RIVERDALE, Utah–America First Credit Union (AFCU) joined with HGTV’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” program to build two custom homes in Weber County, Utah.
In addition to making a cash donation to both projects, the credit union is providing free financial counseling to both families to help them budget for maintenance expenses and plan for other costs that may arise.
The Barobis—a refugee family from the Democratic Republic of Congo—were the first family to get a knock on the door by the “Extreme Makeover” host Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Prior to their new home, the four Barobi siblings, an aunt and a cousin all shared a small three-bedroom Ogden, Utah, apartment with no air conditioning. After Congo rebels killed the Barobi kids’ parents and younger sister, the four siblings escaped to a refugee camp in Uganda where they met up with their aunt and cousin. The family was granted asylum in the United States four years ago where they settled in Utah.
The second family to be surprised by the reality TV series was mother Kelly Mayo, daughter Michelle Smith and granddaughter Haylee Smith. Mayo and her daughter bought the house 17 years ago, but a 2016 tornado uprooted two large trees in the backyard, with one falling onto the house, the credit union reported. Due to water and sewer lines breaking, the house has suffered flooding issues every time laundry is done or a shower is used.
‘Extremely Deserving’
“Both the Barobi and Mayo families are extremely deserving of a brand-new home where they can live comfortably without worry,” said John Lund, AFCU president and CEO. “Our goal is to help them be financially successful in the next part of their journey as homeowners.”
The Ogden-area projects will air on HGTV in 2020.
The $11.2-billion America First Credit Union has more than one-million members.