Check out the interior photos by clicking here.

“Behind the Scenes” One Hour Special Airing Locally on WKRN News 2 at 6:00 p.m. Followed By Show at 7:00 p.m. Central Time

Nashville, Tenn. (November 5, 2010) — The Nashville Build episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” now has an official airdate of Sunday, November 14, at 7:00 p.m. Central. The show will be preceded by a one hour “Behind the Scenes” special to air on WKRN News 2 at 6:00 p.m. The show chronicles the rebuilding of Lighthouse Preschool, which was completely demolished during the historic flood that created so much devastation throughout the city of Nashville in early May.

In September, LP Building Products and HARDAWAY Construction Corp. teamed up with “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and thousands of volunteers from across Middle Tennessee to rebuild the preschool, a part of Lighthouse Christian School, which has been run by the Sweatt family since 2003.

In spite of the damage to eight of its 18 buildings on the school campus, the Sweatt family demonstrated true Tennessee volunteerism, taking it upon themselves to spearhead a flood recovery effort and help more than 200 families by providing shelter, food, water, clothing, counseling, and a myriad of other social and financial services. At the same time, Lighthouse School did not have the resources to find skilled labor to rebuild. Sadly, the entire school was in jeopardy of closing.

“We are proud of this opportunity to help out a local family and organization that has so often reached out to help others,” said Rick Olszewski, executive vice president of sales and marketing for LP Building Products. “We deeply appreciate all of the volunteers and companies who took this cause to heart, and we can’t wait for the entire nation to see the strength and spirit of the Nashville people when this show hits the air.”

“We were honored to have the opportunity to serve as the builder for this project as we joined with local volunteers and businesses to give back to the Nashville community,” said Stan Hardaway, president of HARDAWAY Construction Corp. “This is a school and an organization that has used all its resources to help others in its community get back on their feet following this flood. Giving back is part of their DNA. One of the reasons I was so inspired by the Sweatt family and Lighthouse School is that I know they will continue to pay this gift forward for years and years to come. That is incredible.”

For the daily build videos, photos and video interviews with the entire build team from The Nashville Build, follow The Nashville Build on Facebook and Twitter at @nashvillebuild.

SouthEast Nashville, a ministry of Lighthouse Christian, recently dedicated the renovated home of Vera Arnold. Vera’s home was devastated during the Nashville floods in May. Vera and her family lived on this very corner for more than 50 years and many of their children have attended Lighthouse Preschool. The renovations to the home took six months and they had more than 140 volunteers invest more than 5,000 volunteer hours. The renovations included a complete gutting of the inside of the home along with new framing, insulation, drywall, paint, new cabinets and vanity, tile flooring, restoration of original wood floors, trim work, curtains, furniture, bedding, wall décor and finished up the job by stocking the kitchen and bathroom with much needed supplies. On the outside of the home, volunteers worked on her roof, exterior painting, landscaping and refurbishing the outdoor furniture.

As you can see, the gift that Lighthouse has been given is immediately being paid forward to those in need. This is a special dedication and it is only the beginning.

November 19th, 2010 at 11:30am
Downtown YMCA
Benefiting the YMCA Urban Services Youth Development Center

The Y-Build/Youthbuild residential program is funded by the US Department of Labor as part of the YouthBuild Affiliated Network and provides construction skills training for young adults between the ages of 18-24. The Y-Build/Youthbuild Program began in 2004 in response to an alarming number of underserved youth who were dropping out of school and getting in trouble with the law. 75% of Y-Build/Youthbuild participants start the program with no GED or high school diploma, and 88% have criminal records.

Through the Y-Build/Youthbuild Program, participants will earn their GED, learn valuable career and life skills, find job placement, and receive personalized case-management. Over 150 young men have completed the Y-Build Program/Youthbuild, with nearly 90% finding initial employment. Thank you for partnering with the Y-Build/Youthbuild Program through an appropriate level of sponsorship. Your partnership will not only help support an important cause, but will also allow greater recognition for your company’s social investment into effective youth development outreach programming.

Thank you for your support!

