Together, the two organizations will fulfill a pledge to Habitat for Humanity International to provide $5 million worth of tile industry products and services to Habitat affiliates over a five-year period. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that builds, rehabilitates, repairs and improves homes with families in need.
“We appreciate Mountain Re-Source Center for embracing this partnership. Donations of housing materials are vital to Habitat’s ability to create affordable housing, and we are grateful for the tile industry’s ongoing commitment,” said Larry Gluth, senior vice president, U.S. and Canada, Habitat for Humanity International. “Tile Partners for Humanity has provided much-needed support to Habitat’s work in building with low-income homeowners and strengthening communities across the country.”
MRC merged with TPFH in June of 2011, at which time MRC assumed responsibility of the $5 million pledge TPFH had made to Habitat for Humanity. As part of the merger, TPFH will keep its name and continue to serve the tile industry.
TPFH represents a partnership between manufacturers, distributors and contractors in the tile industry who work together to donate products to Habitat for Humanity affiliates and Habitat ReStore resale outlets. Industry partners provide materials including tile, tools, cleaners and sealers as well as labor and installation training to Habitat affiliates. At times, product donations are provided to be resold at Habitat ReStore resale outlets, stores that sell donated goods to the general public to help local Habitat affiliates fund the construction of homes within their communities.
“Mountain Re-Source Center and Tile Partners for Humanity are proud to continue partnering with Habitat for Humanity International,” said Herb Miller, MRC executive director. “We share Habitat’s belief that everyone deserves a decent place to live and we can each play a role in reaching that goal. We are committed to providing quality materials and hands and hearts toward building decent, affordable, energy-efficient homes to strengthen families and communities.”
TPFH formed in 2002 when Curt Rapp, CEO of The Tile Doctor, and Gray LaFortune, executive director of the Ceramic Tile Institute of America, partnered with Habitat for Humanity. Rapp and LaFortune worked with the Tile Council of North America, Ceramic Tile Distributors Association, Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, National Tile Contractors Association, and Tile Heritage Foundation to guide TPFH and direct more than $18 million of materials and services to Habitat for Humanity and other nonprofit partners over an eight-year period.
Rapp thanked the industry for its support of TPFH and said he looks forward to the continued partnership with MRC.
“Partners like MRC played an important role in the success of TPFH along the way, and it's fitting that MRC will now take this vision that they helped support and bring both programs together to serve on a larger scale. We applaud MRC for what they do and welcome the opportunity to be under their stewardship going forward.”
TPFH also partnered with MRC on numerous occasions, with Miller sitting on the TPFH advisory board and the organizations sharing resources to place large-scale donations.
MRC is a 501c3 organization that works to link nonprofit partners of all sizes and manufacturers, distributors, contractors and individuals with surplus usable products by sourcing donations of building materials as well as disaster relief materials, educational resources, household necessities, and medical supplies. Founded in 1999, MRC branched from serving small groups in the mountains of the Appalachian community to working with organizations across the country. In 2010, MRC directed more than $10 million worth of materials to nonprofit partners.
