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
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.

Although Teri Lee took every available measure to protect herself and her family from an abusive ex-boyfriend—such as obtaining a restraining order, while also alerting police, neighbors and teachers—it was not enough to prevent her (and a friend) from becoming murder victims.

Since her sister’s death, Vicki Swenson has become an activist—calling attention to domestic violence issues and helping pass legislation to protect women and children from becoming victims of future domestic violence.

The new legislation requires a picture of the offender on all restraining orders—making it easier for potential victims to alert others about an offender’s identity. A second new law addresses domestic violence training.

Preparing for show time

As Erik Swenson prepared to watch the program that would feature his family, he admitted to being somewhat apprehensive about the reaction of his adopted children. “All things considered, they’re doing pretty well,” he remarked. “Fortunately, more of the issues we face now involve raising eights kids—rather than dealing with the past.”

The busy father said his family is fortunate to have many friends and family members to help out when needed, but with eight children, that effort involves non-stop scheduling.

“What we need to do is hire Alice from The Brady Bunch,” he laughed.

Visit the “AS FEATURED ON” page for the Swenson-Lee episode on the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Web site, where Harleysville Insurance is listed as one of the many companies donating products and services.

 

 

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