ST. LOUIS, Missouri (June 25, 2020) – The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has provided flooring for its 45th home in support of 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 United States Army Staff Sergeant Casey Jones took place on June 18 in Knoxville, TN. Flooring for the project was donated by NWFA member Mullican Flooring, through its distributor, Derr Flooring.

SSG Jones joined the Army in 2008 as a Senior Explosive Ordinance Disposal team member. He was injured in May 2013 while deployed in Senjaray, Afghanistan. While working to help clear a compound that would serve as the location for a command post, he stepped on a pressure-plate improvised explosive device (IED), which detonated beneath him, causing him to lose both legs.

“Staff Sergeant Jones has had quite a distinguished military career,” says NWFA President and CEO, Michael Martin. “He has earned a Purple Heart, two Army Commendation medals, and NCO development Award, two good Conduct Medals, and the Afghanistan Campaign medal. We’re honored to partner with Mullican and Derr to provide flooring for his new home.”

In addition to the 45 homes already completed, NWFA currently is working with its members to source wood flooring for 17 additional R.I.S.E. homes in various stages of planning and construction. Currently, 139 NWFA member companies have donated product, logistics, and installation services in locations throughout the United States, with a total value of more than $4.56 million. A list of all NWFA R.I.S.E. participating companies can be found at http://www.nwfa.org/giving-back.aspx.

By the end of this year, 70 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 3,200 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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