While some students went home for the first time since Christmas this spring break and others went to the beach to soak up some sun, a handful of Missouri Western students and staff were enjoying an Extreme Spring Break in Kansas City.
Missouri Western students, staff and alumni traveled to Kansas City March 12-19 to volunteer for ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” to help transform the Jacobo family home. The show will air May 13 at 7 p.m.
“I wanted to help out the community, and I wanted to be able to help somebody and know I made a difference in their life,” freshman Mary Reid said.
But the makeover was not the only way in which the Western community helped the Jacobo family.
Kevin Green, president of Kevin Green Homes, contacted Venny Pruitt, coordinator of Kansas City Northland, one of Western’s satellite locations, and informed her of his search for a university that would be willing to donate scholarships to give the Jacobo family children the opportunity to go to college.
Eventually, the issue was handed over the MWSU Foundation.
Vice President of University Advancement and Executive Director of the MWSU Foundation Dan Nicoson said the executive committee for the board of the Foundation voted unanimously to provide tuition, room and board scholarships to all nine Jacobo children.
“When you look at the family’s story… how they sacrifice for each other, continue to serve their church, help neighbors and stay good in school, you realize it’s a wonderful story of family values despite challenges and adversity,” Nicoson said. “We believe education changes lives, and Western’s about access to education. This project demonstrates that.”
Junior Rachel Burton participated Tuesday for filming on Western’s campus with stars of the show, Paige Hemmis and Michael Moloney. She also walked in the Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, where Western volunteers collected donations for the Jacobo family’s mortgage and other expenses, and she worked within the house, too.
“I like to help people and even the smallest little thing you do for somebody can make a big difference,” Burton said. “I like to make a difference anyway I can.”
Students who volunteered at the site primarily moved drywall and utensils in and out of the house.
“What really impressed me most was who planned each step,” Nicoson said. “The detail and procession of the (construction) planning was remarkable, to be able to accomplish what they did in the time they did.”
Kristy Hill, the director of public relations and marketing, went to the site almost every day with student and staff volunteers to facilitate and speak on behalf of Western.
Hill said the Jacobo family children will be first generation college students, common to Western’s campus.
“It made good sense that this is a family we could and should help out,” Hill said the Jacobo family children will be first generation college students, common to Western’s campus. “This was a very positive experience for Western and the Jacobo family.”
Justine McMullen, a cashier of the business office, her husband Ryan and her 8-year-old son Caleb walked in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
“I wanted to do something fun for our family, and I knew it would help another family – the Jacobos,” McMullen said. “It really makes you feel good to help out other people, no matter who it is. I felt like I was part of something bigger than I could ever do myself.”
The end result was well worth the effort and many from the Western community attended the reveal that Sunday.
“My favorite part was seeing the family come home and seeing their reactions,” Senior Melea May said.
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About Jesus Jacobo and His Family
Jesus (age 39) and Michelle (age 38) Jacobo are hard-working parents who have sacrificed everything to keep their extended family together. In addition to four children of their own (Natalie, 18; Antonio, 14; Jessica, 11; Joshua, 9; and Gabriel, 4), they took in five nieces and nephews ( Brittany, 16; Tyler, 11; Angel, 8; Miriam, 8 ½ months) after Michelle’s sister lost custody of her children, rather than lose them to the state’s foster-care system. Additionally, Michelle’s father Grandpa Ray (69) is living in the house and helping to raise the children.
Jesus works more than 80 hours a week as an assembler of cranes to provide for the family. Michelle, who is pre-diabetic and has been recently diagnosed with high cholesterol, is a hardworking housewife. Both sacrifice their own comfort by sleeping in their unheated garage. Three of the boys live in the basement hallway that is often flooded by the laundry room, and Grandpa Ray, who suffers from severe hip problems, sleeps on the living room floor; one of the bedrooms has no heat and get so cold there is ice on the walls.
–Kevin Green Homes (online)