Mountain Re-Source Center Honors Florida Tile for Ten Years of Partnership, Impact on Communities
Mountain Re-Source Center (MRC) and Tile Partners for Humanity (TPFH), the tile industry partnership that is part of MRC, recognized Florida Tile for ten years of partnership and support of community improvement projects through generous donations of ceramic tile.
MRC and TPFH met Florida Tile employees at the company’s corporate headquarters in Lexington, Ky., to personally thank them for the incredible impact of the donations and the involvement of the company. They also presented CEO Michael Franceschelli with a marble plaque thanking Florida Tile for its ongoing partnership.
Florida Tile has donated to TPFH and MRC since 2004, when it provided 895 square feet of floor tile for two Habitat for Humanity homes in Atlanta, Ga. Since that time, the company has donated more than 800 loads of tile that have gone to more than 20 states, 40 nonprofit organizations, and fifteen countries.
Two organizations that have shared in the donations joined MRC in expressing gratitude. Ashley Napier, executive director of Central West Virginia Outreach Center in Gassaway, W. Va., said that his organization has distributed 34 loads of tile to more than 1,600 families and organizations throughout West Virginia and the surrounding Appalachian region. Lisa Boen, vice president of operations for Operation Compassion in Cleveland, Tenn., shared a video demonstrating how they have used tile in orphanages, schools, medical clinics, homes, and community centers in fifteen countries in Central and South America and in Eastern Europe.
Herb Miller, executive director of MRC and TPFH, said the partners wanted to demonstrate just how much the donations have meant and to underscore the importance of the longevity of the partnership. He congratulated Florida Tile on its 60th anniversary and said the company has done well to focus both on business and supporting communities.
“Florida Tile is one of our longest-standing partners and they have truly made a difference in the lives of thousands of families. We work with nonprofit partners around the country and tile is one of our most-requested items. We’re grateful that Florida Tile understands the value of donating and the good that their tile does in so many communities. They are one of our core donors and we couldn’t do what we do without them!”
Florida Tile CEO Franceschelli was pleased to have the opportunity to support MRC and its partners. He thanked everyone for the recognition, but said he believed the organizations and their outreach were responsible for the incredible impact of the donations.
“Our working partnership with Mountain Re-Source Center is very important. It provides a simple, functional method for helping local communities. It is also important for Florida Tile, which is owned by international tile manufacturer Panariagroup, to be able to reach more distant communities in need. The affiliation with Mountain Re-Source Center enables distribution of materials internationally as well, including to regions such as Central and South America, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe.”
Diane Hancock, director of the 6th Congressional District, thanked Florida Tile for its incredible community support on behalf of Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear. She presented Franceschelli with a letter from the Governor recognizing the company’s contributions to both the local economy and to communities around the world. She also gave him a pewter mint julep cup from the office of the Governor.
Florida Tile is a fully owned subsidiary of Panariagroup, a publicly owned company traded on the Milan Stock Exchange (MILAN: PAN IM). Panariagroup is a leading manufacturer and distributor in over 60 countries around the world with six manufacturing sites in Italy, Portugal and the USA and eight brands positioned in the high-end of the market. www.panariagroup.it.
Mountain Re-Source Center is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that welcomes donations of all types of building materials as well as disaster relief supplies, educational resources, household necessities, and medical supplies. MRC also includes Tile Partners for Humanity, which represents a partnership of tile industry members supporting Habitat for Humanity and other nonprofit organizations.
To donate or for more information on MRC or TPFH, contact MRC Executive Director Herb Miller at 304-678-4229/ hmiller@mountainre-source.org or Networking Director Ally Venugopal at 425-429-6188/ allyv@mountainre-source.org. MRC provides a donation receipt for tax purposes. For more information, visit www.mountainre-source.org.