YORK CO., S.C. -- A local woman who won an ABC Extreme Makeover Home Edition contest doesn't just get her own prize, but so does the organization she volunteers with.

In March, Laurie Schmehl’s home was falling apart. Then the Tega Cay woman won $5,000 for repairs. The other $5,000 winner was a local child advocacy group; the York and Union County Guardian Ad Litem Program.

It provides advocates for abused and neglected children. Michael Taylor, 20, owes a lot to the program.

"I would probably be in a lot of trouble, he's made a pretty big difference in my life,” he said.

After social services took Taylor from his mother's care seven years ago, L.H. Buff became his guardian, his mentor and advocate in court cases.

“When you're in foster care, you really don't have anyone there for you, and you know when I met him, he was there for me when I needed advice, when I needed someone to talk to,” he said.

As Taylor bounced in and out of foster homes, Buff was the stable figure in his life.

"I was worried a good bit, and he told me not to worry, and he got up and gave me a hug and told me it'll be alright, made me feel a lot better," Taylor said.

Buff got a little choked up hearing Taylor talk about the impact he's had.

"I'm almost embarrassed, because it never felt like a big thing for me, I was just me,” he said.

There are many children who, like Taylor, need a guardian ad litem.

Guardian Jerry Dircks, was thrilled ABC awarded $5,000 to the York and Union county GAL program.

Dircks said the money will go to train more volunteers.

"There's gangs that they have to understand, there's drugs with some of the kids they sponsor, also the laws change, so we have to keep everyone up to date,” he said.

Last year, 38 York County children were turned away, because there weren't enough trained volunteers.

Dircks hopes more volunteers means more stories like Buff and Taylor.

"He made me want to change my life, he made me want to do things right,” Taylor said.

For more on the Guardian Ad Litem program, click here.

Learn about Guardian Ad Litem at the Charlotte Knights game.