Let the games begin!
About a month ago, Floor Covering News announced the formation of its inaugural Fantasy Football League for a Cause. We opened it up to the industry, and we are happy to announce the 12 companies that will be participating and the causes for which they will be playing.
1. Floor Covering News    Floor Covering Industry Foundation
2. Surfaces                            Floor Covering Industry Foundation
3. Coverings              Ceramic Tile Education Foundation
4. All Tile                Autism Speaks
5. Marshall Carpet        Project Love
6. Professional Carpet Co.   Hire Heroes USA
7. Designers North Carpet  Abilities at The Viscardi Center
8. L Fishman & Sons      Autism Speaks
9. Dave Snedeker                 Kids Against Hunger
10. Tri-State Carpet             Windy City Habitat for Humanity
11. Smith Floor Coverings   Bowdon, Ga. High School Athletics
12. Floor Coverings of Winona       The Lupus Foundation of America
There will be $2,400 in the pool to begin, with $1,600 going to the winning cause and $800 to the runner-up. But, if you recall, we asked that our readers pledge their support to any respective team. You can play it two ways: 1. Pledge any amount you wish and if the team you back wins the league, send a check to that cause, or 2. pledge any amount and send the check regardless. We will post the standings each week as well as the collective amount that has been pledged. We only ask that you follow through on that pledge because FCNews will not be policing it.
But for now, here is a bit about the 10 causes that may benefit from this endeavor (there were two duplications):
Hire Heroes USAÂ Â Â Â Professional Carpet Co., Hackensack, N.J.
After U.S. troops return from combat, many find it difficult to get re-associated in society. Believe it or not, most employers, although proud of their country, would not hire a veteran due to the chance they may go back out on another tour. Several have to settle for a much lower-tier job, be forced to re-enlist or act out in ways that may be harmful to themselves and others. Hire Heroes USA is a team comprised of military veterans—many with combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan—and business veterans. That mix of military and civilian experience has proven essential to effectively training veterans in the skills of self-marketing and then networking them into good jobs with quality companies.
Abilities at The Viscardi Center    Designers North Carpet, Albertson, N.Y.
Abilities at The Viscardi Center prepares adolescents and adults with all types of disabilities (cognitive, physical, learning, developmental) and levels of experience for entry or re-entry into the workforce by assisting them in securing pre-employment services as well as employment so they can enjoy independent living, full community participation and economic self-sufficiency. Its employment services include a comprehensive array of career assessments, job training, business skills development, job placement and follow-up programs and services based on individual needs and vocational interests.
The Lupus Foundation of America    Floor Coverings of Winona, Winona, Minn.
The Lupus Foundation of America is the only national force devoted to solving the mystery of lupus, one of the world’s cruelest, most unpredictable and devastating diseases, while giving caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact. Through a comprehensive program of research, education and advocacy, the foundation leads the fight to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus.
Autism Speaks   All Tile    L Fishman & Son Â
Since it was founded in February 2005, Autism Speaks has grown into the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks aims to bring the autism community together as one strong voice to urge the government and private sector to listen to its concerns and take action to address this urgent global health crisis.
Kids Against Hunger    Dave Snedeker, Nebraska Furniture Mart
The mission of Kids Against Hunger, a humanitarian food-aid organization, is to significantly reduce the number of hungry children in the USA and to feed starving children throughout the world. The organization’s approach to achieving its goal— the eradication of world hunger—includes the packaging of a highly nutritious, vitamin-fortified soy-rice casserole by volunteers at numerous locations within the U.S. and Canada, and the distribution of those meals to starving children and their families in over 60 countries worldwide. Snedeker’s wife is director of the Lincoln, Neb., chapter.
Project Love     Marshall Carpet One and Rug Gallery, Maryland Heights, Ohio
Project Love Remember the Children Foundation is a character-building education and training organization. Through workshops, community events, leadership training and media programs, it empowers teens and adults to create a culture of kindness, caring and respect. Its mission is achieved through hands-on programming in middle and high schools in eight northeast Ohio counties and through video-based programming nationally. It provides intensive leadership training seminars for teens and other character education tools that help schools combat bullying, cheating and fighting.
 Bowdon High School Athletics        Smith Floor Coverings, Bowdon, Ga. Â
Bowdon, Ga., is a small town that was thriving in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s because of Sewell’s Manufacturing, which employed between 600 and 700 people. But they lost a lot of their contracts in the mid-‘90s and the town has diminished as Sewell’s disappeared. The high school’s athletic department is always falling short when it comes to sending kids to camps and getting the proper jerseys and practice uniforms. And when they have out-of-town games it is always up to small businesses and donors to scrape up money to take care of the kids the way the town feels it should.
Windy City Habitat For Humanity     Tri-State Carpet, Elgin, Ill.
Windy City Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people from all walks of life to build simple, decent, affordable houses, and to strengthen families and neighborhoods. Windy City Habitat for Humanity will work toward eliminating poverty housing in the Chicago metropolitan area and seek to build better lives, stronger families and safer communities through partnerships with local groups and organizations.
Floor Covering Industry Foundation    Surfaces  Floor Covering News
The Floor Covering Industry Foundation (FCIF) is dedicated to financially assisting those who are or have been affiliated with the floor covering industry and experience illnesses, severe disabilities or other hardships. The foundation ensures these philanthropic efforts are accomplished with compassion, confidentiality and preservation of dignity for the individuals concerned. Grants are awarded based on the need for expenses such as medical care, medications and other costs directly related to beneficiary care, as well as basic necessities.
Ceramic Tile Education Foundation    Coverings
Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) is an educational institution that offers training programs for consumers, installers, construction professionals, architects, designers, building inspectors and sales associates interested in the sale and installation of ceramic tile. Classes are conducted on a year-round basis at the CTEF facility in Pendleton, S.C., in addition to numerous satellite programs throughout the U.S.