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Making over lives, an ‘extreme return’ on a community investment

John Howell
Posted 8/23/11

The Silvas are paying it forward...

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Making over lives, an ‘extreme return’ on a community investment

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I punched my code and got the first of a half dozen voice messages:

“This is Doreen Silva,” came the voice on the second message, “thought you ought to know we’re going to be selling the house.”

Did I hear that correctly, I thought, “Selling?” I replayed the message. There was no question what she said.

Doreen and Ken Silva, and scores of people who helped them, made Warwick proud when their house at 106 Yucatan Drive was selected for the television series ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” more than three years ago.

The story was of giving. Giving on the part of Doreen and Ken who had fostered numerous children and, in addition to their two biological children, had adopted three more. A bigger house meant they would be able to foster and adopt more children. Since then, they have adopted one more and three are in pre-adoptive placement.

It was also a story of community giving – “outpouring” is a better word. The city, businesses, churches, non-profits and individuals pooled resources. City crews leveled the cottage that contained lead paint and would have been a nightmare to expand. In a week, while the Silva family was treated to a vacation at Disney World, their dream house was built. Rooms were designed around the special likes of each of the children; there is a double car garage large enough for Ken to work on his two race cars – Friday nights at the Seekonk Speedway is a summer tradition – and the backyard was transformed into an elaborate playground, complete with tree house.

On Friday, DJ and Realtor Chris Whitten listed the house for $409,900.

“I love this house,” Doreen said Saturday sitting at a dining room table that looked like it should be in the chow hall of an Army base. The family is big and promises to get bigger sooner. The Silvas continue to foster children in addition to their own kids, and if everything goes to plan, they will soon be a family of 11.

The house could easily accommodate more and life would have gone on. It’s comfortable. There’s a routine. It’s secure. Ken works for the city’s Department of Public Works. Doreen home schools the children. Their church, as well as their friends and family, are here. Doreen grew up in Warwick and Ken moved here when he was in high school.

Now, if their dream comes true, all of that will change. Already there is a certain amount of uncertainty to what they’re doing and there promises to be a lot more if the house sells.

The dream – it’s really a calling – is to help families so that their children don’t end up in foster care. To do it means pulling up roots here and heading north.

Doreen is hesitant to name the location, as acquisition of the property, which she plans to name Salamander Ranch, is contingent upon sale of the house here. Let’s just say it’s out of state and more than three hours drive away.

It’s a big property and probably was a campground at one time. It is on a dirt road with maybe no more than 12 other homes. The house has five bedrooms. There’s an in-law apartment big enough for their son, Kenny, who will soon be 18. There’s a lake. There’s a barn and they could have horses and other animals. There’s even a baseball diamond.

Doreen said she knew as soon as she stepped on the property it was what she had been dreaming of.

“It was a vision of everything we could do. I could see the people I could help, but we never could have afforded it.”

There was no way they could buy the place, but on faith they submitted an offer for half what the owner was asking. Now they have an agreement to purchase it.

She has written the articles of incorporation for a non-profit organization that would operate the ranch and enable them to apply for supporting grants. She has researched state laws and talked to that state’s department of children and family services. She has checked out that state’s regulations regarding home schooling and found it is more rigorous than Rhode Island, but she’s ready to do that.

“Hopefully we’ll fill a void in foster care,” Doreen says. The organization would provide educational programs and supportive services. Families could visit the ranch where they would be exposed to a loving and caring environment. There would be a petting zoo with goats and bunnies for the children. It would be a day camp for families in crisis.

“This project is more work than I have done in my life,” says Doreen.

Ken, who remained silent most of the interview, injected, “When you get a calling from the Lord, you can’t fight it.”

For him, assuming the house sells and they close on the other property, it means finding another job. His plan is to stay on with the city until he finds something, which would mean staying with family here and commuting for the weekends to the ranch. He would be selling his race car and giving up that passion for the time being.

What about the people who made the Extreme Makeover a reality, who had embraced them, even though in many cases they had never met them? Is this an abandonment of all they did?

Doreen and Ken think not.

“There is a lot of love,” Doreen says of what went into transforming their house, and, in the process, opening greater opportunities. She says all that generosity and love is part of her family. It is something she can never forget.

“I can take all of that to this place. Build something that will help the community.”

While she has not thought of it in those terms, she agrees that what lies ahead is an investment. The family is investing the good will that people have bestowed upon them; with that they will be able to help countless more.

You might think of it as the “extreme return” and unquestionably more rewarding than the stock market.

