Piestewa Family Surprised With New Home Courtesy of ABC Television's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Three Indian Nations

Piestewa Family Surprised With New Home Courtesy of ABC Television's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Three Indian Nations

Special Season Finale Will Feature for the First Time Native American Family and Native American Sponsors on Emmy-Nominated Program

TUBA CITY, Ariz., April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The Piestewa family was unable to contain their surprise and joy this morning when they heard ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition host Ty Pennington's signature "Good Morning" wake up call from outside their home in Tuba City, Ariz. Pennington and the show's designers arrived at the Piestewas' front door at 7:30 this morning to reveal that they would be the recipients of a new home, marking the first time since the show's inception that a Native American family was selected.

The Piestewa family is well known to many in Arizona and in the Native American community as Terry and Percy Piestewa, the parents of Army Spec. Lori Piestewa. Piestewa is believed to be the first Native American woman to die in combat while defending her country during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Inspired by the Piestewas' Hopi heritage, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition sought the help of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) in their fundraising efforts to Indian Nations for support and sponsorship. It was through NCAI's outreach that the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians from Southern California first learned of the needs and stepped in to assist with the project.

"Our tribe strongly believes in the importance of community and helping our tribal brothers and sisters, and Extreme Makeover is all about building a better home and life for families in need," said Chairman Deron Marquez of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. "When we were approached by the show our tribe signed on immediately to make a donation to the Piestewa family's new home, because we have witnessed first-hand how building new homes and fostering strong communities can vastly improve the quality of life for Indian and non-Indian people alike."

The Hopi and Navajo tribes from Arizona are co-sponsoring the project with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians; marking the first time the show also has featured Native American sponsors. In light of this unique episode, special attention will be placed on important Native American-focused cultural elements in the development of the show's storyline and in the home's design and construction.

Several Native American cultural activities unique to each of the three tribes have been tentatively scheduled throughout the week of production. Representatives from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe are expected to participate in these events.

"It is tremendously gratifying that three diverse Native American tribes would come together to help achieve Lori Piestewa's dream to build a home for her children and her parents," said Hopi Tribal Chairman Wayne Taylor, Jr.

In March 2003, Lori Piestewa's convoy was ambushed in the city of An-Nasiriyah -- the same ambush that led to the capture of Pfc. Jessica Lynch who was held for nine days. While serving together in combat, Lynch and Piestewa formed a close friendship. It was during this time that Lori spoke of her desire to someday build a home where her parents could retire. Recalling this conversation, it was Lynch who nominated Piestewa's parents for the home makeover. Since Lori's death, her parents have adopted her two small children, a son age 6 and a daughter age 5.

"Lori was proud of her Hopi heritage and taught all those who knew her about the great riches of her culture. We knew that to ignore that culture in the show would be a great disservice to the Piestewa family and to Lori's memory," said Extreme Makeover: Home Edition producer Andy Lipson. "Recognizing the importance of their heritage, ABC and the Extreme Makeover designers are working with the three tribes to create a home that the family will love and that Lori would be proud of providing for her parents and children."

Construction on the Piestewa family home begins immediately in Flagstaff, Ariz., while the family is away on a vacation sponsored by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

About Extreme Makeover Home Edition

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA. The series is executive-produced by Tom Forman. The show airs Sundays (8:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET), on the ABC Television Network.

About the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

Descendents of the Serrano Indians, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians inhabited a territory spanning the San Bernardino Mountains, valley and adjoining desert lands for centuries. Today, the tribe is located on the San Manuel Reservation near Highland, Calif. Like other tribal lands in the United States, the San Manuel Reservation is a sovereign nation with its own system of government and tribal laws. The tribe operates the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino and the San Manuel Bottled Water Group, in addition to managing a variety of economic ventures. A partner in the community, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians actively contributes to a variety of projects in neighboring areas. Nearby cities and towns receive support from the tribe in the way of monetary and bottled water donations for cultural, social, and economic projects to benefit the common good of the communities in which the tribe's members live and work.

Source: San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

CONTACT: Paul Peterson of Off Madison Ave, +1-480-505-4554, paulp@offmadisonave.com, for San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

------- Profile: Ent