Scott 0 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 The TV show Extreme Makeover Home Edition is in the area. They're building a castle theamed house for a family that has had some VERY hard knocks these last few years. I've included a link to our local paper, but here's a quick sum up of what happened. 2007 -Father of five looses good job (not his fault), gets ok job for less pay -Refinances house to lower payment -House burns to the ground -House goes into forclosure (not familys fault) 2008 -June. Whole family goes swimming at local lake. Father drowns, eldest son drowns trying to save father. -Family moves in with realitives 45 min away from old house. Mother drives kids to and from school 45 min way, every day! Imagine the size of that black cloud. If any body deserves the help it's certainally them. There were over 1,100 volunteers who signed up to build the 3.300 sq foot house in one week. Yes, they ACTUALLY do it in one week. Not 4 months made to look like a week through the "magic" of TV. Right now the family is in Disney world. When they come home and they "move that bus" they have a brand new home. http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=47ead353-b0aa-4acf-9f53-f7f4823251d4 Scott Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris in Ct 0 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 Why can't they do something nice for the sake of doing something nice? Why do you always have to have a sob story. I'm not saying that they shouldn't help someone having tough times,but just an average Joe would be nice for a change. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shawniepooh 0 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 lol im not saying a word Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Balch 0 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 I love the stuff they do And they always seem to be helping people who need it The ones I've seen the families really needed the house I also found out that they (not sure of every case) set aside $$ for taxes ect to help the family out But I've always wondered at the large expense & if they couldn't help 2 or 3 families instead by making normal expenditures I know a lot of the stuff & labor is all donated, so maybe not as expensive as I might think Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cozzi 11 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 I love the stuff they do And they always seem to be helping people who need it The ones I've seen the families really needed the house I also found out that they (not sure of every case) set aside $$ for taxes ect to help the family out But I've always wondered at the large expense & if they couldn't help 2 or 3 families instead by making normal expenditures I know a lot of the stuff & labor is all donated, so maybe not as expensive as I might think Last year they were in my city. They helped a guy that is a city garbageman. The husband and wife have 2 kids of their own, and several adopted and foster kids, all with physical or mental disabilities. They also provide foster care to kids that are in temporary need. It turrned out that on a routine state inspection, lead was found in the house paint, and the state threatened to take the kids if it wasn't corrected. Thebad part was that the state really doesn't have anywhere to place children like this. This couple are wonderful caring people. Fellow employees submitted their name to the show, and they were selected. They new nothing of it until the showed knocked on their door and and wisked them all off to Disneyworld. They made a great house (all labor and materials were donated) and the house is a lot bigger and the couple are able to take in more kids that need love. It was a really wonderful story. But as for the taxes, no, they are on their own, even having to pay taxes on a handicap van for the kids that a local company donated to them. Fortunatley, a large drugstore chain (CVS), paid off their mortgage, and donated what would have to be paid in taxes for the house Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brad Caudill 0 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 I have thought about burning my house down to see if Ty and the gang will come rebuild me a mansion. I am thinking North Pole theme and a Santa village. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cenote 0 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 I like to see a show called..."after they leave" They've done two in our area, and I know of one of them is not that "dream" house any more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Annette1990 0 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 I love this show and agree that yes they do help many families in need. I also agree with some of you that some of the homes haven't been taken care of and some even lost their homes due to not making their payments. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/28/AR2008072802587.html http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2008/12/09/yet-another-extreme-makeover-home-may-face-foreclosure/?mod=googlenews_wsj Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tfischer 17 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 They did one here in the Twin Cities a few years ago. I agree, I think the show does good work... Why do they do only for people with a "sob story"? Because the rest of us are supposed to be able to provide for ourselves... What's wrong with doing something nice for someone who has gone though some exceptionally difficult times? -Tim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jeff_Womack Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 It's sad that so many people even here are so cynical! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cozzi 11 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 They did one here in the Twin Cities a few years ago. I agree, I think the show does good work... Why do they do only for people with a "sob story"? Because the rest of us are supposed to be able to provide for ourselves... What's wrong with doing something nice for someone who has gone though some exceptionally difficult times? -Tim Don't get me wrong, the show itself cares only about success and ratings, so they try to find the most compelling stories. But the end result is that some truly needy and deserving people get some help that they need. the family they helped here are still rolling along, helping the kids that no one else seem to hear about. HEY, maybe the show will take Tim;s mom's lights off her house Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MrPhred 0 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 I'm glad they're helping that family out. Sounds like they have had more than their fair share of hard knocks. But, if you see that Pennington boy's megaphone, would you mind stealing his batteries for me? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
metallus2000 0 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 I worked with Thom who drowned with his oldest son, who was going to be a priest. He was an "average joe" and a great guy. It's really good to see his family getting the help, they really needed it :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Philip 0 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 I didn't reallize that the families have to pay a mortgage on the home that Ty and gang build for them, but I always wonder about the tax implication on these kinds of things. I remember Oprah had a show several years ago where she rounded up a whole bunch of teachers from around the country and gave them all brand new cars, but over half of the people had to give the cars back because they couldn't afford the gift taxes on them. The givers in these cases should setup some sort of shell company and give these folks extra $ in the amount needed (up to $12K) to cover the gift taxes I do think it's great that some of the less fortunate do get help like this Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cozzi 11 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 I didn't reallize that the families have to pay a mortgage on the home that Ty and gang build for them, but I always wonder about the tax implication on these kinds of things. I remember Oprah had a show several years ago where she rounded up a whole bunch of teachers from around the country and gave them all brand new cars, but over half of the people had to give the cars back because they couldn't afford the gift taxes on them. The givers in these cases should setup some sort of shell company and give these folks extra $ in the amount needed (up to $12K) to cover the gift taxes I do think it's great that some of the less fortunate do get help like this Actually Phillip, the mortgage was on the existing house. The taxes came in when the new house built was worth 3 or 4 times the old one. Property taxes, and capital gains taxes for Uncle Sam because the upgrade was a profit. Then lots of local businesses donated furniture, gift certificates and many other things. We're a very close=knit community here. Then later we all found out that they got taxed for everything. It's considered income. That's why it's so great that CVS paid the mortgage AND the taxes. But I'm sure the IRS will send a bill for something. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric R 0 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 I think it is a neat thing. We helped with the one in Iowa, worked it for two days and had a blast. Met some nice people also. Being on set is amazing as they really do it in a week. Everyone involved gets to keep their blue shirt. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Philip 0 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 when I was growing up there was a car dealership that would do a sort of gift thing for 2-3 local families in need, but rather than gifting it to them, it was sold to them for pennies, it negated most of the tax liabilities and cost the families probably less than $50 out the door and great PR for the dealership Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Balch 0 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 The IRS wised up to that You are (can be) taxed on the value of the item now, not the selling price Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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