Comments

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  • connor

    WOW! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH. PEOPLE WENT UBOVE AND BEYOUND FOR THIS FAMILY JUST TO GET SLAPPED.

    "Doreen and Ken think not." THEY NEED TO THINK AGAIN! PEOPLE LIKE THIS MAKE ME REGRET HELPING OTHERS. IF THEY ARE NOT GREATFUL FOR WHAT EVERYONE DID FOR THEM THEN THEY SHOULD GIVE THE HOUSE TO OTHERS MORE DESERVING AND WOULD APPRECAITE IT.

    Tuesday, August 23, 2011 Report this

  • WDM401

    I have a leaky faucet, I wonder if I can get people to build me a 400 thousand dollar house then pay it off for me so I can sell it. Talk about a good return on an investment, too bad the investment were people’s kievil. ndness. Greed is the root of evil.

    Tuesday, August 23, 2011 Report this

  • dblake

    I think the previous posters are missing the point here. The Silva's are not selling out of greed. They are selling to start a NON-PROFIT to help others in need. Do you have any idea the amount of time and energy this takes?? Yes a lot of people came out and spent endless hours - I was one of them - but as the article states they are paying it forward by trying to help countless families in the future and all for NO profit!!!!!!!!!

    Tuesday, August 23, 2011 Report this

  • warwickguy

    I also spent countless hours working on this project for what I thought would apprecaited. Slapped is mild to how I'm feeling about this. I guess I can just chaulk it up to a lesson learned. There are some selfish people out there that just cant be pleased. What a shame, Im just sick about the time I wasted.

    Tuesday, August 23, 2011 Report this

  • brossi9822

    Ken and Doreen have committed their lives to their children. ( Biologically or not ) My birth son was adopted by Doreen's family from the time he was 3 days old. Unlike most people who chose adoption for their children I was not addicted to any drugs and not in an abusive relationship. However I got pregnant and was not at a point in my life to raise another child. Ken and Doreen are generous people. They are not greedy. I visit with my son and the Silva's often enough to know that they do not live extravegantly and take anything for granted. They are so appreciative of everything , especially the opportunity to raise more children. They are not slapping anyone in the face. They are using this gift for an even bigger one. They want to provide an atmosphere for more children. An atmosphere ( with animals. and a pond to fish in, etc. ) Any child that is in the foster system would be blessed to become apart of all this family has to offer. I wish Ken, Doreen and the rest of their family many more years of raising children who would otherwise be lost in our Foster system. Wonderful things happen to wonderful people and Dreams sometimes do come true!

    Wednesday, August 24, 2011 Report this

  • Tweety43

    Are you kidding me!!

    Wednesday, August 24, 2011 Report this

  • racebabe1439

    I have known Kenny for over 20 years. he has always been the least selfish person I have know. He and his wife Doreen have the biggest hearts. They are extremely greatful for everything that everyone has done for them. ( I personally know this for a fact) They are planning to use the money from the sale of this house to help a countless number of children, not for greed for themselfs. They are not trying to offend anyone, jst to help as many children as possible. I for one am very proud to say that I know this family, and admire everything that they have and will do for all these children. I wish them the best of luck with everything!!!!!!

    Wednesday, August 24, 2011 Report this

  • neighbors

    Wow...GREED,GREED,GREED....When i ever saw that For Sale sign it made me sick.Not only was there mortgage paid off, they received a large amount of money.Soon after there was a brand new pickup truck and 16 passenger van in the driveway with a logo on the side.Just recently there was an article in the Beacon stating the sons bike was stolen, and of course someone ran over an gave them money to replace the bike.When is enough, enough.This is a huge slap in the face not only to ALL the volunteers, but the neighbors,and the other RI familys that applied for the show and were turned down.

    Thursday, August 25, 2011 Report this

  • janeway

    Wow...neighbors your ignorance is staggering! which large sum of money are you talking about? oh you mean the money they used to put in a classroom and another bedroom? soon after they bought a pickup truck USED, by the way, to replace the 33 year old truck they had. they also bought a 15 passenger van, again USED, to replace the 13 year old one that they then donated to a church. one of their kids designed the logo if you are wondering.

    What have you done lately to help your community? Did you volunteer on this project or did you just WATCH it happen cause it was gonna be on tv? Why should it matter to you if they want to accomplish something with there lives and better their comunity instead if sitting by and WATCHING other people make a differance?

    Friday, August 26, 2011 Report this