Helping Heroes R.I.S.E.
Over the last few years, Dal-Tile has been teaming up with a foundation dedicated to helping our nation’s heroes through an initiative that provides specially equipped homes to those who have been severely injured while serving to protect our country and communities.
Carver showed off the laundry room of his R.I.S.E. home featuring Dal-Tile products during the home dedication ceremony in October.
The Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) program provides mortgage-free, custom smart homes for severely wounded veterans and first responders by partnering with Dal-Tile and other donors who provide materials, services and funding to create the new residences. The non-profit charity and service organization serves our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families and those in need by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen and build communities. Its R.I.S.E. initiative predominantly supports post-9/11 defenders injured in combat operations or during training while performing their duties.
R.I.S.E. smart homes are 100-percent mortgage-free and are specially designed to ease daily struggles and mobility needs faced by these heroes and their families who sacrifice alongside them.
“I learned about R.I.S.E. at a Total Solutions Plus show as (Dal-Tile installation products partner) MAPEI is also a key sponsor,” said Senior Director of Installation Product Sales Jay Samber, who manages Dal-Tile’s support of the program. “In each of the builds, the veteran and his or her family visit their nearest Dal-Tile showroom and select tile and countertop options for their R.I.S.E. homes, which are supplied at no cost. They choose 100 percent of what is going into their home.”
The 16th and most recent R.I.S.E. home that Dal-Tile has been involved in building was in Central Texas for retired Army Capt. Derick Carver (see sidebar). Xteriors Sales Director Phil Graves, who is an Army veteran and a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., joined Carver for his home dedication ceremony in mid-October.
“These homes make a tremendous difference in the lives of men and women who have served and given so much on behalf of their country, and who continue to persevere,” Samber said. “It’s also unbelievable to see the joy these heroes have when they see their new homes. It’s an honor to be a part of it.”