Extreme Makeover: Home Edition   -  About the Episode

ON JUNE 25, "EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION" - WITH CELEBRITY VOLUNTEER MARY J. BLIGE -- TRAVELED TO ERIE, PA TO MEET THE INDOMITABLE CLARA WARD, WHO HAS CAST THE ADVERSITY OF HER HEALTH AND SURROUNDINGS ASIDE TO RUN A NONPROFIT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY CENTER FROM HER HOME. HAVING EXPERIENCED A CHILDHOOD OF HARDSHIP, CLARA VOWED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION, AND NEITHER MODEST MEANS NOR THE CHALLENGES OF MYOSTENIO GRADI, A DEGENERATIVE MUSCULAR DISEASE, HAVE STOPPED HER SO FAR. FOR DECADES CLARA HAS PUT HER PERSONAL NEEDS SECOND TO FEEDING, CLOTHING AND NURTURING CHILDREN IN HER HOME, ORGANIZING CHARITABLE DRIVES, ARRANGING FIELD TRIPS, TUTORING, GIVING COOKING LESSONS AND MUCH MORE. BUT THE RAMPANT DISREPAIR OF HER CRUMBLING TWO-STORY HOME -- INCLUDING A CRACKED FOUNDATION, A LEAKY ROOF, PEELING WALLS AND A FAULTY SEWAGE LINE -- INCREASINGLY THREATENS THE LIFE-LONG MISSION THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO HER AND THE PEOPLE IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD. FURTHERMORE, THE HOUSE LACKS THE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY SHE NEEDS, REQUIRING HER TO STAY WITH HER DAUGHTER AND HEAD BACK AND FORTH EACH DAY. THE DESIGN TEAM FOR THIS EPISODE OF "EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION" WILL FEATURETEAM LEADER TY PENNINGTON AND DESIGNERS PAUL DIMEO AND PAIGE HEMMIS, PLUS SIX-TIME GRAMMY AWARD-WINNER MARY J. BLIGE HELPS THE DESIGN TEAM ALL WEEK LONG AND PUTS SOME PERSONAL TOUCHES ON THE NEW HOME.