After spending too much time away from his family in Alaska, traveling to Portland and Seattle for work, Craig Mischenko and his family decided it was time for them to leave the home they had spent the last 15 years building in Alaska, so they could all be together again.
Mother of eight, Grace Mischenko was looking for homes online when she discovered Lennar’s Norwegian Hollow community in Vancouver. After touring the builder’s Bainbridge The Home Within A Home®, the family realized it was the perfect fit for them. “We thought of so many ways we could use it,” she said. “We wanted to be able to benefit our family and friends.”
The family’s New Home Consultant, Lucy Karpyuk told them about Lennar’s Unbox Your Home video contest. To participate, the family needed to submit a video that captured their first moments in their new Lennar home. The video with the most votes by the end of the contest would win a $10,000 grand prize.
After living in the family RV and then in a lackluster rental home on a very busy Tigard street, the family was anxious to move into their new Lennar home. “We were ready for something that was ours,” said Grace. During the final walk through, Craig and Grace were told that they could move into their new home earlier than expected. They decided to surprise their children with the news during their Unbox Your Home video.
The oldest Mischenko son, Benaiah, was in on the secret and filmed his siblings being told they would be sleeping in their Lennar home for the first time. The video captures the children squealing with delight after hearing the news. Three-year-old Seth grabs the keys and heads for the front door and a tearful hug is shared between Grace and her only daughter Naomi before the family enters their new home together.
Later, the video captures Benaiah and his younger brother Ivan’s first moments in their private, The Home Within a Home® suite with an original song written and sung by Benaiah playing in the background. “What do you think boys,” asks Grace. “We have our own apartment,” answers Ivan. Lennar’s The Home Within a Home suite features a separate entrance with private living space, kitchenette, bathroom, laundry and bedroom.
Two weeks after submitting their entry, the family discovered they had won Lennar’s Unbox Your Home contest and the $10,000 prize.
“We have a passion for Ukraine with all the turmoil that they are going through right now,” said Grace. The family has already donated a chunk of their winnings to support pastors in the Ukraine who are ministering to a struggling special needs orphanage.
Since creating the video, the family is settling in beautifully to their new home. “The kids love the house. The younger guys love being able to get on their bikes and ride around,” said Grace. “It’s very freeing for them to be in a safe neighborhood.” The older boys are even doing their own laundry in their The Home Within a Home suite.
Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s largest builders of quality homes for all generations. The Company builds affordable, move-up and retirement homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of the Company’s homes and others. Lennar’s Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about the Company may be obtained at the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website, www.lennar.com.