November 19th, 2010 at 11:30am
Downtown YMCA
Benefiting the YMCA Urban Services Youth Development Center

The school is built, the paint is dry, the cranes are removed, the tents are down, the trucks are gone, the wooly pockets have been planted, the Extreme team has gone back to Hollywood and we have returned to our “real jobs.” What an amazing week we just experienced. This was truly one of those events in life that you will never forget. And there are so many groups and individuals that we have to thank along the way.

First, to our Nashville Build core team. The builder – HARDAWAY Construction Corp., the product manufacturer – LP Building Products, the architect – DA|AD Architect Firm and a marketing firm – GS&F. Our core team joined forces quickly, each bringing their strengths to the build table. Together we were able to plan, recruit, organize, and ultimately build this 6,500 sq. ft. preschool facility. The electricity and excitement felt in the room that very first meeting has carried us all the way across the finish line. Today we stand in awe of a beautiful state-of-the-art facility on the land that once housed what we loosely called a rock quarry.

Second, our Extreme family. Throughout this whirlwind process, we met so many representatives from the production company and the show. Each new face, each encounter and every conversation solidified our connection with this team. The Extreme team was an extention of our core builder team and worked to make sure that the process was as smooth as it possibly could be … helping us to think ahead and avoid glaring pit falls as much as possible.

Third, the Lighthouse Christian school. Even though we had no part in choosing the recipient of this amazing gift, we knew from the very beginning that this school and it’s leadership is special. The core of who they are and what they represent is evident in each individual conversation that you have with their leadership, members and supporters. This group of individuals loves this community and has deep compassion for their neighbors. So much so that they live it out each and everyday. Since this devastating flood that hit them so hard, they have been working through their volunteer organization to help those in this community that were also hurt by the raising waters. Because of that I think they are the perfect recipient of this amazing gift… they recognize what they have been given and they will pay this gift forward time and time again to individuals in need.

Finally, you … the volunteers and community. A build of this size is not done by one person, one organization or one sponsor. It takes a team. It takes dedicated, skilled and caring individuals coming together to work toward one goal. In this case it was a beautiful preschool. Through the process we have met many unexpected new friends and we will forever cherish the hours that we spent getting to know one another and giving back at the same time. Thank you for coming out and volunteering, for keeping up with the build online, for sending donation money and for encouraging all fo us along the way. This is truly a community effort.

THANK YOU NASHVILLE.

GS&F is so proud to have been a part of this in just a little way. Helping others selflessly is such an important thing to experience in life. I want to thank you for joining us on this crazy adventure that has brought us unexplainable joy.

The Nashville Build Team has generously donated several items to benefit the build effort. Check out these great items listed on ebay.

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Construction Hard Hat Autographed by Leigh Anne Tuohy

Price: $30
Ending: 10/11

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Autographed Photo of Extreme Makeover’s Paul DiMeo!

Price: $25
Ending: 10/14

End date: 11/1
Starting at: $100

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Autographed Photo of Extreme Makeover’s Tracy Hutson!

Price: $25
Ending: 10/14

End date: 11/1
Starting at: $100

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Hard Hat Signed by Extreme Makeover’s Paul DiMeo!

Price: $30
Ending: 10/14

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Autographed Hard Hat: Tracy Hutson & Leigh Ann Tuohy

Price: $30
Ending: 10/14

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Golf with WKRN’s Bob Mueller & Neil Orne

Price: $150
Ending: 10/14

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Check back often for updates to the list of auction items.

Melissa Riley, PhD and Megan Bird are very familiar with volunteering their time for flood victims. Both women joined the “Tennessee Recovery Project”, a program designed to provide emotional support to flood victims, after the historic floods devastated Middle Tennessee this past spring.

Riley and Bird have been working with the project since May and have been speaking with local flood victims offering them emotional support and resources for help.

One of the flood victims they worked with told them about the Nashville Build and they knew it wasn’t an opportunity they could pass up.

“Everyone is focused to get this done,” said Riley. “It’s been very well coordinated.”

Bird, who is also a grad student at Trevecca University, was eager to get involved. “We just wanted to give back, and get our hands into it.”

This was their first official day on site as volunteers and both women are coming back to help more.

The Nashville Build is moving along with speed!  Today they are finishing the interior painting, along with installing doors and cabinets.  Light fixtures have been hung and the school is well on its way to being the coolest preschool in Nashville!

