The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has provided flooring for its 89th home in support of the Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E. program (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment). The R.I.S.E. program builds mortgage-free, custom, specially adapted smart homes for severely wounded veterans and first responders. The home dedication for retired U.S. Army Captain Leslie Nicole Smith took place on May 7, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee. Flooring for the project was donated by NWFA member Middle Tennessee Lumber.
Captain Smith volunteered to deploy following the events of 9/11. Her duties as a public affairs officer involved interfacing with high-level officials, dignitaries, celebrities, and high-ranking military officers. She was less than a year into her deployment when she suddenly began to feel excruciating pain in her left leg. An ultrasound revealed a growing blood clot that had broken off into thousands more, spreading throughout her body to vital organs, resulting in the loss of her left leg, and her vision.
“The clots were believed to have been caused by Captain Smith’s exposure to chemical agents and gasses emitted from mass grave sites,” says Stephanie Owen, president and CEO of NWFA. “They were so severe that doctors at Walter Reed Medical Center initiated the paperwork that gave her 24 hours to live, but Captain Smith was determined to fight. Despite losing her leg and her eyesight, she now works to help other service members and their families navigate their new normal. We’re honored to partner with Middle Tennessee Lumber to provide beautiful real wood floors for her new home.”
In addition to the 89 homes already completed, NWFA currently is working with its members to source wood flooring for 16 additional R.I.S.E. homes in various stages of planning and construction. Currently, 163 NWFA member companies have donated product, logistics, and installation services in locations throughout the United States, with a total value of more than $7 million. A list of all NWFA R.I.S.E. participating companies can be found at http://www.nwfa.org/giving-back.aspx.
To learn more about the program, and how you and/or your company can get involved, contact the NWFA at 800.422.4556, or e-mail them at anita.howard@nwfa.org.