House Students Visit Paige Hemmis and Extreme Makeover Team in Port Deposit, Md.

At the last Cinderella Ball, the students and staff of The House were excited to meet Paige Hemmis of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Little did we know what a wonderful friend Paige would become. She frequently checks up on us to find out what's happening and makes sure to tell others about her experience at The House's Cinderella Ball.

On October 20 and 21, students from The House were invited to make the trek to Point Deposit, Md., to join Paige and the Extreme Makeover crew as they worked on their latest project. They got some great looks at how the show comes together and met some great people who love helping others.

Below are a link to a great Baltimore Sun piece on the Extreme Makeover project, a news piece in which one of our students was interviews and several photos from the students' trip to experience some of the behind-the-scenes action and to witness the unveiling.

Pretty cool stuff.

From the Baltimore Sun:

Show to Make Over Home in Port Deposit

The horses neighed nervously as cameramen and sound guys scurried among them, but somehow an animal was singled out, harnessed and mounted - by Ty Pennington himself. For once, though, the spiky-haired, muscle-bound star of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was not clutching his trademark microphone, which he uses to bellow orders and inspiration. He needed both hands to hold on as his bewildered steed trotted and the cameras rolled, capturing footage of this Port Deposit horse ranch in the midst of a metamorphosis. (Read more)

Here's the news video where you can watch one of our House Students, Brianna Little, interviewed about the Extreme Makeover project.


Here are a few pics of our kids hanging out with Paige and the Extreme Makeover Design Team.

Potomac News: Going to the Ball

Thank you, Josh Eiserike, for your great coverage of the 2nd Annual Cinderella Ball.

Read the whole story here.

Going to the ball

The House hosts second annual prom for students with disabilities

By Josh Eiserike

jeiserike@potomacnews.com

Friday, June 8, 2007

Stacie Dunn has been looking forward to the second annual Cinderella Ball all year.

The Cinderella Ball, held at The House Inc. in Woodbridge, is a free prom for students with disabilities. Everything - from the donated dresses to the dinner and dancing - is free, due to donations from local philanthropists and volunteers.

The House, a nonprofit tutoring and mentoring program for teenagers, has been in operation since November 2005.

On the dance floor, Stacie is beaming from her wheelchair as her parents, Bob and Debbie, look on.

Stacie, 19, of Woodbridge has bad knees, Down’s syndrome and pulmonary hypertension. She’s hooked up to an oxygen machine in the back of her wheelchair.

“It’s not difficult,” said her father, Bob Dunn, 49, a Marine. “You deal with what you have to deal with.”

He added that there are lots of rewards, such as just seeing his daughter at a dance.

“The small things that don’t mean a lot to parents mean a lot to the parents that are here,” said Dunn, adding that Stacie, an 11th-grader at Potomac High School, had friends and schoolmates in attendance.

When asked what she liked best, Stacie smiles and lists all the friends she saw.

“Just look around,” said her mother, Debbie Dunn. “Look at how much fun these kids are having.”

***

When the guests arrive, they stood in line to get their picture taken with special guests Kyle Maynard and Paige Hemmis. Maynard was born with a rare disorder called Congenital Amputation, which means his only major joints are his neck and shoulders. He’s also a motivational speaker and champion wrestler - he wrote a book “No Excuses” and won an ESPN ESPY Award.

“I was here last year,” said Maynard, 21, a part-time speaker and a part-time student at the University of Georgia. “It blew me away. It was something I wanted to do again. … It was one of the most special things I’ve ever been a part of.”

Keep reading...

Let's Dance!!!!!

Paige and Kyle Sign Autographs, All Guests Receive Kyle's Inspirational Book, "No Excuses"

Paige and Kyle stayed for hours after the banquet and dance to make sure every student and sponsor (and U.S. Marine) received an autographed photo and book.

Thank you, Regnery Publishing (owned by Eagle Publishing), for again donating copies of Kyle's book, No Excuses, for all the students. We know they will be treasured.

Banquet Time

A Few of Our Guests and Their Families and Friends