SFI oversaw and managed the Washington, D.C. builds for ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition! This was the show’s largest and most ambitious build ever – two homes totaling 10,000 square feet, located in different states, built in one week, and designed and built to be the most energy efficient homes in the show’s history.
SFI contacted ABC’s production company about considering The Fishing School as a possible recipient. The Fishing School is a non-profit after school program that provides underserved children and their families with academic and parental support services in Wards 6 and 7 in Washington, D.C. Once ABC’s producers selected The Fishing School, SFI was put in charge of both builds, including handling the logistics and media relations! SFI immediately started the search for prominent and experienced builders, sub-contractors, volunteers and businesses that would be willing to donate material goods and their time for this massive undertaking. SFI reached out to the U.S. Department of Energy and Oak Ridge National Laboratories to provide expert counsel about how to build the most efficient (near zero) homes in the show’s history.
Besides handling and overseeing all of the logistics, SFI handled the public relations and the media for all participating parties. SFI also used this opportunity to showcase the builds to Washington’s top policymakers and invited the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor and Washington’s Mayor, Adrian Fenty, who all visited the school during the build. The show aired in February, 2010 in a two-hour special.
“I’ll never be able to find the words to describe what you have meant to The Fishing School (TFS). From the “Lobstah Fest” to this amazing gift of a multi-million dollar facility, you have awed me with your amazing heart. To have donated your firm’s services to the “Lobstah Fest” would have been more than enough, but you didn’t stop there. Putting TFS in a position to receive this gift and then taking on the management of the entire process leaves me humbled and grateful to know you. Your kindness in this past year will literally result in a generation of children and parents having a better life. I owe it all to you. Thanks so much to you, your SFI team and all of the great folks you recruited. Bless you!” – Leo Givs, Executive Director, The Fishing School
“I don’t know how you do it. If it wasn’t for you out there yesterday – well, I just can’t think about that! Without exception, EVERYONE thought it was a fabulous event. Amazed that it was a first event and so successful. The logistics were awesome. I honestly just don’t know how to let you know how totally grateful I am. We all are.” – Terry Lineberger, Board Member, The Fishing School
