Industry lends ‘Humanity’ a
helping hand
By Lesley Goddin
Tile Partners for Humanity (TPFH) recently completed
a major project in Charlotte, N.C. It was made possible,
in large part, by industry donations.
Contributions consisted of labor and materials,
which enabled the kitchen/dining area, entryways
and three bathrooms to be tiled in two Elon Homes.
(Elon Homes for Children provide shelter for children
up to age 18 who come from abusive families who are
unable to care for kids.) The Charlotte Elon Homes
provide lodging for qualified young adults over 18
and to help them transition to full-time employment
and/or a full-time post-secondary educational environment.
Each five-bedroom, three-bath home is about 1,500
square feet, with 400 square feet of tiled space.
Crossville Tile and Stone (Charlotte location), Dal-Tile,
Laticrete International, National Gypsum and North
American Tile Tool Company donated materials for
the project.
“Our parent, Crossville Ceramics, and our
team at Crossville Tile & Stone are committed
to giving back to the communities in which we service,
for they have given so much to us,” said Roy
Irwin, store manager for Crossville Tile & Stone. “We
believe that sowing a few seeds of kindness benefits
both the sower and those who partake of the harvest.”
Tile setters and volunteer labor came from local
sources in Charlotte, including Bonitz Floors, Tops & Tiles
and local personnel for Laticrete and Dal-Tile. Contractors
from the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA)
also volunteered. Bart Bettiga, executive director
of the NTCA, committed to the cause of finding contractors
for TPFH projects. “We funnel requests to him,
and the NTCA talks to (local) members to see if they
will help out,” Irwin said. “We’re
convinced our members benefit personally and professionally
from helping, and the businesses benefit within the
community.”
As a member of TPFH’s board of directors,
Bettiga noted, “I want to get all industry
associations to help on this project – to break
down personal agendas and throw them away for a great
cause. The industry will benefit from the exposure.”
Innovative thinking
In related TPFH news, Allyson Fertitta, executive
director, TPFH, reported that Laticrete International
is supporting it by donating its “buybacks” from
290 Lowe’s locations. To make room for new
product on Lowe’s shelves, Laticrete periodically
must buy back older merchandise from Lowe’s.
Recently, Laticrete agreed to donate all of that
merchandise to local TPFH affiliates.
“It’s a time-intensive project,” Fertitta
said. “The store calls TPFH and I contact affiliates
to see if materials are needed for an upcoming build.” If
no projects are scheduled, the Laticrete materials
are channeled to Habitat restores, where they are
resold to the public at a discount, with 100 percent
of the profit going back to Habitat.
For more information on TPFH or to make a donation,
visit www.tpfh.com or call 770-416-0200.
TPFH forms board
Tile Partners for Humanity (TPFH) recently established
a board of directors, according to Allyson Fertitta,
executive director of the nonprofit organization. “We
feel we have very good representation of the leaders
in the industry,” Fertitta said. “These
directors will talk to their members and spread the
word of TPFH throughout the industry – raising
awareness, soliciting materials, labor and funding,
which are our major needs.”
The three officers on the TPFH board are chairman
and TPFH founder Curt Rapp, CEO of The Tile Doctor.com,
vice chairman Bart Bettiga, executive director of
the National Tile Contractors Association, and secretary/treasurer
Eric Astrachan, deputy executive director of the
Tile Council of America.
Board members include Rick Church, executive director
of the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association; Bob
Daniels, chairman of the board for the Ceramic Tile
Education Foundation; and Gray LaFortune, executive
director of the Ceramic Tile Institute of America.
Reprinted with permission of FCW
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