The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) is launching its Giving Tuesday campaign in support of the Flooring Futures Initiative on December 3, 2024. This critical fundraising effort will provide the necessary funds to support the next generation of wood flooring professionals, helping them overcome the barriers to entering the industry.
The Flooring Futures Initiative, created by the NWFA Education & Research Foundation (NERF), addresses a growing crisis in the wood flooring industry: the aging workforce. The average age of a flooring installer in the United States is 56 years old, and in just a decade, many of these skilled professionals will be retiring, leaving a significant gap in the industry. This gap could have devastating effects on the quality and availability of skilled labor, but there is hope. The Flooring Futures Initiative aims to attract and train new professionals to fill the void, ensuring the long-term health and success of the industry.
Supporting the future of wood flooring is essential to the continued vitality of the industry. Through the Flooring Futures Initiative, NERF is not only providing educational opportunities but also removing financial barriers that prevent many young people from entering the workforce, including the costs of training, travel, lodging, meals, and even lost wages. On Giving Tuesday, there is an opportunity to make a direct, lasting impact on the future of the industry.
The funds raised through this campaign will help provide scholarships, training, and mentorship for individuals seeking a career in wood flooring. The initiative will also cover essential costs, such as travel and lodging for training programs, to ensure financial barriers do not deter promising candidates from pursuing careers in the field.
How You Can Help:
Donors can contribute to the campaign directly on the NWFA’s donation page on December 3rd. Contributions will go directly toward the Flooring Futures Initiative, helping remove obstacles for the next generation of flooring professionals.
For more information on the Flooring Futures Initiative or to contribute, please contact Stephanie Owen at stephanie.owen@nwfa.org or visit nwfa.org/givingtuesday.
About the Flooring Futures Initiative:
The Flooring Futures Initiative is designed to address the workforce shortage in the wood flooring industry by providing educational and financial support to the next generation of professionals. The initiative works to remove the barriers to entry, such as training costs, travel, lodging, and lost wages, to ensure that individuals who are eager to join the field can do so without being hindered by financial constraints.