Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Berks County Pennsylvania
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Extreme Makeover TV Show and Volunteers Build Family a New Home in Berks County, Pennsylvania
In late July, 2010, the popular television program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, rolled into Berks county, Pennsylvania to kick off a week-long volunteer effort to build a home for a local family.
Trisha Urban, a young widow and her baby daughter Cora were the lucky folks chosen by the staff to get a new home built by volunteers in Berks county. Trisha's young husband had died of a massive heart attack on the day their daughter, Cora, was born in February 2009. Trisha had been struggling since his death to live in the ramshackle old farmhouse she and her husband purchased when they were first married. At the time the makeover was awarded, Trisha and Cora were living basically in 1 room of the home because of it's bad condition and cost to heat.
The week prior to the home construction event started with a Pep Rally at FirstEnergy stadium in Reading. Local,regional and national press covered the event at the ballpark usually filled with Reading Phillies fans most summer evenings.
Lens intro illustration based on a Morguefile photo by dancerinthedark
Trisha Urban, a young widow and her baby daughter Cora were the lucky folks chosen by the staff to get a new home built by volunteers in Berks county. Trisha's young husband had died of a massive heart attack on the day their daughter, Cora, was born in February 2009. Trisha had been struggling since his death to live in the ramshackle old farmhouse she and her husband purchased when they were first married. At the time the makeover was awarded, Trisha and Cora were living basically in 1 room of the home because of it's bad condition and cost to heat.
The week prior to the home construction event started with a Pep Rally at FirstEnergy stadium in Reading. Local,regional and national press covered the event at the ballpark usually filled with Reading Phillies fans most summer evenings.
Lens intro illustration based on a Morguefile photo by dancerinthedark
The Giving Goes On ...
The crew and spectators are gone, but this project continues
Extreme Kindness A Reading Eagle (Pennsylvania) newspaper feature story tells the back story about kindness that's on a roll in Berks county. See where all the "extra" stuff from the building and remodeling project went, and who it helps. HINT: It's not in any landfills ...Not long after moving into her new home, Trisha Urban raffled off a tour of the house and grounds. She donated the proceeds to a fund that benefits other folks in the area who need the same type of home town assistance given to her and Cora.
Nominate Someone (or Yourself) for an Extreme Home Makeover
Your Entry Might Be the Next Free Home Makeover
If you want to help out a family (or yourself) in need of an extreme home makeover, you can nominate them with the official form from the show's web site.
Berks County Extreme Kindness Goes On - HBA Restoring Hope Foundation
If you live in Berks county, Pennsylvania you can support a nonprofit organization that's been formed to continue this wonderful work year after year at the local level. What was inspired and organized by the national television show has grown into a local foundation to help other families in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The mission of the HBA Restoring Hope Foundation is to construct solutions to address unique challenges of deserving people in Berks County.
HBA Restoring Hope Foundation - Berks Extreme Build
Once Upon a Time - Urban Family Homestead
Adorable animation with poetry narration
The modern day fairy tale story with a happy ending of how a rickety old farm became a new and sturdy home for a widow and her little girl living in rural Berks County, Pennsylvania. An animated, narrated tale of the Urbans and their old-to-new home created with help from Extreme Home Makeover and thousands of volunteer neighbors.
curated content from YouTube
A Playhouse for a Little Girl
The landscape design even includes a Crooked House playhouse for Cora
Welcome Extreme Makeover: Home Edition!
Berks County, Pennsylvania
Trisha and Cora Urban learned they were the chosen winners while attending a fire company carnival. They were whisked away to a vacation at Disney World while the work to transform their old home into a new house took off under the guidance of the Extreme Makeover team.
Photo credit: Reading Eagle - Cora and Trisha Urban
Click here to view the newspaper's photo gallery of images from the Extreme Makeover project in Reading - Berks, PA.
The whole region is pitching in with support for this project - even one of our County Commissioners, Christian Leinbach, was a member of the volunteer team (along with his builder-brothers and their father) that worked night and day on this home in Berks county, Pennsylvania. According to a story in The Reading Eagle, the commissioner's brother Jonathan signed up a team of 40 to 50 Mennonites and a handful of Amish bulding craftsmen to help with the construction work.
The Home Builders Association of Berks County coordinated much of the professional volunteer support for this project and members of the crew include contractors from the group.
