SOMERS, N.Y. - On May 14, a Somers family watched their wildest dreams come true for a second time. This time it was on national TV. A team of ARS Service Express^SM (ARS SE) installers watched as well, waiting to catch a glimpse of their handiwork on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

The weekend of April 22, the team of technicians, led by Somers-area resident Frank Justo, installed two state-of-the-art Trane Clean Effectsâ„¢ air filtration systems and two Trane HVAC systems in the home of Jim and Gina Arena.

The family's 1,400-square-foot home was chosen by the program to be rebuilt after producers learned that the Arena's only son, Jimmy ("Jimboy" to friends and family), had passed away last fall from an inoperable brain tumor.

HONORED TO HELP

Justo, who has worked in the HVAC industry since 1987, led a team of 16 ARS SE specialists in installing the systems into the Arena family home. ARS SE and its employees donated all of their labor and installation materials to the project. "It was an honor to have had the opportunity to participate in the show and make a difference in this family's life," he said.

The project received little cooperation from Mother Nature. Rain poured down throughout the weekend. "We got a little wet, but that didn't dampen the spirits of my team," Justo said. "The most important thing was being able to help a family in need, especially when that family is part of the community."

Volunteers left the now 3,500-square-foot home after four days of work. The Arena family returned to Somers on April 26.

ARS Service Express is a member of the ServiceMaster family of brands. The ServiceMaster Co. is a Fortune 500 service firm that currently employs more than 40,000 people nationwide. Other ServiceMaster brands include Terminix®, TruGreen ChemLawn®, Merry Maids®, ServiceMaster Clean®, and American Home Shield®.

Publication date: 05/29/2006