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Family Choir Hears Sweet Tune--New Home

Hundreds of Volunteers Rally Around Humble Family in Time of Need

Monday, Jun 22, 2009 | Updated 6:51 AM EST

New London Day/Sean D. Elliot

Ty Pennington, right, leads the cast of ABC Television's reality show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition down the driveway at the temporary residence of the Girard family, of Voluntown, in Old Lyme last December.

Hundreds of volunteers from northern Connecticut and western Massachusetts gathered in Suffield Sunday afternoon for the first day of the seven day Hollywood adventure created by the folks at ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition".

This is the second time in the past year that the television show has traveled to Connecticut to help a family by building a new home.

Known to local admirers as the “family choir,” the 13 members of the Hill family – William and Catherine along with their sons, daughters, nieces and nephews -- have motivated friends and neighbors with their musical talents, academic achievements and selfless generosity.

Cramped living conditions and sorely needed electrical, plumbing, roof and other home repairs in the Hill household have continued to take a backseat to helping those in need and providing a good education for the children, according to the producers. Five of the Hill siblings and cousins living at home are college students, and the family also scrimps and saves to provide medical treatment and care in their home for cousin Shamia, who received a kidney transplant from daughter Sonia.

Growing up in the housing projects of Hartford, William and Catherine Hill both dreamed of a safe and happy home brimming with their passion for music and education. Hard work and persistence made their dream come true – until the nightmare of a fire in 1993 damaged their small ranch house well beyond what insurance money could repair.

Ty Pennington, one of the design personalities for the TV program, knocked on the door of the Hill home Sunday morning with the surprise news that they had been chosen by producers. The Hill family will spend the week at Disney World in Florida while their Mather Street home is transformed.

The home building project built around a television show has drawn volunteers from throughout the two state area. Police helped to seal off areas to traffic Sunday and directed traffic around detours.

Community organizers scheduled a blood drive and a food drive to coincide with the building project all week.

This is the second time over the past year that the television show has come to Connecticut. The Girard family in Voluntown got its extreme home makeover last December.