Follow BerksExtremeBuild on Facebook
Facebook Photos - Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
- Trisha Urban - Working to Help the Heart Association
- This Busy Mom Helps Save Lives by Raising Money for the American Heart Association while Raising Her Daughter in a 300 Year-Old Crumbling Cabin
- Berks Extreme Build - the official web site
- Official information for volunteers and spectators interested in the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition program for Berks County, Pennsylvania. Includes the entire planned schedule for the week.
- Extreme Makeover Suspense Over - Young Mom and Daughter will get a new home
- TILDEN TWP., Pa. -- A Berks County family got the surprise of a lifetime this morning. Thursday, July 29, 2010.
- Spectators flock to 'Extreme Makeover' construction site
- Busload after busload of spectators rumbled down Hex Highway on Saturday to the busiest construction site in Berks County.
There, in front of digital cameras and donation buckets, a house rose from the ground in mere hours.
The TV show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and the Home Builders Association of Berks County are building a home in Tilden Township for Trisha Urban and her 1-year-old daughter, Cora. Saturday, workers framed the entire house. - 24 x 7 Volunteers Work on Berks County Home (VIDEO and text)
- The Tilden township home building effort led by Extreme Makeover is a 'round the clock operation. Volunteers and skilled workers are working in shifts day and night, 24/7, to complete this new home for Trisha and Cora Urban by Thursday, August 5.
- Berks gets ready for 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' (video)
- Fans of the hit reality series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" attended a pep rally Wednesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading for a Berks County episode kickoff.
- Region Set To Welcome Extreme Makeover - News Story - WFMZ Allentown
- READING, Pa. -- Skilled volunteers are still needed to be part of the Extreme Makeover Home Edition reality TV show build in Berks County. Tuesday, July 27, 2010.
- Volunteers and Spectators Get a Free Ride to Home Building Site
- BARTA and Klein will shuttle volunteers and spectators to northern Berks fixer-upper
- Virginville Grange cooks dinner for 200 volunteers at Berks Extreme Makeover: Home Edition site
- Starting early this morning, about 40 Virginville Grangers devoted a day in the kitchen to cook dinner to feed 200 volunteers at ABC's Home Makeover: Home Edition - Berks County
- Finishing Up Trisha and Cora's New Home
- Workers from at least five Berks County nurseries worked around
the clock to install about two dozen trees and hundreds of shrubs
and perennial flowers for the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
project in Tilden Township. - Berks County Living Magazine
- Berks County Living: The Valley's Daily Lifestyle Magazine
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Info
Berks County Extreme Makeover Video
The Berks County episode about the Urbans aired in the US on Sunday, October 24, 2010 8pm Eastern / 7pm Central. House parties and donation-driven viewing events took place all around the region that night. You can watch the show on the network site:
Extreme Makeover Berks County - Trisha and Cora Urban
Project Kickoff and Donation Information
The house was planned to be built in about 120 hours - volunteer workers were on site 24/7, working in shifts. When it was all finished, the team completed construction, decorating, landscaping and cleanup ahead of schedule!
The Big Day Arrived - Thursday, August 5, 2010 - MOVE.THAT.BUS! - but the work still goes on to help others. Trisha Urban is still helping to Pay It Forward because "she can't pay it back" and as we have all come to know, Trisha is a graceful, grateful and giving young woman.
In just a few hours the old house came down and the new house construction started.
The Big Day Arrived - Thursday, August 5, 2010 - MOVE.THAT.BUS! - but the work still goes on to help others. Trisha Urban is still helping to Pay It Forward because "she can't pay it back" and as we have all come to know, Trisha is a graceful, grateful and giving young woman.
In just a few hours the old house came down and the new house construction started.
curated content from YouTube
Remodel or Build a Home on a Shoestring
Construct or Rehab a House For Not Much Money
If you have lots of energy and a few helping hands, you can build (or rehab) an inexpensive a house to create a cozy and green home.
Berks County's New Reality Show Stars
Kate plus 8, you've got some competition
Until July 2010, there was mainly one Berks county family famous for its tie to a reality television show. Not any more. Move over Kate and gang, because Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, just put Berks county firmly on the map for a good-feeling reason this season.Chosen to receive a free home makeover was a young widow Trisha Urban and her little daughter Cora as the lucky family to get a free home makeover from the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team and a huge team of professional home building tradesmen, many of them members of the Home Builders Association and scores of citizen volunteers from the Reading area.
