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Harleysville helps Minnesota family featured
on ‘Extreme Makeover:
Home Edition’
It’s a story too heartbreaking for words, but one with a happier
sequel.
After her sister Teri Lee was murdered by an ex-boyfriend on Sept.
22, 2006, Vicki Swenson and her husband, Erik, both school teachers,
adopted Lee’s four orphaned children and brought them into their
three-bedroom home. (The children lost their father, Ty Lee, in a car
accident in 2001.)
With four biological children—a 10-year-old daughter, two-year-old
twin daughters and another baby daughter born in November, 2007—the Swensons
watched their family grow from three to 10 in just a short period of
time. And although their former home was attractive, the available space
was clearly not enough to house them all.
Even before the circumstances of the Swenson-Lees were revealed
during the Nov. 25, 2007 edition of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,
the family’s new 5,600-square-foot home in Minnetonka, Minn., was already
insured by Harleysville—free of charge for the next year.
The family was the sixth Harleysville has helped since establishing a
connection with the popular ABC series in 2006.
A visit to the Swenson-Lees
Erik Swenson is amazed by the support and gifts his family has
received. “Out of all the lousy stuff that’s happened to our family, a
lot of really good things came out of it, as well,” he observed. “The
goodness of people reaffirms your faith in mankind. I’m also thankful to
Harleysville for what they’ve done. It all helps—and it’s all a
big deal!”
On Nov. 19, 2007, the Swenson-Lees received a visit from their new
insurers.
Agency representatives included Jim Holm, president of Insurance
Partners (IP), a cluster of Minnesota independent insurance
agencies; Clarence Holm, IP underwriting and marketing manager; Mike Seaberg, agency manager of SB Insurance, Cokato, Minn., an IP affiliate;
and Lynne Lahr, a producing agent for SB Insurance.
Representing Harleysville were Rich Fasi, assistant vice president of
personal lines marketing, and Greta Elftmann, Minnesota personal lines
territory manager.
“Harleysville’s involvement in a project like this makes us feel good
about the company we represent,” advised Seaberg. “We were honored to be
chosen as the agency on this policy and to have the opportunity to meet
the homeowner.”
Instant credibility
Fasi said Harleysville’s connection to Extreme Makeover: Home
Edition helps agents introduce the company to prospective customers.
“Nothing tells our story better than our association with
this program and the insurance we donate. It
gives us instant credibility,” he noted.
Seaberg agreed: “Harleysville wants to make inroads into the
Minnesota market and this exposure really helps. The policyholders see
that Harleysville is more than just an insurance company—they also have
people who are trying to do the right things.”
“Every agent I’ve spoken with has heard of the show and they think
Harleysville’s support of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition families
is just great,” added Elftmann.
Triumph over tragedy
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Extreme Makeover: Home Edition recipient Erik
Swenson (center) was presented with a certificate for one year of
homeowners insurance by Harleysville agents: (left to right) Lynne
Lahr, a producing agent of SB Insurance in Cokato, Minn.; Mike Seaberg, SB agency manager; Clarence Holm, underwriting and
marketing manager for Insurance Partners in Plymouth, Minn.; and Jim
Holm, president of Insurance Partners. SB Insurance is an affiliated
agency of Insurance Partners.
The Swenson-Lee family’s new Extreme Makeover: Home
Edition home in Minnetonka, Minn.
Erik Swenson (left), shown holding his infant
daughter, Eva, as he gives a tour of his family’s new home to
representatives from Harleysville Insurance, SB Insurance and
Insurance Partners (IP). They included (left to right): Lynne Lahr,
SB producing agent; Jim Holm, president of IP; Greta Elftmann,
Harleysville’s Minnesota personal lines territory manager; Clarence
Holm, IP’s underwriting and marketing manager; Rich Fasi,
Harleysville’s assistant vice president of personal lines marketing;
and Mike Seaberg, SB agency manager. As watchers of the Nov. 25,
2007, episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” learned, the room
pictured is the Swenson-Lees’ new basement/family room, which was
also “Ty’s special project.”
Rich Fasi, Harleysville’s assistant vice president
for personal lines marketing, is photographed in the stairway to the
Swenson-Lees’ family room. The designer’s choice of the Eiffel Tower
image was inspired by 12-year-old Taylor Lee, whose dream is to
someday visit Paris.
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