St. Louis, Mo.—The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) provided flooring for its 55th home in support of the Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E. program (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment), according to the company. The R.I.S.E. program builds custom, specially adapted smart homes for severely wounded veterans and first responders.
The company said the home dedication for United States Army Staff Sergeant, Jay Fondren, took place on April 29 in Houston, Texas. Flooring for the project was donated by NWFA member, American OEM, the NWFA added.
Staff Sergeant Fondren joined the Army in January 2002. He was injured by a roadside bomb in 2004 while deployed to Iraq. The explosion resulted in the loss of both legs above the knee.
“When Staff Sergeant Fondren was first injured, his initial concerns were for his fellow service members,” said Michael Martin, NWFA president and chief executive officer. “But it was soon evident that his own injuries were the most severe. After the attack, he was in a coma and flown to Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Today, he works with Camp Hope in Houston, a faith-based residential treatment center for veterans, which demonstrates his continued focus on service to others. We’re honored to partner with American OEM to provide flooring for his new home.”
In addition to the 55 homes already completed, NWFA currently is working with its members to source wood flooring for 14 additional R.I.S.E. homes in various stages of planning and construction, the NWFA said. Currently, 141 NWFA member companies have donated product, logistics and installation services in locations throughout the United States, with a total value of more than $5.2 million, according to the company.