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line, “So I continued to A1A Beachfront Avenue,” and he finds
it amusing that he has since built homes along that address.
In his show and seminars, Ice talks about designing, decorating
and investing in homes. “They want to see home design
but also investment, and the way you think about investing
gets people back into the frame of mind of the American
dream, how to decorate a home and raise a family there.”
“I love the fact that we have such great ratings on this show
and that people really are inspired,” Ice said. About 70 percent
of the viewers are women because he often concentrates
on designing special interior rooms and closets that fit their
accessories.
The legendary rapper also lends his talents to charity work.
He helped a Palm Bay family install a therapeutic pool and
provide a state-of-the-art wheelchair for 4-year-old Owen
Johnson, who was paralyzed from the neck down after being
hit by a drunken driver. For the past 12 years, he has hosted
his Little Smiles block parties for children.
“I have fun doing it,” he explained. “Everything I do leads
to smiles, and I believe smiles are contagious.”
He went to the Amish community in Ohio to build homes
for the needy. There was no electricity or cell phones. “I never
missed my cell phone,” Ice said. “I had the greatest time ever.”
Aside from the friendliness and warmth of the Amish >>
Rob Van Winkle, aka Vanilla Ice, frequently visits areas in Florida, including
the Treasure Coast, to plan his construction projects.
34 Port St. Lucie Magazine
PHOTOS PROVIDED
Some of his homes and designing ideas can be seen on his TV show, The Vanilla Ice Project, which he hosts. Viewers can enjoy the popular series on the
DIY Network with information on showings at Diynetwork.com.
/Diynetwork.com