Mary Nelson’s Youth Center is constantly giving back to the Syracuse community through school supplies, career support and education. Now, the center is getting some help in return.

“I had to pinch myself to see if it’s real, you know,” Mary Nelson about said about a remodel to the youth center. “If you think about it, of all those people they could have picked, they chose us here in Syracuse,” said Nelson.

Lowe’s home improvement chose 100 communities across the country to receive donations for community centers in need of a remodel.

“We took some rooms here at the center, expanded them, we got a bigger computer room-learning center, a bigger game room, a beautiful family room,” Nelson said.

The center's makeover is still in progress thanks to Lowe’s $75,000 contribution. Nelson said her ability to expand and refresh her space was aided by a match donation from the Boeheims.

The giving goes beyond transforming the center.

Nelson’s home is also getting a makeover, thanks to a partnership with HGTV.

“I could have never done this for my home, never in a million years,” Nelson said.

She said her house is being totally gutted, with a surprise remodel waiting for her when it’s all finished.

“What’s happening right now is going to be beautiful when I go back home,” said Nelson.

It's a sweet touch of kindness for a woman who has given her time to better the city.

Nelson says she’s not sure how much longer it’ll be before the remodels on the center and her home are complete, but she’s looking forward to the outcome.