'Extreme Makeover' makes big reveal at Give Kids the World in Kissimmee

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — "Good Morning America" brought the national spotlight to a Kissimmee nonprofit that gives children with life-threatening illnesses dream vacations.

"GMA" anchor Josh Elliott and designer Ty Pennington came out for the big reveal of the Extreme Village Makeover.

Give Kids the World officials said they are excited with how the makeover turned out.

Pennington said the decision to give an Extreme Village Makeover to Give Kids the World was an easy one.

"When we heard they really needed a makeover, I said, 'Absolutely, let's do it.' And then the team got bigger and bigger and the ideas got bigger," said Pennington.

Pennington and his team spent five weeks carrying out a half-million-dollar remodel of the volunteer building.

"Sometimes it's about giving back to a family, but today it's about giving back to the volunteers who work here, who give their time to make sure these families and kids get to live that magical moment," Pennington said.

Each week, hundreds of volunteers give of their time to make sure children with life-threatening illnesses get the royal treatment during a week-long vacation that could be their last.

Alyssa Pietruszk got one of those vacations 12 years ago. She wasn't expected to survive her stage-three kidney cancer at age 3. She said the trip was a turning point.

"I started running. I started laughing. I started being one together with my family again. It was just amazing," she said.

Friday, the place that gives so much was on the receiving end.

Pam Landwrith, president of Give Kids the World said,"This is the biggest moment in the history of give Kids the World."

WFTV