Transplant Recipient Hits a Second Big Win One Year After Surgery When His Name Selected for HGTV Dream Home Giveaway 2016

News provided by

Mar 28, 2016, 01:57 ET

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., March 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Shelton, Connecticut, resident David Rennie was sure his successful kidney transplant last year was his big win and his "five minutes of fame." At a recognition of the one-year anniversary of his surgery at his church last week, HGTV designer and host Tiffany Brooks ambushed Rennie and his family to let him know he was the winner of the HGTV^® Dream Home 2016.

David Rennie of Shelton, Connecticut, was surprised at his church by HGTV host and interior designer Tiffany Brooks with the news that he is the winner of the HGTV Dream Home 2016 on Merritt Island, Florida.

Rennie's two daughters were in for the event, as they couldn't make Easter weekend, and the church had planned a blessing for his first year of success with the kidney. Following the ceremony, Brooks let the family know they might have something else to celebrate. The former Boy Scouts of America employee was given the news that he had won the grand prize HGTV Dream Home 2016 on Merritt Island, a 2016 GMC Acadia Denali,^® $250,000 from national mortgage lender Quicken Loans^® and a beautiful new boat.

"I binge-watched HGTV during my treatments prior to my surgery, and entered the giveaway regularly for years. In fact, my wife would give me grief for entering, and we were both sure nothing like this would happen to us," said Rennie. "I thought I won the lottery with the kidney. That was life changing, but so is this. It's incredible. We just never thought it could get any better."

The waterfront property is shaded by giant royal palm trees and situated on the Indian River Lagoon with Intracoastal Waterway access. The updated, transitional take on Floridian style offers casual elegance with a clever play on classic coastal. The light and bright paradise is built for entertaining and relaxing by the water, complete with a private pool and a three-car garage. With approximately 3,150 square feet of living space, including three bedrooms and five bathrooms, the home blends the sophistication of the Hamptons with punches of tropical vibrancy.

Rennie and his wife, Meg, will have their first chance to visit the home in the middle of April, which coincidentally is also his wife's birthday. He said that he watched the building of the home and the photos online, but they can't wait to see the home. His wife is especially looking forward to spending some time on the dock on the river.

Learn more about this year's giveaway and its sponsors – General Motors LLC; Lumber Liquidators Inc.; GLIDDEN® paint brand, a line of PPGArchitectural Coatings, a business of PPGIndustries; Quicken Loans Inc.; Bush Brothers & Company; Cabinets To Go; Delta Faucet; JELD-WEN Windows & Doors; Mars Petcare; Trex Company Inc.; Belgard; Ethan Allen Global Inc.; Realtor.com^® and Bose Corporation – at hgtv.com/hgtvdreamhome.

About HGTV
America's leading home and lifestyle brand, HGTV features a top-rated cable network that is distributed to more than 96 million U.S. households and HGTV.com, the premier source for home-related inspiration, instruction and entertainment, attracts more than six million people each month. The brand also includes the HGTV HOME^™ consumer products line which showcases exclusive collections of paint, furniture, plants and other home-oriented products. For more information on HGTV HOME branded products and to find a retailer, visit HGTVHOME.com. In partnership with Hearst Magazines, the HGTV Magazine, a home and lifestyle publication, is currently available on newsstands. Viewers can become fans of HGTV and interact with other home improvement enthusiasts through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., HGTV is owned by Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. (Nasdaq: SNI).

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160328/348419

SOURCE Scripps Networks Interactive