Community Outpouring Fills All Volunteer Slots for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and American Heartland Homebuilder Project in Armada Twp., Mich.

Community Outpouring Fills All Volunteer Slots for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and American Heartland Homebuilder Project in Armada Twp., Mich.

ARMADA TWP., Mich., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Thanks to the overwhelming response from people in local communities, American Heartland Homebuilder has filled all time slots for volunteers who have offered their assistance during the homebuilding for the deserving Gilliam family this week. The Macomb, Mich.-based building company wants to thank everyone who has offered to assist.

The public, however, is welcome to come out (based on capacity) to support and cheer on the thousands of workers, subcontractors, trades and volunteers as they work with Ty Pennington, design team leader and carpenter, and ABC-TV show's design team to build the Gilliam family a new home in just seven days. Financial donations can be made at any Fifth Third banking center in Southeastern Michigan until Dec. 31, 2006. Hats and other items can be purchased at the spectator parking lot.

"The community's response has been absolutely remarkable," said Rick Merlini, American Heartland Homebuilder's chief executive officer. "Since the announcement was made, thousands of people have asked how they can help. At this time, we have more volunteers then we need ... that's just awesome!"

Those volunteers who have been selected will receive notification of their assigned time slot, directions and release forms.

The Gilliam family received the "Good Morning!" wake up call on August 7 from ABC's Ty Pennington informing them that their home was selected to receive a makeover. To help with this project, American Heartland has asked longtime friend Anthony Lombardo of Lombardo Homes and financial partner, Fifth Third Bank, to assist. The team will work around-the-clock to present the Gilliam family with a new fully furnished home on the anticipated reveal date of Monday, Aug. 14.

About American Heartland Homebuilder

Macomb, Mich.-based American Heartland LLC, which does business as American Heartland Homebuilder (http://www.americanheartlandhomes.com/), was founded in 1988 by native Detroiter and CEO Richard ("Rick") Merlini. The company focuses on three segments of the new home marketplace: starter homes, traditional suburban homes and active adult communities. American Heartland Homebuilder stays on the cutting-edge of design and innovative techniques to provide homeowners with the latest in technology, quality products, energy efficiency and value.

Committed to quality, the company guarantees its work with an award- winning 10-year warranty and in-house service department. For this once-in-a- lifetime project, American Heartland Homebuilder has teamed up with longtime friend Anthony Lombardo and Lombardo Homes (http://www.lombardohomes.com/) of Washington, Mich. The companies collectively have built more than 9,200 homes in southeastern Michigan.

About ABC-TV's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, entering its 4th season on ABC, is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. The series is executive-produced by Denise Cramsey. David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA.

Source: American Heartland Homebuilder

CONTACT: Media - Adriana Ferrari, cell: +1-586-201-1643,
aferrari@bianchipr.com, or Rich Donley, cell: +1-248-379-0689,
rdonley@bianchipr.com, both of Bianchi PR, +1-248-269-1122

Web site: http://www.americanheartlandhomes.com/
http://www.lombardohomes.com/

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