VIDEO: Leader Carpet, HGTV Star Greet New City Winner

Paul Marks, owner of Leader Carpet in Nanuet gave away a $20,000 HGTV flooring makeover as part of a fundraiser for People to People.

This year, he wanted to do something bigger so he got the idea to give $10,000 worth of flooring away.

He took it one step further. Since he’s shot commercials with HGTV star Taniya Nayak in the past, he looked into what the cost would be to have Nayak design the flooring makeover. That’s where the other $10,000 comes in.

In total, it's a $20,000 flooring makeover that’s designed and overseen by HGTV's designer Taniya Nayak. 

The sweepstakes ran from September until Oct. 26. The $10 raffle sales went straight to People to People, Rockland’s largest food pantry. The raffle sales added up to a $10,780 check that Leader Carpet presented to People to People on Saturday morning.

“It's a win-win  for everyone involved and we couldn't be happier to be bringing this into Rockland County,” said Marks. To mark the occasion, Clarkstown and Rockland County declared Nov. 17 as Leader Carpet day.

The grand prize winner is Diane Gillespie of New City. Elizabeth Werner of Pomona came in second place and won an area rug. Rosemarie Monaco of Nyack, who also so happens to be a board member of People to People, won a $300 gift card to Bob's Discount Furniture for coming in third place. However, because of damage People to People sustained from a Hurricane Sandy fire, she chose to donate the gift card back to People to People. 

The drawing was originally planned for Oct. 31 with Nayak coming on Nov. 3, but Sandy postponed everything. They did the drawing this Wednesday and on Saturday, Nov. 15, Nayak will be at Leader Carpet to sign autographs, take photos with the public and meet the contest winner. She then will accompany the winner to their home to get started with designing their dream flooring makeover.

"Months of hard work went into this," said Marks. 

After the winner was chosen, Marks and his support staff at Leader Carpet had to work quickly. They have one day to get video and measurements of the winner’s home and an interview with the winner over to Nayak. Nayak then had a rough design gameplan when she arrived on Saturday.

"I'm really excited to redo my floors in my home. The last time they were done was 12 years ago when we added the additions in my home," said Gillepsie. 

Nayak left with Gillepsie to her home to do the design and then Leader Carpet will spend the next month executing the renovations. 

He also hosted a block party at Leader Carpet in October featuring the Mighty Spectrum Band. Leader Carpet donated 100 turkeys to People to People and local food pantries last Thanksgiving