Hundreds of well-wishers lined up in front of Neyland Stadium Tuesday to congratulate Daniel and Mandy Watson, the Knoxville couple selected to receive a new home courtesy of the ABC-TV program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
A mini-parade in the Watsons’ honor ran along Phillip Fulmer Way in front of the stadium. Orange-clad UT students and employees joined others from the community in cheering as the Vol Spirit Squad and several Thanksgiving-themed hot air balloons paraded down the street. The program is set to air this Thanksgiving on ABC-TV.
Actress Jenny McCarthy substituted for show host Ty Pennington in congratulating the family. Following the parade, the Watsons left for a week’s vacation in Florida, while their home on Robinson Road in Knoxville is being remodeled.
The family’s home also plays host to Restoration House of East Tennessee, which gives single mothers and their children a place to live while they get their lives back in order. The remodeling project will allow Restoration House to continue its mission, literally, on a sounder footing: the home’s sinking foundation will be repaired as part of the overall renovation.
For more information, visit http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition/index.