Photo by Erin Chapin
Workers roof around an arched window on the Watson house on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012.
Photo by Chad Greene, 2012
Volunteers continue construction on a new home that is being built for the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" reality TV show for Daniel and Mandy Watson on Robinson Road in West Knoxville on Sunday. (CHAD GREENE/NEWS SENTINEL)
A day before their new home was set to be revealed for ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," the surprises began for the Watson family as they were welcomed back to Knoxville by family and friends.
Daniel Watson, his wife, Mandy, and their three children were whisked away by the show on a family vacation to Florida just before their rundown farmhouse on Robinson Road was demolished to make way for a new home.
And they were still clueless about the new digs awaiting them as they were surprised at a private reception Monday night at the Square Room by loved ones, including Mandy's sister, Michelle Kiyimba, who was flown in from Uganda where she works as a teacher.
Photo by Submitted photo
The Watson Family
They also were met by Philip Eubanks, vice president of advancement for Johnson University, the Watsons' alma mater, to announce that with the help of a special donor, the couple's three adopted children — Atley, 7, Ava, 6, and Silas, 2 — will have full tuition scholarships to the school.
The Watsons run a nonprofit shelter organization for single mothers, Restoration House of East Tennessee, which currently serves five women and 11 children..
The big reveal for the family's new home, as well as a duplex built to serve Restoration House, is tentatively set for 6 p.m. today, said spokeswoman Cynthia Moxley. Spectators will be admitted beginning at noon.
© 2012, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 6
SkyisFalling writes:
I suppose the premise of the show using VOLUNTEER, FREE help in building the homes escaped you!??
spoonerism writes:
They have skilled laborers, and general volunteers at work 24/7. If they used paid labor, the job would take 6 months. :)
mary59 writes:
They hard part start next year when the family get the tax notice on there new house. Also since it gift they will has report it on there income tax in 2013.
that the sad part about building such big house.
there been family not able to pay the taxes on there extreme make over home and has lost it.
I know it nice to build big house. since it for tv. But they need to consider the tax burden on the family.
BigOrangeFanBeagleMom writes:
Mary, can you please find links to news articles advising how many receivers of EMHE homes have lost them? I think they have built over 200 homes, and I've seen stories of only 2. That is a pretty small percentage. Let's just all get behind the Watsons and the Restoration House and count the blessings for Knoxville as a result of this. I am sure it will be great. God's blessings are abundant and this is one.
StateofEastTN writes:
Mary59, could you repeat that, please??? LOL!
RockyTopVolFan writes:
It appears to me that the house is for the NON-PROFIT charity which you can access on their website therestorationhouse (dot net)".
There would be NO TAXES if that is the case.
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