It ’s family first , philanthropy second , and renown a aloof third for the HGTV stars and Bentonville ’s hometown heroes who make an impact with assistance One Now .
Long before they were the affable champion of a smashingly - slay HGTV plate renovation show , Fixer to Fabulous , Jenny and Dave Marrs were softly runningMarrs Developingin Bentonville , Arkansas , remodeling houses for grateful local families and stargaze of a family of their own . Little did they know that their path to parentage would bring out them to some of the most meaningful work of their lifetime .
“ We decide to have kids , and it took a while . We had this kind of struggle , like so many people do , ” says Jenny via FaceTime from nursing home , chatting with BHG for an interview while care for her youngest son , Luke , who ’s home nauseated from shoal . It ’s a beguile routine that would give even a attached multi - tasker suspension . But Jenny is one of those capable people who is able to do almost anything in animation with ease . That ’s one cause why the fertility challenges she and her husband Dave face were severe to empathize . “ I have that type A personality that made it possible for me to do so many things in life . I would think , ‘ Why ca n’t we just do it ? Why is n’t it happening on our timeline ? ’ It was a good lesson , to check that you do n’t have ascendency of every situation . ”
Credit:Courtesy of Dave and Jenny Marrs
They finally gave birth to twin sons , Nathan and Ben , now 12 , and then started what the Marrs wish to call the miracle story of their daughter , Sylvie , who was bear in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2012 , joining their family . Through Sylvie , they were enter to global philanthropic gift , and now impart to various non - profits that volunteer aid to orphan and young grownup who have aged out of orphan attention in Congo and Zimbabwe .
Courtesy of Dave and Jenny Marrs
Meeting Sylvie
When the Marrs get hold of an international adoption government agency in Congo , they were introduced to young Sylvie through an online profile in 2012 . shortly after , they get a line firsthand about the under - fund care centers children in the part yell home . Food was scarce , many children slept on the floor , and PCP were stretched thin . The Marrs started send money for solid food and supplies , and organized little local fundraisers for assistance . By 2013 , their espousal paperwork was finalized . Then the unthinkable happened : There was a Congolese government closedown , which think that all adoptions were suspended . In crisis way , the Marrs found a local doctor and her husband to foster Sylvie , among a dozen other children , until she could come in home to them . After plead with US government officials to intervene , Sylvie was cleared to come home in 2014—600 days after they started the process .
“ I was just texting yesterday with Sylvie ’s foster mom , Laure , in Congo , who cared for Sylvie for two yr , ” Jenny enounce . “ We still have that community there that ’s tied to our family in a way that ’s really important . Laure and I are , when you break it down , the same . We both have it away that little missy . ”
Using The Berry Farm to Give Back
Today , the Marrs run aBerry Farm and upshot venuein Bentonville , and all of the proceeds go to financial support for a agriculture program in Zimbabwe design to teach young adults who have aged out of orphan care to sustain themselves through USDA . The Marrs partner withHelp One Now , which confirm local expert in Africa in their endeavor .
“ Our daughter Charlotte , who ’s 8 now , was in Jenny ’s back in a carrier when we set the Chuck Berry farm , ” says Dave . “ Now the kids have their lemonade abide there , and all the hard work they put into it goes to kids who were n’t accept with the same advantage they were . ”
When a production squad sent by HGTV came calling in 2018 , atelevision showwas the furthest matter from their intellect . Their disinclination to endure and form on camera was solid , but their desire to unfold the word about the shaver who need assistance was stronger .
Credit:Courtesy of Dave and Jenny Marrs
When things get chaotic , and we start to oppugn why we ’re doing all of this , Jenny and I look at each other and say , ‘ recollect the why . ’ — Dave Marrs
“ When the producer first approached us , we were n’t interested , ” Dave says . “ Then once we started verbalise , he said , ‘ Look , if the show calls attention to these organizations you sustain , do n’t you think that alone would be worth it ? ’ And he was right . When things get disorderly , and we start to call into question why we ’re doing all of this , Jenny and I look at each other and say , ‘ call back the why . ’ ”
The way Jenny explains it , it all come down to relationships , and recognizing the common reason we share with hoi polloi who hold out on the other side of the major planet , and deal our resourcefulness to worry for each other .
“ Our kids sleep together John and Orfa , the couple that runs the farm in Zimbabwe , very closely , ” add Jenny . “ They ’ve visited us here and we ’ve been there . The Kid sleep with that they will use the money we raise to help kids in their community . They ’ve seen it now and they empathize it in a fashion that ’s important . It all come back to relationships , and caring for fellow homo . ”
