Kermit The Frog, Ford Escape Hybrid Team Up For Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

By Michael Collins, FCN

Dearborn - April 9, 2006: Since their first appearance together during Super Bowl XL, millions of people have gotten to know Kermit the Frog as the official spokesfrog for the Ford Escape Hybrid.

The world's most famous amphibian and the most fuel-efficient SUV on earth will team up again for a special appearance on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition tonight on ABC.

With the series leader, Ty Pennington, in the Gulf States helping with hurricane relief, Kermit will take over as guest host and present the Todd Craft family of Hondo, Texas, with a brand new Ford Escape Hybrid.

"Kermit and the Escape Hybrid are the ultimate green team," said Barry Redler, Ford SUV group marketing manager. "This no-compromise SUV shows how easy it is being green and is the perfect fit for an active family like the Crafts."

In the episode which airs Sunday at 8 p.m. EDT, Todd Craft, a high school sports coach who's been a constant inspiration in his community, and his family will receive the news that they will receive a beautiful and renovated home in a remarkable seven days thanks to "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

Craft is more than a coach at D'Hanis High School, and the students and faculty of D'Hanis want to show him how much he means to them. As a coach for football, baseball and girl's basketball and a teacher of Health and Speech, Craft doesn't have the time or money to take care of his own home for his family.

Craft and his wife, Elizabeth, have four children, Samantha (10), Sarah (7), Isabella (2) -- who was not expected to live after being born with Alobas Holoprosencephaly, a serious brain malformation -- and their 1-year-old son, Todd Joseph.

The Craft children require extensive care and, because of the constant attention Isabella needs, Elizabeth must stay home to care for the family. Craft's salary from teaching and coaching is all they have to support their extraordinary family.

"The Crafts are a wonderful, big family, and Coach Craft is constantly busy coaching baseball, football and girl's basketball, so the family really needs the comfort and roominess of an SUV," said Kermit the Frog. "But the family counts every penny so fuel savings are important. The Escape Hybrid gets 36 miles per gallon, making it the most fuel-efficient SUV on earth.

"Working with the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team was a dream come true," said Kermit. "I got to help the show's fantastic designers, builders and volunteers do something wonderful for the very deserving Craft family."