Outside the siding is almost complete, and the ground is currently being prepped for landscaping and playground equipment to be installed.  Lighthouse School is being constructed with so much love and dedication from tons of volunteers, LP Building Products, HARDAWAY Construction and many other companies from around the area.

Shellie Braeuner, award winning children’s author and Julie Gild, St. Henry’s drama teacher are known around the Nashville Build as the “Fix it Chicks”. Together they can do plumbing, hardwood installation, floors, hang drywall, trim and light HVAC.

Here at the Nashville Build they have spent much of their time helping with drywall hanging. They love Extreme Makeover and just wanted to come out and help. They are working 5 days total this week. Thanks “Fix It Chicks” for all the help this week at the Nashville Build!

Thirty young men from the Y Build program in Nashville are volunteering their skills and time this week to the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition build in Antioch. Y Build is a unique program offered through the YMCA of Middle Tennessee that offers young men ages 18-24 an opportunity to grow in mind, body and spirit, as well valuable training in construction skills. Torando Hicks, Derek Dorsey and Jeremy Arvin are three of the young men volunteering their time this week.

“It’s really been great. Everyone is smiling and there has been a lot of great communication and networking,” said Hicks.

“We’ve really been doing a little of everything from framework, concrete and cleanup. We’re just here to help how ever we can,” said Dorsey.

The guys have been volunteering the last two days, and will continue to work throughout the week!

Jennifer Roberts is no stranger to the Extreme Makeover Builds. In fact, the Nashville Build is her 3rd build to participate in.

“I volunteered for the Hawkins family in Hendersonville and the Scott Family in Clarksville too,” said Roberts.

She began volunteering this past Saturday and will continue to volunteer every day until the school is finished.

“It’s one of the hardest things you’ll ever do but it’s the most rewarding,” she said.

Roberts is looking forward to seeing it all come together and seeing the reaction from the community when the new school is revealed.

Evan’s Glass Company, based in Nashville, TN is doing their part to give back to the community by volunteering their time and contributing to supplies. The company donated all of the glass for the doors and door frames of the new building and sent two employees to come out to The Nashville Build and volunteer their time.

Employees Joey Ferrello and Benney Popp, seen above, are putting their skills to work and assisting with the build in any way they can.

“It’s a great experience to be here,” says Popp, “It’s amazing to watch it on TV, but being here and seeing it all come together and to be a part of it all is so exciting.”

Ferrello and Popp are working hard and look forward to seeing the final results of the build coming together.

The Nashville build is on a roll! Over 900 volunteers have registered to offer their time and skills to bring the Lighthouse Christian School back to life. Yesterday 500 eager volunteers showed up to get to work and start building.

Sharon Hackett, Executive Assistant for HARDAWAY Construction Corp says the build is going smoothly and volunteers are working extremely hard. Hackett and Crystal Edde, also of HARDAWAY Construction Corp, are working at the site as the official volunteer coordinators.

The build is expected to be complete by Friday and then the famous Extreme Makeover: Home Edition reveal of the brand new 6,000 square foot school will happen!

Auction Items Help Cover Excess Costs Associated with The Nashville Build

Nashville, Tenn. (Sept. 13, 2010) – The Nashville Build is excited to announce that its online auction items are open for bidding. As an effort to help curb additional costs that may not be covered by product and donations, the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” auction has been made possible in part by generous donors throughout the city.

Check out these great items listed on ebay.

• “In A Heartbeat” Autographed By Author Leigh Anne Tuohy Of “The Blindside”
• Autographed Tennessee Titans Helmet

Auction items include tickets to the Extreme Concert on Thursday, Sept. 16, at the Ryman Auditorium; signed Tennessee Titans paraphernalia; copies of the book “The Blindside” signed by Extreme Makeover designer and star character Leigh Anne Tuohy; tickets to the VIP Nashville Build Viewing Party coupled with a night at the Hermitage Hotel; and more. There are also two CMA Extravaganzas—a stay at Gaylord Opryland and two tickets to the CMA’s—and two Titans Winning Weekends—a night at Hotel Indigo, two tickets to a Titans game, and two field pregame tickets.

Items are available on Ebay and also on The Nashville Build. More items are being added daily. Follow the Nashville Build on Facebook and Twitter at @nashvillebuild.