Trisha's home is over 300 years old, and will be demolished to make way for her new house. Team members say that the new house will incorporate salvaged parts from the old home, making this a green home project.
Find many daily photos, videos and background information at the Official Web Site.
A Tribute to Andy Urban
A touching video montage of photos from Andy's short but full life.
If you can't see the video, be sure you unblock ads from YouTube ...
If you can't see the video, be sure you unblock ads from YouTube ...
curated content from YouTube
Trisha and Cora's New Home
Berks County Makeover News Updates
Hot off the presses ...
Latest and greatest news stories as they're published - live print media news about the Extreme Makeover home project in Berks county, Pennsylvania.
Monday Flag Football Game a Rousing Success complete with celebrity coaches Christie Brinkley, guest designer Leigh Anne Tuohy of "The Blind Side," and Berks County Olympic medalists Allison Baver and Kristy Kowal.
ABC donated a tractor-trailer load of non-perishable foods worth about $30,000 USD to a local charity, Opportunity House this week. Trisha Urban's late husband worked for Opportunity House before his untimely death, and in her application she stated that if she was the winner, she wanted to help Opportunity House in some way. Opportunity House is a multi-service organization that improves the quality of life for children, families and adults who face various obstacles to independence, and supports their efforts to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency and well-being.
Monday Flag Football Game a Rousing Success complete with celebrity coaches Christie Brinkley, guest designer Leigh Anne Tuohy of "The Blind Side," and Berks County Olympic medalists Allison Baver and Kristy Kowal.
ABC donated a tractor-trailer load of non-perishable foods worth about $30,000 USD to a local charity, Opportunity House this week. Trisha Urban's late husband worked for Opportunity House before his untimely death, and in her application she stated that if she was the winner, she wanted to help Opportunity House in some way. Opportunity House is a multi-service organization that improves the quality of life for children, families and adults who face various obstacles to independence, and supports their efforts to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency and well-being.
- When fame comes calling
- A large group of Berks County businesses had a good experience with reality TV in 2010 when ?Extreme Makeover: Home Edition? filmed a project in Tilden Township. Kevin Kozo, president of the Home Builders Association of Berks County and one of the ...
Where is Tilden Township?
Northern Berks County, Pennsylvania
The Berks County Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team is working on a home in Tilden Township, near Hamburg, Pennsylvania. (Hamburg had a brief brush with fame when Dee Snyder of Twisted Sister performed with a local rock band to help protest the school's intended plan to bar rock bands from performing at school functions a few years ago.)
Tilden is a very small rural community in the northernmost part of Berks county - it's right on the county line with Schuylkill county in an area of rich farmland and mountainous terrain.
Shuttle buses for volunteers will run 24/7 and for spectators from 8am to 8pm out of Cabela's parking lot, located near the intersection of PA Rt. 61 and I-78.
Print a map of the parking areas - PDF format
Tilden is a very small rural community in the northernmost part of Berks county - it's right on the county line with Schuylkill county in an area of rich farmland and mountainous terrain.
Shuttle buses for volunteers will run 24/7 and for spectators from 8am to 8pm out of Cabela's parking lot, located near the intersection of PA Rt. 61 and I-78.
Print a map of the parking areas - PDF format
Berks County Extreme Home Makeover
Up to the Minute Blog Posts
- When fame comes calling
- A large group of Berks County businesses had a good experience with reality TV in 2010 when ?Extreme Makeover: Home Edition? filmed a project in Tilden Township. Kevin Kozo, president of the Home Builders Association of Berks County and one of the ...
Construction Schedule
Day by Day Work Schedule for Demolition and Reconstruction of Trisha Urban's Home
Here is the original schedule of work and the reveal date/time for the Berks county project. The team actually finished this project ahead of schedule - that was only the 2nd time in the history of the program that a makeover was all done before the reveal date.
Saturday, July 31st:
Watch perhaps the most dramatic day in the actual construction as the house takes shape with framing and window Installation
Sunday, August 1st:
Begin installation of plumbing, electric and heating and air conditioning. By the end of the day the house will be drywalled!
Monday, August 2nd:
Watch the exterior of the house come to life with the masons at work.
Tuesday, August 3rd:
The interior of the house begins to take on the design as flooring, countertops and appliances all move in. Outside the landscapers begin to get to work.
Wednesday, August 4th:
The interior of the house takes great strides today. We even hope to clean the windows!
