Opinion

Support foundations that support you (Part 1 of 2)

Thursday, October 22, 2020

The Floor Covering Industry Foundation (FCIF) will turn 30 next year. That means it has served our industry at all levels for 30 years — you only have had to be in our industry a minimum of 5 years to apply for a grant, as many have.

Its mission of FCIF is to get families back on their feet when battling catastrophic injuries, severe disabilities or other life-altering medical crises. It was founded in 1981 by industry leaders and is a 501(c)3 charitable non-profit that helps those who have worked in the floor covering industry by providing direct grants for medical care and other basic needs.

Everyone reading this could, at some point in their life, have a dire need, whether medical or financial. The FCIF is there for our industry and for our employees. But we need to be there for the FCIF.

For years now, the Annual Alan Greenberg Charity Golf Tournament has been the largest fundraiser supporting the FCIF, and as I recently read in FCW’s daily email blast, it has been canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event typically raises more than $150,000 to support the FCIF in its efforts. It is the largest donation event done annually — money raised that it cannot afford to lose, especially this year with everything else this industry is dealing with.

I have played in this tournament all but a couple of times since it started, but as a retailer, I was in the minority. The rest of the players were a “who’s who” of our industry, or ringer golfers they brought with them (or in the case of Bill Gaddis, both). Most of the time it was 98 percent manufacturer people and CCA executives. Kudos to all of them for stepping up and anteing up to get that $150,000-plus. Their donations are huge and make a big difference. Only 5.5 percent of cash donations in 2019 were from retailers, with manufacturers donating the lion’s share — also, roughly 89 percent of the money granted goes into the manufacturing segment and its employees.

My belief is that the people and businesses that give are more aware of the program and the fantastic benefits it affords for people in our industry that are in real need. I love that people step up when they know there are needs. We are a giving industry.

Retailers: It is our turn to step up! Doing the math, if 10,000 dealers each gave $250 per year that would be $2.5 million, or $125 each is $1.25 million. Can you imagine what can be done for our industry?

Below is the link to the website where you can see what companies donated in 2019 and where you can give a donation from your company. I would ask you to challenge your team of people to give a specific amount that you as the owner or manager would match. It does not have to be a lot. Small amounts add up. If you have 10 employees and each gives just $5 per month and you match, your company will donate $1,200. If just one tenth of the dealers did this, we could collect $1.2 million.

How many more in our industry could be helped in times of catastrophic injuries, severe disabilities, or other life-altering medical crises? Needs are growing and we need to step up and help those in our industry: https://www.fcif.org/give

Don Roberts is a 40 year flooring industry professional who has managed teams from seven to more than 700 to success. Don can be reached via email at don.roberts@myflorstor.com.