Mohawk honored veterans and celebrated 10 years of support of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at a ceremony held in Calhoun, Georgia, on November 15, 2023. 

Tunnel to Towers helps America's heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responders' families by building specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. Mohawk provides flooring to these smart homes to make the lives of their families a little easier.

"After a decade, we've built over 80 smart homes together," said Frank Siller, foundation chairman and CEO, Tunnel to Towers Foundation. "Mohawk supplied the beautiful flooring—nothing but the best for these great heroes who gave their bodies for our country. We can't get it done without the generosity of companies and people." 

Mohawk CEO Jeff Lorberbaum provided the backstory on how the relationship began: 

"I first met Frank Siller 10 years ago. He visited us in Calhoun, and he was accompanied by a young veteran named Todd Love, who lived in the Atlanta area. Todd served as a Marine corporal in Afghanistan, and in 2010 he lost both legs and part of his left arm in an explosion. Todd’s optimistic outlook in the face of extraordinary adversity touched and inspired everyone who met him. It was natural to want to support Todd after spending time with him. Unfortunately, there are so many other veterans and first responders that we never have a chance to meet, and Tunnel to Towers ensures that they have access to that same level of support. These men and women sacrificed so much for our country, for all of us. 

Since Mohawk employs hundreds of veterans and many of our employees serve their communities as volunteer firefighters, Tunnel to Towers was a good fit for Mohawk emotionally and logically. The organization is run well, and their low operational overhead means that the money they receive really helps people in need. Tunnel to Towers has greatly expanded their mission during the 10 years we have partnered with them. Their good work has benefited many families across the country and earned them well deserved national recognition. We are proud to have been one of their first sponsors, and we look forward to supporting their ongoing projects."

Bill Gaddis, director of national accounts, Mohawk, serves on the board for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. He shared how the foundation has evolved over the years from supporting those impacted by 9/11 to first responders and their families to now supporting homeless veterans. Currently, the foundation has paid off the mortgages to over 1,000 homes. It's worth noting that 95% of the money raised goes toward the cause. 

Siller expands on the current efforts of the foundation, revealing that 50 homes are being built with 50 more in the cue. Additionally, the foundation's latest labor of love involves renovating a 161-room hotel and turning it into apartments for homeless veterans in the Houston, Texas, area. This project is the first of its kind, and Sillar expressed that he looks to expand across the country. 

During the ceremony, Mohawk honored military veteran employees who work at the Calhoun campus. 

Allen Ables, Army

Keith Bray, Air Force

Austin Cherry, Army

Dave Cole, Navy

Dee Davis, Marine Corps

Jon Djulvezan, Navy

David Elder, Army and Reserves

Lakesha Gray, Army National Guard

Belinda Hughes, Air Force

Tyler Hull, Army

Justin Hylton, Navy

Christopher Jones, Air Force

Jeff Marquart, Air Force and Reserves

Jeb Martin, Air Force

Leonard Mendez, Marine Corps

Ken Mills, Navy and Reserves

Jenson Nguyen, Army Reserve

Marcia Paul, Navy

Mark Rogers, Army

Kevin Tanenbaum, Air Force and Reserves

For more Mohawk news, click here.