Cara Simmons, right, and her sister, Glori Nicholson, react to news that she now owns a Cleveland Heights home.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cara Simmons has never liked surprises. But surprises in her lifetime never included the keys and title to a freshly renovated house.
"I'm going to have to change my mind on surprises," she said.
Simmons, of Cleveland Heights, was the "victim" of a "Prank it Forward" prank perpetuated by DEFY media. She was sent by her employer, Maid Brite, to help prepare a client for a party and instead ended up tasting a gourmet meal, getting a new wardrobe and, the kicker, the house she was there to clean was actually hers to keep. Fully furnished and decorated.
Nearly 5 million have watched the episode on DEFY's break.com Web site. Simmons has become a media darling, appearing on "The Queen Latifah Show" among others.
Becoming an instant viral sensation came as a bit of a surprise to Simmons, too.
"I had no idea what was going on. It was the most amazing prank," said Simmons, 36, a Cleveland native and Shaw High School grad.
Her boss at Maid Brite, Mary Jo Dean, answered a query from a DEFY Media producer looking for a deserving prank "victim" in Cleveland. She provided info on all of her employees, asking them for information under the ruse that it was for the company Facebook page. It was narrowed down to three women, all single moms, and the producer recorded video of them, saying it was a company video.
Simmons' sister, Glori Nicholson, who was also in the video praising her and who was "pranked" with a trip with her sister to Mexico, also works at Maid Brite and was one of the finalists. They chose Cara Simmons because of her emotion and her story.
Dean said she didn't know the house was part of the prank until the last minute.
"I was in shock and stunned and crying," she said. "I was hoping for a car."
In the first "Prank it Forward" in April, an LA waitress got "tips" of cash, a trip, a new job offer and a car.
The video of Simmons' big day notes that she had had medical issues. They were severe. Simmons said she suffered from ulcerative colitis, which had gone undiagnosed.
"It's extremely painful and I was battling that and there were times when I had to be out of work without any income. I faced eviction a few times," she said. "I'm blessed to have people in my life to pull me through and hold my hand. It was tough. My kids stay with other people because I couldn't get up and get them to school."
Her condition was diagnosed at MetroHealth hospital and she is now taking medication to manage it.
DEFY agreed with Dean that Simmons was deserving of a prank and partnered with Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland to make it happen.
Lou Tisler, executive director of that organization, said it was imperative to find a home in Cleveland Heights, as Simmons' three children – Cierra-Mia, 17, Kiarah, 16 and St. Gavin, 6 – attend Cleveland Heights schools.
Tisler said Ocwen Financial Corporation donated the Cleveland Heights home and property, which had been in foreclosure. DEFY came up with $65,000 for rehab. Simmons will own the home in a land trust deal, meaning the property is owned by NHS but leased to her (99 years, renewable, no fee.) She can deed it over to her children. If she sells the house, the land-trust deal assures the house stays in the hands of low to moderate income buyers, Tisler said.
Simmons hasn't moved into the home yet. She's still in a rental a few miles away and working to prepare for home ownership.
"I'm kind of taking my time and making sure I understand everything," she said.
"We want to make sure she can actually afford it going forward. To know in Cleveland Heights, with the tax base, what it means to own a home with taxes and maintenance. We're really working with her on a deep level."
Simmons said it's been an education.
"They're doing an amazing job preparing me for the things I need to do and not do. They are walking me through it and holding my hand," she said.
Soon, certainly before Christmas, she'll move in and fulfill a dream.
"I have never owned a home. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would ever be able to own a home. It was the same chance as walking on the moon, that's how I felt about it," she said.
"But I have always wanted to own a home and I remember being young and having a home with my family, and my parents got a divorce and it changed and we moved, but I remember the happiness there," she said. "I think my family will just create awesome memories in this house."