BAKER, Florida -- Pop star Mariah Carey showed up today to surprise a male cheerleader and former Alabama A&M student who is going to receive a new home from the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" program.Finis Gaston of Pensacola was coaching a cheerleading session in Baker, where he takes care of his niece and nephews, when Carey broke the good news to the Gaston family.
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Share 2 Comments Now it's up to Heritage Homes of Mobile to complete a house for the Gastons by Sunday.
"We are ready to give Finis Gaston and his family a fresh start here in Pensacola,†said Frank Lott, III, Heritage Homes' president. “His positive attitude and big heart will be the inspiration that carries our team of builders and volunteers as we take on this weekʼs build."
Gaston was raised by a single mother in a poor neighborhood. His mom also took care of his young niece and two nephews. When Gaston was 16, the straight A-student and sports
enthusiast tried out for the Baker School cheerleading team.After the coach saw his sky-high jump and perfect toe-touch, she volunteered to pay for everything he needed to be on the team, according to a Heritage Homes news release. Gaston made school history as the first male cheerleader and his confidence and sense of humor made him a school favorite. His dream to go to college and earn a degree in social work came true when he was discovered by a football scout, who offered Gaston a full scholarship to Alabama A&M University.
With just one year left to graduation, Gaston's beloved mother died unexpectedly. Although he was living his dream, he left college to return home and care for his niece and nephews so that they would not be sent to foster care.
In addition to his job serving lunches at Baker School, Gaston is a volunteer coach for a local area girlsʼ cheerleading team at the Baker Area Youth Association. Under his guidance, he has led their team to win local competitions. Gaston opened a gymnastics business called Finest Tumblers, but he had to shut it down when the building was recently sold.
When Finest Tumblers was shut down, Gaston lost the income that he planned to use to make his familyʼs home safe and livable.
Finis and his niece, 18-year-old Jasqulon Gaston, her baby boy, LaRon and Gaston's nephews: Tyshun Morris, 15 and Tyvun Morris, 8, will go on vacation to Disney World. While they are gone, design team leader Ty Pennington and designers Michael Moloney, Tracy Hutson and Johnny Littlefield will join with Heritage Homes and its staff and volunteers to to build the structure.
The show featuring the Gastons is scheduled to air Dec. 12, Carey said on her Twitter page. She also Tweeted: "So amazing down here@Baker HS w/Extreme Home makeover! Loving Ty,Micheal,Tracy,Johnny-all the kids@the school+the Gaston family!"
Source:nwfdailynew