MAPEI and the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) have announced an exclusive partnership to assist the Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence, Supporting Empowerment) program. MAPEI and the NTCA will provide tile and tile installation systems where needed in the construction of one-of-a-kind specially adapted custom smart homes that the Gary Sinise Foundation has committed to building for our nation’s most severely wounded heroes.
The R.I.S.E. program was first brought to the attention of the construction industry by the National Wood Flooring Foundation (NWFA) as part of the “Play it Forward” theme for its 2015 NWFA expo. The NTCA, under the leadership of Executive Director Bart Bettiga, discussed the program with NWFA colleagues and arranged for the NTCA to provide the tiling needs for flooring and wall coverings, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms.
MAPEI Corporation, a leader in providing tile and stone installation systems and other floor- covering installation systems, had partnered with the NWFA earlier in 2015 after attending the 2015 NWFA expo. Under the direction of Jeff Johnson, MAPEI’s Business Manager for Floor Covering Installation Systems, MAPEI also reached out to Bettiga of the NTCA, offering to provide all of the needed installation materials for the R.I.S.E. smart homes.
“The NWFA started the ball rolling on a meaningful contribution our industry associations can make to the health and independence of our returning veterans who have been severely injured,” said Bettiga.  “The NTCA, with contributions of tile from various tile manufacturers and installation materials from MAPEI, is proud to strengthen this contribution as a way of telling our veterans how proud we are of them.” On an individual basis, whenever possible, Bettiga invites the participation of association members who may be able to donate time and labor to the installations.
“As part of our civic commitment, MAPEI has long been an ardent sponsor of sports such as the UCI Road World Cycling Championships and arts and cultural programs such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s recent Alberto Burri exhibition,” said MAPEI’s Johnson. “Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. program has provided us with the honor of helping some of our heroic veterans in situations where our products can be of direct benefit to them.”
From Maryland and Florida to California, 12 new smart homes are planned for construction through the R.I.S.E. program over the next year and 10 to 15 additional homes may be added over the ensuing 12 months. You can learn more about the Gary Sinise Foundation’s program by visiting www.garysinisefoundation.org/programs/rise. To learn more about how you can participate, contact Bart Bettiga of the NTCA at 601-939-2071 or email bart@tile-assn.com.  
About the National Tile Contractors Association 
Established in 1947, the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to the professional installation of ceramic tile and natural stone. It is widely recognized as the largest and most respected tile contractors association in the world.
The NTCA strives to improve the trade through education and training, participation in the development of standards and methods, and communication of its initiatives to related trades. The NTCA firmly believes that manufacturers producing quality products, sold by trained distributors, and professionally installed by qualified contractors for satisfied customers, will result in increased use and consumption of tile and stone in the construction industry.
 About MAPEI
Established in 1937, MAPEI Group is a privately owned global corporation headquartered in Milan, Italy, with 71 subsidiaries including 68 plants in 31 countries. The company specializes in manufacturing chemical products for building, including waterproofing products, special mortars and admixtures for concrete, products for the restoration of ancient buildings, and special decorative and protective coatings for walls. In addition, MAPEI is today the world leader in the manufacturing of mortars, grouts, adhesives and complementary products for the installation of all types of floor and wall coverings.
The Americas are home to 25 MAPEI Group manufacturing and distribution facilities, plus the headquarters locations for MAPEI Corporation and Polyglass USA in Deerfield Beach, Florida. MAPEI is an environmentally conscious manufacturer – the company has been a member of the U.S. Green Building Council since 2001 and a member of the Canadian Green Building Council since 2008. MAPEI Americas is a registered provider to the AIA/CES program and also offers training related to ceramic and stone tile, floor coverings and concrete repair through the MAPEI Technical Institute. The majority of MAPEI Americas facilities are certified to the ISO 9001 Standard for Quality Management Systems. Visit www.mapei.com for technical data or call 1-800-42-MAPEI (1-800-426-2734) for the nearest location.
About the Gary Sinise Foundation 
The Gary Sinise Foundation honors America’s defenders, veterans, first responders, their families and those in need. Through its R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence, Supporting Empowerment) program, specially adapted smart homes are being constructed for severely wounded veterans nationwide. Each one-of-a-kind home is customized to ease the everyday burdens of a wounded hero, their family and caregivers. Other programs include Relief & Resiliency Outreach, Invincible Spirit Festival, the Lt. Dan Band, Arts & Entertainment Outreach, Serving Heroes, and First Responders Outreach. Its latest program, Soaring Valor, is sending WWII veterans to The National WWII Museum and documenting their first-hand accounts of the war. For more information, please visit GarySiniseFoundation.org.