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KB Home Becomes Largest Homebuilder Ever to Appear on
ABC's 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'
'Our Hearts Were the Most Powerful Tool We Had'
LOS ANGELES, Dec 8, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- KB Home (KBH)
will become the largest homebuilder ever to appear on the hit show "Extreme
Makeover: Home Edition" when the episode detailing the complete tear-down
and rebuilding of a home in Las Vegas airs on ABC on December 12 at 8 p.m./7
Central.
More than 2,000 KB Home employees and trade partners worked around-the-
clock for five days in early November to build a 3,200 square-foot,
two-story dream home for the inspirational Broadbent family.
"Our decision to participate in this particular episode was quite simple
after learning about the Broadbent family," said KB Home Chairman and CEO
Bruce Karatz. "We were determined to build them the perfect home with all of
the luxuries that they so richly deserve."
Patricia Broadbent, a single mother of seven children, six of whom were
adopted, has spent her life giving to others. Her three daughters living
with her, ages 12, 16 and 20, have all been living with HIV/AIDS since
birth. Patricia gave up a career in social work and other luxuries to focus
on helping her children battle their life-threatening illness and raise AIDS
awareness. Last year, Patricia received terrible news about her own health,
when she was diagnosed with lung cancer and is now fighting for her own life
as well.
The deserving family receives the ultimate housewarming gift as music legend
Elton John makes a guest appearance with a special song for the Broadbents
played on a baby grand piano he gives the family for their new home. Viewers
will also see world-renowned boxing ring announcer Michael Buffer shout
"Let's get ready to crumble!" launching demolition of the Broadbent's
40-year-old 1,350 square foot cinder block home followed by around-the-clock
construction to meet the show's fast-track schedule.
The show culminates with the family's emotional return capped with an
unprecedented outpouring of contributions from KB Home Chairman and CEO
Bruce Karatz to ensure worry-free comfort for the family in their new home.
"We never dreamed we'd have a KB Home," exclaimed Hydeia upon learning of
her family's builder.
Hydeia, the oldest daughter at 20, contracted HIV from the drug-addicted
birth mother who abandoned her and later was diagnosed with AIDS just prior
to her fourth birthday. Without AIDS medication for children on the market
at the time, Hydeia was not expected to survive past her fifth birthday. Pat
and Hydeia shuttled to the National Institute for Health in Maryland for
experimental drug procedures on pediatric AIDS patients in the early 1990s.
Hydeia co-wrote a book with her mother, "You Get Past the Tears," in 2002, a
powerful story about growing up with AIDS. She later spoke at the 1996
Republican National Convention and received the prestigious Essence Award
from Essence magazine in 1999 for her decade-long efforts to raise awareness
for AIDS through speaking engagements. Hydeia has also been featured on the
Oprah Winfrey and Rosie O'Donnell talk shows as well as ABC's "20/20" and
"Good Morning America."
In addition, Karatz told the family for the next 10 years, KB Home will send
three children on scholarship in the names of Hydeia, Shaina and Trisha
Broadbent to Camp Heartland. All three girls have previously attended Camp
Heartland, a summer camp in Minnesota for children living with, or close to
someone afflicted with, AIDS.
For more information, visit
http://www.kbhome.com/extreme.
About KB Home
Building homes for nearly half a century, KB Home is one of America's
premier homebuilders with domestic operating divisions in some of the
fastest- growing areas of the country including Arizona, California,
Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, New Mexico, North
Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. Kaufman & Broad S.A., the company's
majority-owned subsidiary, is one of the largest homebuilders in France. In
fiscal 2003, the company delivered homes to 27,331 families in the United
States and France. It also operates a full-service mortgage company for the
convenience of its buyers. Founded in 1957, and winner of the 2004 American
Business Award for Best Overall Company, KB Home is a Fortune 500 company
listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "KBH." For
more information about any of KB Home's new home communities, call
888-KB-HOMES or visit kbhome.com.
For further information please contact: Derrick Hall of KB Home,
+1-310-231-4142, dmhall@kbhome.com
SOURCE KB Home
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