TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 8, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- "Good Morning, Tate Family" was the wake-up call Tom and Cynthia Tate and their children had been hoping for since they were forced out of their home in early June 2006. Ty Pennington and his design crew from ABC Television's hit-show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition came to Florida this morning to awaken this deserving family.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition called on WCI Communities Inc. (NYSE:WCI), based in Bonita Springs, Fla., to build a new home for this very worthy family on Davis Islands. WCI Communities and its trade partners have committed to having the home ready for the Tates' return on January 14, 2007.
"For the 60 years WCI has been developing communities and building homes, our company has placed a high priority on community service. Through our Habitat for Humanity activities and fundraising efforts for local charitable causes, WCI has a demonstrated record of reaching out to those in need. Now, to lend a hand to a deserving family and inspire others on a national level to do the same is truly a privilege," said Jerry Starkey, WCI Communities' President and CEO. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a powerful and positively focused program. Its message perfectly aligns with WCI's values and brand promise, 'The Experience is Everything.'"
Tom and Cynthia Tate are well known in their tight knit community of Davis Islands. Tom is the co-owner of Tate Brothers' Pizza and is responsible for giving many of the kids in town their first jobs while Cynthia is heavily involved with the Boys Scouts, the Girl Scouts and the PTA. The Tate Brothers have participated in almost every volunteer or charity event around Davis Islands and it has been said that many of the Island kids have grown up in the Tate house. In that respect, June 12, 2006 was a rare day when the house was not filled with neighborhood kids. Out of the entire Tate family, only Cynthia was at home when a plane crashed into their house. The pilot was killed along with the Tate family pets and the co-pilot was badly burned but survived. Cynthia miraculously escaped without any injuries, but the house and everything inside of it was destroyed. To make matters worse, because of the unusual circumstances that led to the home's destruction, it was not insured and the Tates are unable to pay off the existing mortgage, let alone rebuild their home.
The Tate family has gone above and beyond in helping their community and now it's time for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and WCI to lend a helping hand in return. In just one week, one of Davis Islands' most beloved families will return to their dream home and allow it to again become a gathering place for the entire community.
WCI Communities, Inc. builds dream homes for families in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland and Virginia. The company's dedicated employees and trade partners have come together to assist this local family. "When WCI got the call from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, we eagerly accepted the challenge of replacing what was taken from the Tates with a home that will make their dream a reality," said Starkey.
WCI, along with thousands of volunteers, will rebuild a new dream home for the Tate family in only one week - a process that normally takes a minimum of several months. To learn more information about the team, partners, the Tate family and to see daily updates of the construction process, log onto www.WCIExtremehome.com.
How the Community Can Help:
Log on to www.WCIExtremehome.com to learn how you can contribute to the Tate family. Donations for the family can be made by visiting any participating AmSouth branch.
About WCI Communities, Inc.
WCI Communities, Inc., named America's Best Builder in 2004 by the National Association of Home Builders and Builder Magazine, has been creating amenity-rich, master-planned lifestyle communities since 1946. Florida-based WCI caters to primary, retirement, and second-home buyers in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland and Virginia. The company offers traditional and tower home choices with prices from the upper-$100,000s to more than $10 million and features a wide array of recreational amenities in its communities. In addition to homebuilding, WCI generates revenues from its Prudential Florida WCI Realty Division, title businesses, and its recreational amenities, as well as through land sales and joint ventures. The company currently owns and controls developable land on which the company plans to build over 21,000 traditional and tower homes.
The WCI Communities, Inc. logo is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3018
About Extreme Makeover: Home Edition:
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," which has won back-to-back Emmy Awards as Best Reality Program (non-competitive), is in its 4th season on ABC. The program is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. Denise Cramsey is the executive producer; and David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA.
Media Notes:
The Media is welcome on-site for the duration of the Tate family build. Keep in mind this is a very busy construction site and closed set. Daily media alerts will be distributed electronically and on-site.
A Media Relations coordinator will be on-site at the media tent starting Sunday, January 7 through Sunday, January 14. A media tent will be available to journalists beginning on the afternoon of construction on Tuesday, January 9th. The tent will be staffed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily and by special request. More information about the project, a map and driving directions can be found at: www.WCIExtremehome.com.
If you plan to come to the build site, you MUST call 561.301.5914 PRIOR to your arrival to add your name to the pre-approved media guest list. YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO SHOW CREDENITALS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A PARKING PASS!
MEDIA GUIDELINES
1. Design Team interviews are restricted and limited due to busy
construction and production schedules. If you are interested in
interviewing a designer or a member of the production staff,
please ask someone wearing a MEDIA RELATIONS badge. They will try
to coordinate your request in a timely fashion.
2. All Media must adhere to the guidelines to ensure a smooth
process.
3. The site will be extremely busy. Please only send working media.
4. You must remain in the media tent at all times. You will have a
direct line of sight to the build.
5. If you are interested in interviewing a volunteer or
subcontractor, please ask someone wearing a MEDIA RELATIONS badge.
They will contact production staff to coordinate the interview, if
possible.
6. Volunteers and subcontractors are available for interviews on a
limited basis. Please plan accordingly as we cannot guarantee
interviews. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.
7. Live feed CANNOT be allowed from the reveal on Sunday, January 14.
8. To ensure your safety, close-toe shoes must be worn on-site and
smoking is prohibited. Also, alcohol is prohibited at all time at
the construction site.