Deerfield Beach, Florida – Over the past few years, MAPEI has provided assistance to the Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence, Supporting Empowerment) program, which builds custom smart homes for wounded veterans. MAPEI’s support was on display March 14 when company representatives helped welcome United States Army Captain (Ret.) Jake Murphy to his new smart home in Flower Mound, Texas.

A West Point graduate, Murphy was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, as a commissioned infantry officer; he served as the executive officer for his platoon. On July 23, 2011, while on a mission in the Regional Command South area, Murphy stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED). The resulting blast cost Murphy both of his legs and caused a brain injury that put him in a month-long coma.

"This new smart house will make life a little easier," Murphy said. "I can’t say enough how great this place is." 

"It is an honor and a privilege to work with the Gary Sinise Foundation, and to help soldiers like Captain Murphy and his family who have sacrificed so much in order to protect us," said Jennifer Kramer, MAPEI marketing communications manager. Kramer attended the welcome-home ceremony with Kyle Murphy, MAPEI Central Area Sales Director, and Dale Penland, MAPEI Business Development Leader.

MAPEI first became involved with the R.I.S.E. program through the National Wood Flooring Association’s (NWFA’s) efforts to "pay it forward" (growing members’ businesses through service to others) at the 2015 NWFA Wood Flooring Expo. Since then, MAPEI has volunteered to donate installation materials for all of the floors in the program’s smart homes. These materials include surface-preparation products, mortars and grouts for tile and stone, adhesives, and finishes and care and maintenance products for wood, as well as adhesives and installation accessories for carpet and vinyl flooring.  

"Due to our wide and varied product lines, we are in an unique position to provide products that will help make our returning vets’ lives more comfortable,"  MAPEI’s Murphy said. "This opportunity to work with our industry partners, including the NWFA, NTCA [National Tile Contractors Association] and NAHB [National Association of Home Builders], as well as the Gary Sinise Foundation, is a great way to support a worthwhile cause."