This year, I had the honor of joining the board of the Floor Covering Industry Foundation.
Collaborating with some of the most passionate people in the industry—leadership from the industry’s top manufacturers, retailers and associations—is a humbling experience. It’s enlightening and inspiring to see these leaders, many I’ve had the opportunity to interview, use their networks, creativity and enthusiasm for the industry to help those in need.
FCIF is dedicated to financially assisting those who are or have been affiliated with the floor covering industry who experience catastrophic illnesses, severe disabilities, or other life-altering hardships. The 501(c)3 ensures that these philanthropic efforts are accomplished with compassion, confidentiality, and preservation of dignity for the individuals concerned.
Behind every assistance grant the organization has made is a story of crisis and perseverance—of a real person going through a challenging time. In this month’s issue, Floor Trends’ managing editor, Danielle Clair Simpson, shares the story of Dawn Pieschek, a design consultant who works at Macco’s Floor Coverings in Green Bay, Wis., who recently faced a fight with ovarian cancer. Dawn has been in the flooring industry for almost 20 years and calls it “the best job ever.” We agree.
Dawn is just one of the many people FCIF has helped over the years, including organ transplant patients, a 29-year-old who was paralyzed from the neck down as the result of a hit-and-run accident, and a single parent of a two-year-old son who had a malignant tumor. They are the stories that make a headline for a day, a week or a month in the media, but could potentially become the headline—and the legacy—that influences someone’s entire life.
Rising costs and expenses rob FCIF’s beneficiaries of the basic financial freedom they deserve. Grants are awarded based on need for expenses such as medical care, medications, medical supplies, and other expenses directly related to beneficiary care, as well as such basic necessities as food, shelter, and utilities. The foundation’s criteria for grants are: severe illness or injury, financial need and five-plus years of service to the floor covering industry.
As media partners, Floor Trends and Floor Covering Installer commit to getting the word out about FCIF in every way we can. We are there with our friends in the floor covering industry when they are fighting the hardest battles of their lives.
If you can help—or know someone who is in need—please visit fcif.org, call (706) 217-1183, or email info@fcif.org. We will continue to share FCIF’s success stories about how our industry is helping keep unexpected setbacks from turning into permanent roadblocks.
