Each episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition features a race against time involving a team of designers, contractors and several hundred workers and volunteers who have just seven days to build an entire home – including every interior room, plus the exterior and landscaping.

The Anders family was selected to receive an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition from thousands of applicants because they have experienced more tragedy and hardship than any family should have to bear. Rochelle, a widow as of four years ago, has dedicated her life to being an excellent mother and teacher. She coordinates the “Big Buddy” program at her school and was awarded the Richland County Wal-Mart “Teacher of the Year” award in 2005. In addition to teaching first grade children, she also tutors adults for their GED through the Richland Literacy Council. Rochelle has four children, Tess, Reid, Drew and Tyler, who range from ages 12 to 20. Since her husband suddenly passed away from heart failure, Rochelle has attempted to repair their dilapidated homes. However, the amount and extent of repairs required are extensive enough that a rebuild is required. The roof is peeling apart, the wood siding and ceilings are crumbling, and rodents are nesting in the walls. Inside the home, only a wood burning furnace provides heat, and with last winter’s record-breaking snowfall, the mother was forced to relocate her children to live with relatives.

Rochelle’s home was compelling enough to be a strong candidate for an extreme makeover. ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team contacted Veridian Homes to be the builder because of the company’s reputation as a quality home builder – and its commitment to building homes that are Wisconsin ENERGY STAR® and Green Built Home™ certified. In addition, Veridian is dedicated to working closely with each customer to help find the home of his or her dreams. “Each day, we strive to provide a dream home for each Veridian homeowner. This project is the ultimate project, as we are providing a new home for a family that otherwise would not be able to achieve this dream,” said David Simon, president of operations, Veridian Homes. Together with hundreds of Veridian’s trade partners and volunteers, a dream will become reality in only one short week. “The amount of support and generosity that we have received exemplifies just how strong our community is,” Simon added. “We thank the community for joining in and helping make an everyday hero’s life even better.”

About ABC-TVs Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” which has won back-to-back Emmy Awards as Best Reality Program (non-competitive), is entering its 6th season on ABC. The program is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. Anthony Dominici is the executive producer; and David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA.

About Veridian Homes. Veridian Homes is a Dane County home builder dedicated to quality home building, community involvement and environmental stewardship. It has been nationally recognized as the 2008 Builder of the Year by Professional Builder magazine, National Housing Quality Gold Award winner, US EPA ENERGY STAR® Sustained Excellence Award winner and has annually obtained NAHB Builder Certification. Veridian also takes steps to have a lesser impact on the environment by participating in Wisconsin’s Green Tier Initiative, and by recycling construction by product, such as cement and vinyl, onsite. Veridian Homes is a family-owned company in its third generation.