St. Louis, Mo.—The National Wood Flooring Association has provided flooring for its 89th home in support of the Gary Sinise Foundation Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment (R.I.S.E.) program. The home dedication for retired U.S. Army Capt. Leslie Nicole Smith took place May 7 in Nashville, Tenn. NWFA member Middle Tennessee Lumber donated flooring for the project.
Smith volunteered to deploy following the events of 9/11. As a public affairs officer, she worked with high-level officials, dignitaries, celebrities and high-ranking military officers.
Less than a year into her deployment, Smith began experiencing severe pain in her left leg. An ultrasound revealed a growing blood clot that had broken into thousands of additional clots. They spread throughout her body to vital organs, resulting in the loss of her left leg and her vision.
“The clots were believed to have been caused by Captain Smith’s exposure to chemical agents and gasses emitted from mass grave sites,” said Stephanie Owen, president and CEO of NWFA. “They were so severe that doctors at Walter Reed Medical Center initiated the paperwork that gave her 24 hours to live, but Captain Smith was determined to fight. Despite losing her leg and her eyesight, she now works to help other service members and their families navigate their new normal. We’re honored to partner with Middle Tennessee Lumber to provide beautiful real wood floors for her new home.”
The R.I.S.E. program builds mortgage-free homes for severely wounded veterans and first responders. The organization customizes each smart home to meet the recipient’s needs. To date, 163 NWFA member companies have donated product, logistics and installation services across the U.S. The contributions have a total value of more than $7 million.
A list of participating companies is available at nwfa.org/giving-back.