Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Emotions ran high as Burbank family saw their renovated home for first time; see exclusive "sneak peek" photos of the results.
Editor's Note: The Burbank family episode of "George to the Rescue" will run on Saturday, March 30 at 10 a.m. on NCB. Don't forget to tune in or set your DVR! "Is this our house?" asked a stunned Carolyn Burbank when she saw her newly renovated home for the first time. Burbank and her family were the recipients of a home renovation courtesy of NBC's home improvement show "George to the Rescue," which renovates homes to change people's lives. On Monday, the day of the big "reveal," the family returned to their home after three weeks away. Since son Ryan, 18, was paralyzed in an accident last summer, the family has had to learn to adjust to their new circumstances. Ryan has been confined to the first floor, and the house's layout -- …
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Burbank family gets home reno, courtesy of "George to the Rescue" -- and lots of local volunteers.
In the past six months, the Burbank family of Maplewood has been through steep challenges. After Carolyn and Eric Burbank's son, Ryan, was in an accident last summer that left him paralyzed from the chest down, the family has struggled to adapt to their "new normal." The Burbanks have deep roots in Maplewood. Eric is the longtime Director of Public Works. Ryan worked at Village Trattoria and played football and lacrosse at Columbia High School. After the accident, the community banded together to offer help in ways large and small, visiting, making meals and organizing fundraisers to help the family afford home renovations to accommodate Ryan's needs. A sunken living room left Ryan largely confined to the first floor sitting room, …
Monday, November 19, 2012
Ryan's Hope was a true community event.
On Saturday, HK Project and other friends hosted "Ryan's Hope," a benefit to help the family of Ryan Burbank, a young Maplewood man paralyzed in a pool accident this summer. The event raised money to assist the Burbank family with the purchase of a wheelchair van and alterations to their home. (To make a donation, visit the South Orange Elks webpage, or HK Project; click on the link that says “special instructions to seller” and type “Burbank”) Ryan's Hope was organized by Committee Members Eric Burbank, Amy Jo Curran, Janey DeLuca, Vic DeLuca, Chris Dickson, Bob Fanneron, Joseph Manning, Michele Reisman and James Walsh. Food was provided by the Vayas family of Village Trattoria; beer from Peerless Distributors; wine by John Meade of St…
Thursday, November 15, 2012
"I plan on working hard so I can walk again," says Burbank, who will attend Saturday's "Ryan's Hope" benefit with his family.
Earlier this summer, 18-year-old Ryan Burbank -- a Maplewood resident and son of the township's Director of Public Works, Eric Burbank -- broke his C5 vertebrae in a pool accident, paralyzing him from the chest down. In September, Ryan returned home after a two-month stay at the Kessler Rehabilitation Institute in West Orange. On Saturday, HK Project and other friends are hosting "Ryan's Hope," a benefit to help the Burbank family (which also includes mother Carolyn and two brothers) with the purchase of a wheelchair van and alterations to their home. (The benefit is currently sold out; to make a donation visit the South Orange Elks webpage, or HK Project; click on the link that says “special instructions to seller” and type “Burbank”) On…
Kathleen Good
1:07 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Congratulations all around! Ditto above comment! more ›