Fifth Third Bank partners with local builders

Category: Chronicle Archives Published on Tuesday, 08 August 2006 20:00 Written by Michigan Chronicle

Monday at 8 a.m., Ty Pennington, design team leader and carpenter, surprised the Gilliam family of Armada Township, Mich. when he informed them that their home had been chosen to receive a makeover. The 120-year-old home – which potentially still contains the toxins responsible for the early death of husband/father David Gilliam – will be replaced with a new home built onsite in approximately one week.

The builders, American Heartland Homes and Lombardo Homes, will build the Gilliam’s new home along with Ty Pennington, the show’s design team, and workers, subcontractors, trades and volunteers.

Fifth Third Bank is accepting donations for the family at all the banking centers in a special fund set up to assist in the long-term care of the Gilliam family. The bank is also making a significant contribution to the family that will allow them to truly make a new start. 

“We are proud to make a difference in the lives of the Gilliam family,” stated Greg Kosch, president and CEO of Fifth Third Bank (Eastern Michigan). “This illustrates the overarching commitment the bank has for making the dream of homeownership a reality for everyone”. 

Also the Fifth Third Bank Homeownership Mobile (E-Bus) will be stationed at the Armada Elementary School Parking Lot, located at 23900 Armada Center Road on Aug. 9, 10, 11, 14. On Aug. 10, at 2 p.m., the E-Bus Dedication will occur. The bus is visiting Armada in conjunction with the “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” build.

Approximately 3,000 volunteers will work hundreds of hours to make this project a success. The team will work five days and around-the-clock to present the Gilliam family with a new fully-furnished home on the anticipated reveal date of Monday, Aug. 14. The project kicked off Monday with Ty Pennington’s “Good Morning!” wake up call. Demolition of the old house and construction of the new home are scheduled to happen in a short period of time.

The Gilliams have been sent on a vacation to a Hilton Resort in Florida during the build. This deserving family was selected from thousands of applications worldwide.

The show will air sometime in October or November. It is the third episode of 2006.

About the Gilliam family: Maryann Gilliam’s husband David, 41, was a firefighter and emergency medical technician that passed away unexpectedly on Christmas Eve 2005. Maryann, 32, was left with six children (currently ages eight months to 12 years old) to live in a tiny two-bedroom, 120-year-old house that David was renovating. David and Maryann originally purchased the home as a “fixer-upper.” When he went back to school in order to better provide for his family, he had less time to work on the home.

Since David’s death, Maryann learned that the basement of their home was contaminated with dangerous levels of toxic spores. The family’s doctor theorized these toxins may have been responsible for David’s death and advised Maryann to vacate the house.

About the Gilliam’s current home: The seven-member Gilliam family is currently living in a two bedroom, 1-1/4 bath, 900 square-foot “farm house” built in approximately 1886. It sits on a one-acre lot with a septic/well and contains potentially hazardous mold (Pennicillium/Aspergillis). The “Michigan” basement floods, and the house is in dire need of waterproofing. Additionally, the roof is leaking, the septic field is old and ineffective (with the washing machine leaking into the yard) and the ground is collapsing outside of the house.

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” entering its fourth 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.