their new home. This is just the beginning, so check back daily, we will have all the inside details for you to share at the water cooler, dinner table and other various social settings.
That's all for now, stay tuned for more info tomorrow!
S.O.P.
Wednesday August 22nd 1:02pm
Day 2, and we are still waiting to be called in to install the signs. It looks like we will all be down there tomorrow at 6AM getting ready for the "Brave Heart" march where we all get to sport our blue Extreme Makeover: Home Edition shirts and march to the house! So for now we sit tight and wait, and of course we are excited as can be and have been doing a fair share of browsing the web for more stories or info on this family and the project.
Here are a few links we came across that stood out:
A tight house will give way to a new home for nine members of a family touched by tragedy. Building is to begin Thursday.
Surviving in a family of nine….soon to be ten….
'Extreme Makeover' building new home for murder victim's family in Minnetonka
First tragedy, then "Makeover"
Ok, now get back to work!
and Check back for tomorrows entry
S.O.P.
Thursday August 23rd 9:30pm
We were at the site..... all day.... 16 hours.... need.... sleep....
Pictures and great info on Fridays post, watch for it!
S.O.P.
Friday August 24th 6:32pm
After some much needed rest, here are some pictures from Thursday and Friday! We were able to be a part of the march to the house! Blue shirts and white hats everywhere! After that, all signage, all day. With help from Midwest Sign and Screen, and Greg Hilgers, we were able to install all 6,000 square feet of donated signage by the end of Thursday! Stopping here and there so the camera crew could shoot some important footage. We can't wait to see how this turns out on TV! So many people from so many different local businesses all lending each other a helping hand, with a huge smile on their faces. It was an amazing couple of days! Tomorrow morning we get a spot at the VIP tent to enjoy a few hours of spectating!
            
Saturday August 25th 3:48pm
A break from working! from 9am - Noon we were fortunate enough to be able to bring some of our clients, friends and family to the VIP tent at the site to enjoy the experience. The owners, Pam and Don Bailey, Tony and his wife Janelle, Tanya and her Husband Bernie, our new account representative Christi and her family, excited clients; Lynn from D'amico and Sons, Patty from Anoka Child Nutritions and her daughter Anne, Conrad from Fame Retail brand Agency and his wife Sarah and karate champion son Coleman, Along with our favorite installer Greg Hilgers and his wife Sherri. We all enjoyed some relaxing time outside on a beautiful day surrounded by our signage that called out ALL of the businesses that pitched in on this event. It was a great feeling had by all.
      
Sunday August 26th 7:45pm
Back to work, Christi was helping out today and she is glad she did! As you can see below the stars of the show were out and about on Sunday!
2 more days until the the family gets home. Make sure and head down tuesday afternoon and see the family, and of course, Ty!
      
Monday August 27th 8:00am
1 Day left until the family gets home. We are all tired but anxiously awaiting tomorrow because we may get a chance to be behind the bus and see the looks on the family's faces when their dream home is revealed! Working hard to get caught up on our own jobs today, we want to thank ALL of our clients for being patient this last week!
Tuesday August 28th 6:40pm
(sniffle) You think watching the show is moving and tear inducing, try standing 6 feet away from the family as they walk past you to their new front door! Sadly, only half of Signs of Perfection was able to make it to the reveal. The owners, (hard core business owners that they are) made a decision to pass on the reveal in order to get some much needed catch up work done to assure none of our clients projects were late. But Tony, Christi and Tanya got to be there! With burgundy TJB shirts and butterflied stomaches (mostly from Red Bull.)
I can't even remember how many takes they rehearsed before bringing in the actual family, but that last take, when the family pulled up… that was all real, one take of pure emotion, the crowd was huge and going crazy with their move that bus signs, and Ty and the designers walked the family up to the house. Tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces.
We never got to sneek a peek inside the house, and for that we are somewhat grateful, it will be interesting to see how this real life event is translated on TV! We were there, so if you have any questions, ask us!
Make sure to tune in on November 25th, and if you happen to spot someone from S.O.P. pause your Tivo and kiss the screen. :)
     
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