Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Utah family revealed

As part of his Make-A-Wish foundation request, Jonah was able to stand in the stadium and meet the team’s players as well as sing alongside American Idol icon, David Archuleta.

While many Extreme Makeover: Home Edition projects demolish an existing home, the Gomez home will be built from the ground up, starting on Thursday.

Jonah and his family were taken to the site on Thursday afternoon, and will go on week-long vacation as EMHE crews and volunteers build their near home near Oquirrh Lake.

Rio Tinto’s Kennecott Utah Copper has donated an empty lot at the corner of Daybreak’s Oquirrh Lake Road and Talquin Lane in South Jordan, and is coordinating the planning, donation and volunteer efforts. Holmes Homes and its team of builders, sponsors and volunteers who are donating their time and much of the materials will build the home in less than a week.

The family will also receive an even greater surprise during the week. For years Jonah has needed a bone marrow transplant and has had difficulty finding a match because he’s of Latin descent—statistically, fewer minorities join the National Marrow Donor Program. After learning of his plight, MLS soccer stadiums around the country in Pasadena, Washington D.C., San Jose, Philadelphia, Dallas and Kansas City will be holding concurrent bone marrow drives on Saturday, June 25th during their games in Jonah’s honor — registering thousands of people to be tested in one day.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition designers Michael Moloney and Paige Hemmis will kick off the campaign at Rio Tinto stadium, filming fans being registered for testing and showing support for Jonah during the halftime show for Real Salt Lake’s game against the Toronto FC. Zions Bank will also have booths at the stadium for fans to make cash donations towards completion of the home, the family’s medical expenses and home maintenance. To buy tickets, visit realsaltlake.com/tickets.

Those not attending the game that would like to register for the National Marrow Donor Program are encouraged to visit the website GetSwabbed.org for more information.

The Daybreak Extreme Makeover: Home Edition project is still in need of volunteers and donations to be able to complete the Gomez home. The project team will be holding a benefit concert with David Osmond, Alex Boyé, Thurl Bailey and comedian Jason Hewlett Tuesday, June 28 at Herriman High School at 7 p.m. Tickets will be $20 at the door.

For information on how you can help, please visit daybreakutah.com or facebook.com/Daybreakutah.

You can also make a donation at any Zions Bank branch under the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Daybreak account.

----Information from: Rio Tinto/ABC Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.