On the evening of Sunday Oct. 1, America will have the chance to witness the heart shown by Macomb, Mich.-based American Heartland Homebuilder and the company's construction partners as the hit ABC-TV series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" chronicles the recent construction of a new home for the Gilliam family of Armada Township, Mich. WXYZ-TV/Channel 7's local show will be hosted by Stephen Clark and will air at 7 p.m. and ABC-TV's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" will air at 8 p.m.


American Heartland Homebuilder chief executive officer (CEO) Rick Merlini -- who brought into the project his longtime friend Anthony Lombardo and Lombardo Homes of Washington, Mich. -- joined ABC-TV's Ty Pennington, his design team and approximately 3,000 workers, subcontractors and volunteers to build the Gilliams' new home in a record-setting 53 hours and 54 minutes.


"We set a new record, but our real goal was to bring together the best tradespeople to build a beautiful new home for the Gilliam family," Merlini said. "These tradespeople worked with a passion, intensity and commitment that was just phenomenal. They built this home with superior craftsmanship, quality and style ... making them, in my eyes, the real heroes of this story."


Merlini said, "This project really allowed us to be a part of something that was bigger than ourselves. Throughout the build we experienced a sense of teamwork and pride that was just amazing. Our entire team is grateful for this opportunity. It was such a fantastic experience that we're considering ways to do it again next year."


Approximately 3,000 volunteers worked hundreds of hours, around the clock at the rural Armada Township site, to make this project a success. Demolition of the Gilliams' 120-year-old farm house and construction of the new home started on Wednesday, Aug. 9. The keys were turned over by the builders to ABC-TV 53 hours and 54 minutes later. A newly fully furnished home was revealed to the Gilliams on Monday, Aug. 14, as several thousand spectators assisted Ty Pennington with his trademark "Move that bus!" chant.


According to Merlini, hundreds of local businesses assisted in the project -- donating building materials, labor and support services -- demonstrating the "heart" of the community. Fifth Third Bank, long-time financial partner of American Heartland Homebuilder and Lombardo Homes, paid off the Gilliams' existing mortgage and is accepting donations at all its 86 banking centers in southeastern Michigan until Dec. 31, 2006 to assist in the long-term care of the family.


The University of Phoenix also stepped up to assist the Gilliam family now and in the future with a generous donation of scholarships for Maryann Gilliam and all six of her children.


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 9 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 Gilliams' Old Home


The seven-member Gilliam family had been living in a two bedroom, 1-1/4 bath, 900 square-foot "farm house" built in approximately 1886. It sat on a one-acre lot with a septic/well and contained potentially hazardous mold (Pennicillium/Aspergillis). The "Michigan" basement flooded, and the house was in dire need of waterproofing. Additionally, the roof leaked, the septic field was old and ineffective (with the washing machine leaking into the yard) and the ground was collapsing outside of the house.


About American Heartland Homebuilder


Macomb, Mich.-based American Heartland LLC, which does business as American Heartland Homebuilder (http://www.americanheartlandhomes.com/ ), was founded in 1988 by native Detroiter and CEO Richard ("Rick") Merlini. The company focuses on three segments of the new home marketplace: starter homes, traditional suburban homes and active adult communities. American Heartland Homebuilder stays on the cutting-edge of design and innovative techniques to provide homeowners with the latest in technology, quality products, energy efficiency and value.


Committed to quality, the company guarantees its work with award-winning service and a 10-year warranty. For this once-in-a-lifetime project, American Heartland Homebuilder invited its longtime friend Anthony Lombardo and Lombardo Homes (http://www.lombardohomes.com/ ) of Washington, Mich. to share in the experience. The companies collectively have built more than 9,200 homes in southeastern Michigan.