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EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION
Air Date: Sunday, March 29, 2009
Time Slot: 8:00 PM-10:00 PM EST on ABC
Episode Title: (#620A/620B) "Almquist Family"
[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]

"EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION" HELPS A FAMILY DEDICATED TO PROTECTING THE WILDLIFE COMMUNITY BUILD A STRONGER AND SAFER HOME, AS WELL AS AN IMPROVED SANCTUARY FOR THE DOZENS OF ANIMALS THEY RESCUE

"Grey's Anatomy's" Justin Chambers Helps Welcome the Family Back on Reveal Day

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" will be traveling to Phelan, CA to announce to the Almquist family, who currently live in an aging trailer and are struggling to uphold their animal sanctuary, that in seven days they'll have a new and improved home, and so will the dozens of animals they've rescued. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" airs SUNDAY, MARCH 29 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

The Almquist family mission has been to protect and care for the wildlife community. Only a few years into their marriage, Joel and his wife, Chemaine, decided to build Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary, a place where abused or neglected animals can come to live in a peaceful and loving environment. Currently Forever Wild provides a home for a variety of animals, including 9 tigers, 3 sulcata tortoises, 3 parrots, 10 alligators, 4 servals, 4 Mexican beaded lizards, 2 Siberian lynx and 1 Egyptian cobra. The Almquists never wish to turn away animals in need, but their monthly care expenses have become overwhelming, and they're unable to expand or improve their facilities. To maintain the sanctuary, Chemaine works tirelessly within their community, recruiting volunteers and donations, and Joel even holds down a second job.

While the Almquist family have been busy creating a safe home for so many animals, their own home has nearly fallen apart. They live in a doublewide trailer that is held together by duct tape, lacks any heat or air conditioning, and has leaking pipes and large gaping holes throughout the floors. For all the dedication and hope the Almquists provide for the wildlife community, it's time for Ty and the designers to build this deserving family their own sanctuary and a better state-of-the-art animal facility.

While Ty and the designers, a coalition of regional builders -- Murphy Construction Company, SC Homes, Inc., Steeno Design Studio and David L. Manwarren Corporation -- and hundreds of volunteers and workers are building their home and wildlife sanctuary, the Almquist family will go on vacation to Costa Rica.

In addition, Justin Chambers of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" stops by to help welcome the family back on reveal day when they return to their brand new home.

The design team for this episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" are Ty Pennington and designers Paul DiMeo, Michael Moloney, Paige Hemmis and Ed Sanders. The series is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. It's executive-produced by Anthony Dominici. David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is broadcast with Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning. This program carries a TV-PG parental guideline.

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