GREENWOOD, Ind. -- A dream home is no longer just a dream. On Wednesday, Aug. 10, in Greenwood, the very beginnings of independence took shape for a local girl paralyzed by an accident.
Ground was broken for Samantha's House.
RTV6's Ray Cortopassi was there to take part and to see it happen.
"We've been developing the foundation and project for over a year and now to finally dig the ground and get it started, we're very excited," organizer Michael Hunt said.
Slideshow: Progress Made On Special Home
Samantha Allen is a little girl whose journey we've chronicled since an accident that left her paralyzed two years ago.
Her family has struggled to make life work for Samantha and their three other children. But their Greenwood home has made that an almost impossible task.
Attorney Jim Keller and Hunt stepped in to create Samantha's House.
"It's the perfect house for Samantha and her family. It will give her all the independence she can possibly get for a person who's unable to move below her neck," Hunt said. "She'll be able to turn on lights by herself, television sets, doors will open for her."
With the help of Union Federal Bank, architect Paul Cripe, builder CP Morgan, RTV6 and its viewers, Samantha's House will be getting more than just an Extreme Home Makeover. She'll be getting a new home in a tree-lined Greenwood neighborhood mortgage-free.
"Samantha is going to a school that accommodates her needs. Our primary goal was to find house that allows her to go to the same school that she's going to now," Keller said.
Even though the land has been purchased and the foundation is being dug, the family hasn't seen the lot and they won't see the house until fall.
"They have not been allowed to see the plans, the elevations. They will not know what the house looks like or where it is until it's done," Paul Cripe architect David Wagner said. "This really will be a surprise to them."
Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman said she was pleased to see the results of the collaborative effort.
"The governor and I have often challenged Hoosiers to give of their time and talent to strengthen their communities and state. So, today we see that happening," Skillman said.
With each donation, you've helped the foundation make this happen. We're still about $200,000 short.
You can donate to Samantha's Miracle here:
You may also donate at any Union Federal Bank branch.
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