Carpet One Floor & Home celebrated its five-year partnership with the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation with during its Winter Convention, held in Washington, D.C. The world’s largest cooperative of independently owned and operated flooring stores also shared an exciting announcement that fundraising efforts for the nonprofit, which assists some of the nation’s most catastrophically-injured American service members, are quickly approaching the $1 million mark.

During Winter Convention’s general session, John Gilbert, president of Carpet One Floor & Home, and Theresa Fisher, senior vice president of visual merchandising and brand management for CCA Global Partners, shared the news following an opening performance by the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes & Drums. Attendees were also treated to a multimedia presentation outlining the many ways Carpet One members, vendors, and staff has supported the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, including installing new floors into each customized smart home the organization provides for disabled veterans.

Since the summer, several deserving American heroes were welcomed home, thanks to the efforts of Carpet One Floor & Home and the Foundation. Ed Seldon’s Carpet One in Lakewood, Wash., and Sumner Carpet One in Sumner, Wash., assisted with Army CPT Flip Klein’s smart home project; First Floors Carpet One in Dallas assisted with Army Specialist Kevin Trimble’s new home; Rochester Flooring Kitchen and Bath in Rochester, N.Y., assisted with USMC Lance Corporal Mark Beyers’ new home; and Atlas Floors Carpet One and Hicks Carpet One, both in San Antonio, assisted with Army Specialist Travis Worrell’s new home.

Two special guests shared heartfelt personal testaments to the program’s success during the session presentation. Frank Siller, chairman and CEO of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, thanked Carpet One Floor & Home for its ongoing support, while Marine CPL Scott Nokes shared his own personal testament to the program’s importance. Nokes walked onto the stage to share his story. He noted that the day was the second anniversary of his first steps made on prosthetic limbs. Nokes’ new smart home, which will be equipped with appliances and a thermostat he can control with his voice, will be ready later this year.

This past fall, over 160 Carpet One Floor & Home members and staff participated in the organization’s 2018 Tunnel to Towers 5K in New York City. “With some of our members traveling from as far away as Hawaii to participate, our team far exceeded its goals by raising a total of $138,000, making them one of the year’s top fundraising teams,” said Fisher.

In recent years, more and more of Carpet One’s product vendors have joined up with the cause, including Masterbrand, Hunter Douglas, and Future Foam.

For more information, visit www.carpetone.com.