Underscoring its commitment to community involvement and rebuilding efforts, Johnsonite, the commercial arm of the Tarkett Company, has worked with several organizations throughout the year to donate product for various rebuilding efforts nationwide.

Most recently, the ninth season premiere of ABC-TV’s Emmy award-winning “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” (EMHE) featured the Marshalls, a military family based in Fayetteville, NC, whose home, also known as the Steps-N-Stages Jubilee House, is used as a transitional space for homeless female veterans. To help renovation efforts, Johnsonite donated 10 containers, approximately 900 square feet, of its Color Essence Vinyl Enhanced Tiles (VET) from the company’s Azrock Collection. As a part of her Joining Forces initiative, First Lady Michelle Obama teamed up with EMHE, the community and other military volunteers to help construct the new space for the Marshall’s continued efforts to support military families in their time of need.

Built in a classic American Heritage style with an efficient, eco-friendly log home design from Campobello, SC-based builder, Blue Ridge Log Cabins, the renovated Jubilee House features a private space for the family, an extra kitchen, soundproof playrooms and a home gym.

“It was great to work with so many flexible products, like Color Essence,  that helped us meet the design goals of the project,” said Chip Smith, owner and president of Blue Ridge. “With the hard work and support of the donors and volunteers, we’ve been able to create a space that is both beautiful and functional for the family and those who benefit from the Jubilee house.”

Also featuring Johnsonite’s Color Essence VET is the newly renovated Sojourner Truth Academy, a K-7 charter school in North Minneapolis that was devastated by area tornadoes earlier this year. After the school was forced to close from the damage, NBC’s “George to the Rescue” reality construction show came onboard to help with the repairs.

The show focused on renovating the school’s basement cafeteria. Joining the rebuilding efforts, Johnsonite donated 2,600 square feet of Color Essence VET tiles. The dingy, water damaged flooring was replaced with bright Red Hot tiles, snaking through the space as it replicated a lunch line and popped against the surrounding light and dark gray tiles of Cool Idea and Thunderstruck. The bright space now serves as the school’s cafeteria and a multi-purpose room to help in facilitating the learning process during the school’s day to day activities.

In a year where many natural disasters caused great tragedy and devastation, throughout the world and in the United States, Johnsonite also reached out to a community in Alabama that had been affected by the violent storms and tornadoes that ripped through the southeast in April 2011. Although the Johnsonite plant in Florence, Alabama was not impacted by the tornadoes, the company wanted to show support to friends and neighbors in need of assistance. Plainview High School in Rainsville, Alabama sustained heavy damage during the deadly tornadoes and was in need of a complete renovation. Johnsonite worked with the project architect and installer to donate nearly 8,000 square feet of Color Essence VET for the rebuilding process, which should be completed for the 2012-13 school year.

“Part of our commitment to social responsibility is about going beyond products and reaching out into communities to help people build and rebuild when and if there is a need,” said Cynthia Mansfield, communication manager for Johnsonite. “We are pleased to have been able to make an impact in so many communities this year and plan to continue our work for many years to come.”

For additional information about Color Essence or Johnsonite, visit www.johnsonite.com.