ATLANTA, GA, and WASHINGTON, DC -- As part of Habitat for Humanity's 27th annual "Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project (JRCWP)" that kicked off on World Habitat Day, October 4, 2010, in Washington, DC, Tile Partners for Humanity today started a week-long tile blitz in the project homes. Throughout the week of February, numerous tile professionals from across the country will install more than approximately 3,000 square feet of donated tile in the kitchen, washroom, bathroom and front foyer of eight homes.

"We're very proud of all of our Habitat builds, but to be a part of one that has so much history and global significance makes it that much more meaningful," said Curt Rapp, Founder of Tile Partners for Humanity. "After all of the hard work that has already gone into this project, we're excited to have the opportunity to make our contribution by providing these families with a high-quality and durable product that will withstand all of the memories that will take place in the home for years to come."

Typically, a tile installation project of this magnitude would take weeks, if not months, to accomplish, but thanks to the dedicated tile professionals supporting this effort, it will be done within days. Spearheading this project in support of Tile Partners has been Laticrete International, a manufacturer of tile and stone installation systems. In particular, Steve Rampino of the Technical Services Department has provided a leadership role in coordinating the scheduling of the installation for the week. Laticrete will supply all of the installation materials for the project. Florida Tile has donated the ceramic tile, which will be used on both floors and walls. The National Tile Contractors Association has also supported this effort and two of its members in the area, the David Allen Company of Bristow, VA, and Collins Tile and Stone of Aldie, VA, will have crews assisting in the installation. Backerboard for the floors and walls was supplied by Fin Pan and grout sealer was donated by Miracle Sealants.

"Without the support of donors and sponsors like Tile Partners for Humanity, the important work we are doing to serve lower income families in Washington would not be possible," said Kent Adcock, President of DC Habitat.

The 2010 JRCWP is taking place in Ivy City, a largely industrial neighborhood in the central portion of Northeast Washington, DC. Ivy City, one of the area's smallest and least known communities, has faced great challenges and is home to a collection of houses dating back more than 100 years. DC Habitat is currently working on the construction of six new homes and six rehab properties in the Ivy City neighborhood. Work on all of these houses has continued since the week of Carter Project and will be completed this year.

President and Mrs. Carter are Habitat for Humanity's most famous volunteers and give a week of their time each year to help Habitat build, renovate or repair homes and raise awareness about the need for affordable and decent housing. Similar to Habitat's Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, the Carters joined Habitat for Humanity in 1984 to help renovate a decaying building in New York City's Lower East Side. Today, the building is part of a thriving, reinvigorated and dynamic community. Since that first build, the Carters and thousands of volunteers have worked with Habitat for Humanity across the U.S. and in Mexico, Canada, Hungary, South Africa, South Korea, India, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, China, Laos and Vietnam.