ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has provided flooring for its 71st home in support of the Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E. program (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment). The R.I.S.E. program builds mortgage-free, custom, specially adapted smart homes for severely wounded veterans and first responders. 

The home dedication for United States Army Sergeant First Class (Ret.) Ian Prescott took place on Sept. 20, in Crestview, Florida.  Flooring for the project was donated by NWFA member Premiere Finishing & Coating.

In 2018, while on patrol with his team and Afghan counterparts, SFC Prescott was shot by enemy forces.  Suffering from heavy internal bleeding, doctors were forced to remove his left kidney, spleen, and portions of his pancreas, while repairing damage to his left lung, diaphragm, and intestines.  In addition, he had two shattered vertebras and his spinal cord was injured, resulting in paralysis from the waist down.

“Following his initial surgeries, SFC Prescott returned to the U.S. and spent the remainder of his recovery at Brook Army Medical Center and then at Shepherd Center in Atlanta,” said NWFA President and CEO Michael Martin.  “During his years of military service, he was deployed 10 times to Afghanistan, Iraq, Colombia, and Puerto Rico, and was awarded four Bronze Stars and one Purple Heart.  We’re honored to partner with Premiere Finishing & Coating to provide beautiful wood floors for his new home.”

In addition to the 71 homes already completed, NWFA currently is working with its members to source wood flooring for 11 additional R.I.S.E. homes in various stages of planning and construction.  Currently, 153 NWFA member companies have donated product, logistics, and installation services in locations throughout the United States, with a total value of more than $6.9 million.  (Click to view a list of NWFA R.I.S.E. participating companies.) For more information about the program or donation opportunities, contact NWFA at 800-422-4556, or e-mail [email protected].

Headquartered in Missouri, the National Wood Flooring Association is a not-for-profit trade organization, with more than 3,200 member companies worldwide, dedicated to educating consumers, architects, designers, specifiers, and builders in the uses and benefits of wood flooring. For information visit nwfa.org.