Cummins Inc. accepted a starring role on the small screen by helping a military family rebuild their life and their home, all of it chronicled on a new Lifetime show.
The global diesel engine-maker teamed up with a television show called "Military Makeover" to provide a standby home generator to a military family in Florida whose home was decimated by a hurricane last year.
The family, Cody Patron and her daughter, Layla, who live in Panama City, Florida, received a 20kW QuietConnect air-cooled generator and RS20 200 amp Automatic Transfer Switch from Cummins, said James Wide, a Cummins spokesman.
The generator will power the family’s home during power outages, Wide explained.
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At half capacity, the generator can power the house for at least a week, Cummins officials said. At full capacity, the generator can power everything in the house, including the air conditioning unit, for around three days.
"Military Makeover" helps military families across the country by giving their homes makeovers. The show partners with Fortune 500 companies, designers, contractors, landscapers and other professionals, according to the show’s website.
In May, the producers of the show approached Cummins about possibly providing a generator for the home, Wide said. Cummins leadership was very supportive and asked Jill Weiler, a marketing and communications specialist at Cummins, if she would like to assist with the project. Weiler, who served four years in the U.S. Army, said she "readily volunteered" to help.
"I was moved by the story," Weiler said. "As a mother and a veteran, I could relate to her (Patron) and her situation."
On Aug. 6, 2011, Cody Patron was given heart-wrenching news.
Her husband, Sgt. Daniel J. Patron, had been killed in Sangin Valley, Afghanistan, after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. for more than 10 years, according TV show’s website.
Then, last year, Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 hurricane, made landfall in the Florida Panhandle near Panama City, with winds exceeding 160 miles per hour and a storm surge of up to 14 feet, according to statistics from the National Hurricane Center. The storm was responsible for 16 deaths and about $25 billion in damage in the United States.
Additionally, approximately 2.5 million residents in the southeastern United States lost power in their homes.
Cody Patron’s home was one of many that sustained severe wind and rain damage. Weiler, who traveled to Panama City for the show’s taping in July, said the house was a "complete disaster" when she arrived — the roof was torn, there was hanging ceiling debris and the house had bare concrete floors, among other damage.
"The drywall was moldy," Weiler said. "About 80% of the furniture had to be thrown out because it was moldy."
Weiler will appear on the show to explain the details of the home generator. Weiler, however, was not present for the big reveal, when the show’s hosts showed the family their home after the makeover.
"The rewarding thing for me was just to supply support for Cody and her daughter," Weiler said. "The house was a complete disaster zone. Just being able to be there and show my support and the support of the company, that was the most impactful part for me."
Cummins officials said the company was interested in helping the military family because it aligned with the company’s values.
“Partnering with ‘Military Makeover’ is one of many examples where Cummins demonstrates awareness and consideration for the wellbeing of others," said Jennifer Hodson, director of the consumer segment at Cummins Power Generation, who led the project. "It is an honor and a privilege to work for a company that cares for not only its own employees, but also the families and communities that help power a more prosperous world.”
New episodes of the show air weekly on Fridays at 7:30 a.m. on the Lifetime TV Network, according to the show’s Facebook page. The show is hosted by Montel Williams, who served in the military for 22 years.
The most recent season of the show started last week. Episodes also can be viewed on the show’s website.
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Airing on the Lifetime network, "Military Makeover" helps military families across the country by giving their homes makeovers. The show partners with Fortune 500 companies, designers, contractors, landscapers and other professionals, according to the show’s website.
The show is hosted by Montel Williams, a former television and radio talk show host, and Lacey Evans, a WWE wrestler. Williams and Evans also are military veterans.
Visit militarymakeover.tv for more information.
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New episodes of "Military Makeover" air weekly on Fridays at 7:30 a.m. on the Lifetime TV Network. The most recent season of the show started Aug. 30 started last week. Episodes also can be viewed on the show’s website, militarymakeover.tv/episodes.
The Patron family will be featured in a series of episodes. It is unclear in which episode, or episodes, Cummins will be featured.
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To learn more about Cummins Inc., visit cummins.com.
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