United Rentals Pitches in on <i>Extreme Makeover: Home Edition</i>

Enlarge Image
United Rentals donated more than 50 pieces of equipment for this Extreme Makeover: Home Edition project in Kentucky.

November 26, 2007 • United Rentals recently joined forces with ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, providing equipment for the reality show's seven-day home building project. The company joined the crew and hundreds of volunteers this month to build a new home for the Hughes family of Louisville, Ky.

The United Rentals branch in Louisville arranged the donation of more than 50 pieces of equipment for the duration of the job, including aerial lifts, light towers and portable power generators. It was the eleventh time the company had provided support to the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team in 2007, following projects in Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.

”We are very excited United Rentals is working with us,” said Diane Korman, senior producer for the show. "Because of United Rentals' vast reach across North America, we rely on them for the Extreme equipment and round-the-clock service we expect and need to get the job done • regardless of the conditions or location."

Jason Habermel, branch manager for United Rentals in Louisville, said the branch was thrilled to be a part of the show. ”We wanted to support the crew in every way possible: deliver equipment day or night, coordinate services with neighboring branches, and volunteer our time to assist on site,” he said. “It's truly exciting and an honor to help build a beautiful home from the ground up in just a week."

The company expects to partner on several more projects before year's end.

The Hughes family was struggling to provide for their disabled teenage son when they were surprised with a new house specially designed to accommodate 19-year-old Patrick Henry, who was born blind and with severely impaired arms and legs. Faced with mounting bills for Patrick Henry's home care, the Hughes family faced nearly insurmountable difficulties until ABC stepped in to help.

The challenges of constructing the Hughes' home for their special needs are chronicled in the episode that will be aired in January. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is broadcast on Sunday nights at 8 p.m. EST.