Thursday, August 5th:
All the final last minute touches are done to prepare for the family's arrival.
MOVE THAT BUS - 2PM
Watch the Show and See the Whole Thing From Demolition to Reveal - Sunday, October 24, 2010 8pm Eastern / 7pm Central
Squidoo Sunshine Charity Award
August 23 - WINNER!
I built this lens for the Squidoo Sunshine Charity Awards Program - all proceeds benefit Share Our Strength.For those who nominated this lens, I thank you so much. On August 23, 2010 this lens won the daily Squidoo Sunshine Award. Squidoo donated $99.00 to my chosen charity, Share Our Strength, and on August 24 (my wedding anniversary) I donated an additional $99.00 to Share Our Strength.
I also donated an additional $99.00 to the HBA Restoring Hope Foundation - a fund created by the Homebuilders Association of Berks County to continue the work started by this project.
Berks County, Pennsylvania
Reading is the county seat, located right in the middle of Berks County
About Pastiche
I live in Berks County, Pennsylvania
I'm a mom, grandmother and freelance artist/writer - a Giant Squid 100 club member, too.
This project captured my attention and my heart; the home site is less than 30 minutes from my home and everywhere I went during construction week I spotted folks wearing the "blue shirts" - volunteers who were helping build this house or provide support services to the team. It makes me very proud to share this story and give the "the rest of the story" about Berks county and the people who live here.
This project captured my attention and my heart; the home site is less than 30 minutes from my home and everywhere I went during construction week I spotted folks wearing the "blue shirts" - volunteers who were helping build this house or provide support services to the team. It makes me very proud to share this story and give the "the rest of the story" about Berks county and the people who live here.
Wrap Up - Trisha and Cora's Story
The house is built, and the good news goes on
Post Script: Nearby Kutztown University (my husband's alma mater) presented a full scholarship including board, books and all she will need as a college student to Cora Urban. She's the first freshman for the class of 2027!
curated content from YouTube
This Lens Supports Charity
You can help directly with a donation
This Squidoo lens donates 100% of its earnings to charity. If you purchase anything from a link on this lens, all royalties the lens earns will go directly to the charity. If you prefer to make a tax-deductible direct contribution, you can do that by clicking on the donate button right here.
Don't forget about the Squidoo Sunshine Charity Awards Program - Nominate this lens for a Squidoo Sunshine Award now!
Don't forget about the Squidoo Sunshine Charity Awards Program - Nominate this lens for a Squidoo Sunshine Award now!
Share Our Strength is the leading national organization working to end childhood hunger in America. We weave together a net of community groups, activists and food programs to catch every at-risk child and make sure no kid in America grows up hungry.
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Tell Your Friends and Family About This Episode
Welcome, Friends - Leave a Note
Are you from Reading-Berks, or just a fan of this reality show?
Say hello here ! If you're a fan of the show or working on your own home makeover project, leave your comments here. Comments welcomed on the show in general, or the Berks county episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. if you volunteered or live in Berks, be sure to tell us about it!
Home is where the heart is - volunteers are what make this show "reality" at its best, and Berks County has plenty of folks who like to lend a hand to a neighbor in need.
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BestLaminateInc
Mar 5, 2012 @ 1:53 pm | delete
- Great Lens! Thanks for sharing this family's story.
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AdrianaCopaceanu
Feb 1, 2012 @ 2:11 pm | delete
- This was a great show!
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e-xplorations
Feb 24, 2011 @ 7:56 pm | delete
- I like home changes and home interior designing. Extreme makeover rocks!
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passionatehouseremodeler
Jan 10, 2011 @ 3:57 pm | delete
- Extreme Makeoveris one of the reality shows that actually has socially redeeming qualities. It's great that you made this lens.
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Bea_Gabrielle Jan 9, 2011 @ 2:31 am | delete
- I've always loved Extreme Makeover! Great lens!
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JDWheeler
Nov 23, 2010 @ 11:00 am | delete
- I'm in the building supply industry and have loved this show and the people it helps from the beginning.
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bsblmike2
Oct 29, 2010 @ 10:06 pm | delete
- i live in chester county
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Blueyes01
Oct 7, 2010 @ 1:32 pm | delete
- Wow! My friend Tara Kennedy-Kline donated all the toys for Cora's room from Discovery Toys, and I know Trisha and Cora deserve all they have received and more! Thank you for sharing this lens. I'm glad there are so many caring people in this world who still want to help others.
