ST. LOUIS, Missouri (November 22, 2017) – The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has provided flooring for its 24th home in partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E. program (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment). The R.I.S.E. program builds custom, specially adapted smart homes for severely wounded veterans and first responders. The home dedication for Police Officer Michael Flamion took place on November 21, in Ballwin, MO. Flooring for the project was donated by NWFA members Somerset Flooring and Lockwood Flooring.

Officer Flamion is a nine-year law enforcement veteran, serving in both the DeSoto and Ballwin Police Departments in Missouri. His injuries occurred on July 8, 2016 during a routine traffic stop when he was shot in the neck, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. His home is the first presented to a first responder through the Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E. program.

“Officer Flamion is an amazing hometown hero,” says NWFA President and CEO, Michael Martin. “More than 1,200 people attended his home dedication, which speaks to the admiration the entire St. Louis community has for him. What’s even more special for NWFA, however, is that his home is in our own community. In fact, a few of our employees live just a few blocks from the Flamion’s new home, so we’re especially looking forward to becoming part of his family’s local support system. We’re honored to partner with Somerset and Lockwood to provide flooring for his family’s new home.”

In addition to the 24 homes already completed, NWFA currently is working with its members to source wood flooring for 20 additional R.I.S.E. homes in various stages of planning and construction. Currently, 52 NWFA member companies have donated product, logistics, and installation services in locations throughout the United States, with a total value of more than $3.52 million. A list of all NWFA R.I.S.E. partners is listed at www.nwfa.org/giving-back.aspx.

By the end of this year, 59 specially adapted smart homes will be completed or underway through the Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E. program. To learn more about the program, and how you and/or your company can get involved, contact the NWFA at 800.422.4556, or e-mail them at anita.howard@nwfa.org.

The National Wood Flooring Association is a not-for-profit trade organization, with more than 3,000 member companies world-wide, dedicated to educating consumers, architects, designers, specifiers and builders in the uses and benefits of wood flooring. The NWFA is located at 111 Chesterfield Industrial Boulevard, Chesterfield, MO 63005, and can be contacted at 800.422.4556 (USA & Canada), 636.519.9663 (local and international), or at www.nwfa.org.

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