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jmichaels010
Oct 5, 2010 @ 4:56 am | delete
- looking forward to more of your makeover projects! this is such a great lens!
get the perfect DIY conservatory to improve the look and feel of someone's home.
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poutine
Sep 21, 2010 @ 7:53 am | delete
- I love "feel good stories" like the Extreme Makeover shows.
You did a wonderful job focusing on this particular home.
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KarateKatGraphics
Aug 25, 2010 @ 12:20 pm | delete
- way to go--showcasing a great cause & winning $ for another great cause in the process! congrats!!
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Susan52
Aug 25, 2010 @ 10:10 am | delete
- Fabulous story in a great lens. Congratulations on your well-deserved Sunshine award for charity!
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TopStyleTravel
Aug 25, 2010 @ 9:27 am | delete
- Congrats on the well deserved Sunshine Award! This is a lovely lens though sad. Very well done with great links. Everyone should take note to how quickly life can change and appreciate the loved ones in their lives. I am happy to see this family receive the home they need and community support to move forward in life.
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burgessvillian
Aug 24, 2010 @ 6:23 pm | delete
- I love it when people come together to help others. Fantastic lens and congratulations on the sunshine award
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Wednesday_Elf
Aug 24, 2010 @ 2:31 pm | delete
- Had to run back by to tell you congratulations on winning the Sunshine Award. This story is very well deserving of the award.
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BevsPaper
Aug 24, 2010 @ 8:09 am | delete
- Extreme Make-over just really touches me so deeply. This story of the young widow in Berks County is just wonderful. The show did this for a family in our area in a past season and it was just awesome to see locals jump in and be a part of it all. And the family was so deserving, yet so very humble. Love your choice charity too! Congrats on your Sunshine Award...most deserving!
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Joan4
Aug 24, 2010 @ 7:35 am | delete
- Great story! I do enjoy Extreme Makeover and it is great to see a "real" look at it from within our Squidoo community! Thank you!
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Heather426
Aug 23, 2010 @ 8:03 pm | delete
- Love the show, and love the lens! I've been to Reading a few times in the early 2000's when my son lived in Hamburg. Beautiful country! congrats on winning!
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OhMe Aug 23, 2010 @ 5:41 pm | delete
- Oh me! This is such a wonderful story. I am grinning from ear to ear for Trisha and Cora Urban and applauding the work of the Volunteers and Extreme Makeover team. Great charity lens which is now featured with Sharing Your Strength on Squidoo's Summer Sunshine Award Nominees. Also nominating. Good Luck and thanks for sharing this very heartwarming story.
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GrowWear
Aug 23, 2010 @ 5:21 pm | delete
- What a beautiful story. Extreme Home Makeover always makes me cry, but in such a good way. Congratulations for winning the Sunshine Award today!
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SquidooKimberly
Aug 23, 2010 @ 4:18 pm | delete
- Congrats on your Sunshine Award! Thanks to your hard work, you and Share Our Strength have both earned $99. http://blogs.squidoo.com/squidblog/2010/08/23/sunshine-award-extreme-makeover/
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prosperity66
Aug 23, 2010 @ 3:23 am | delete
- This show is broadcast in Europe too, it's incredibly wonderful gesture from this team to bring so much happiness to all those families who desperately need it! Wow! The house they built this time is pretty amazing!
Nominated for the Sunshine Award!
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Wednesday_Elf
Aug 22, 2010 @ 5:54 pm | delete
- An extremely heart-warming story, giving a real future to this young widow and her baby daughter. I've nominated your lens and wish you success in your goal to help others through Share Our Strength.
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skiesgreen
Aug 16, 2010 @ 6:23 pm | delete
- This message touches my heart as so many people could be giving instead of just putting their hands out for more and more. The Amish are a great community that is worth of high praise as is the Home Makeover Program. Unfortunately not enough good will exists to see all those in need so catered for, *-*Blessed*-* and featured on Sprinkled with Stardust and also on my awards lens extreme-makeover-home-reading-berks-pennsylvania
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Tipi
Aug 7, 2010 @ 6:39 pm | delete
- I love the show Extreme Make-over. I always start crying when they move that bus.
What a great topic to choose for a charity lens. Good on you!
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by Pastiche
Graphic artist who designs and shares clip art, coloring pages and unique paper crafts at Clip Art and Crafts, Lee Hansen Graphics, and Pastiche Family... more »
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