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NRCA and Industry Partners Join Rebuilding Together® to Provide Humanitarian Efforts at Kickoff to Rebuild

Organization Invites Industry to 
“Shout it From the Rooftops, Join the Team!”

January 2007 - For the 12th consecutive year, the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) and roofing industry partners will lend their financial and physical support to Rebuilding Together’s 2007 Kickoff to Rebuild event.  Using the umbrella theme, “Shout it from the Rooftops, Join the Team,” the association will showcase its local and national efforts to repair housing for low-income, elderly or disabled community members.   

Held two days before the National Football League’s (NFL’s) Super Bowl XLI, the annual Kickoff to Rebuild event will take place in Super Bowl host city Miami and feature the rehabilitation of two low-income Miami-area homes and one nonprofit facility, Boys & Girls Club of Broward County.  NFL players and Pro Football Hall of Fame members will offer their support by working on the houses and attending the press conference.  

Event Title Sponsor and NRCA member Advanced Roofing Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., will lead this year’s efforts, providing equipment, labor, and removal and installation of roofing materials. 

NRCA and its roofing industry partners also will be on hand to support Advanced Roofing in its efforts to improve not only the homes but also the quality of life for members in the community. Other industry contributors will include The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress, Rosemont, Ill.; Florida Roofing Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association Inc., Winter Park, Fla.; and Bradco Supply Corp., Avenel, N.J. 

“We’re honored to be associated with Rebuilding Together - it’s such a worthy cause,” says Advanced Roofing Chief Executive Officer Robert Kornahrens.  “As a south Florida roofing company for almost 25 years, I always have believed strongly in giving back to the local community, whether it is roofing for Habitat for Humanity, raising money for multiple sclerosis or getting involved with Rebuilding Together.  Every dollar makes a world of difference.”  

Roofing Industry Provides Year-Round Humanitarian Efforts
In addition to NRCA’s participation in Kickoff to Rebuild, the association and its industry partners continue to provide year-round humanitarian support to disaster victims around the country.

For example, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, NRCA again joined with Rebuilding Together to establish The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress’ Disaster Relief Fund.  The goal of the fund was to provide new roofs for those in affected regions.  Offering aid to those in the roofing industry, as well as the community, the fund helped rebuild churches, youth homes, activity centers, schools and homes belonging to low-income or disabled families.

One example of this is the Greater St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church in New Orleans.  When the church was damaged severely by Hurricane Rita, the Disaster Relief Fund came to their rescue.  With a congregation of 650, the church had no insurance to help pay for repairs.  The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress’ Disaster Relief Fund committed the money, time, labor and roofing materials to see that the members of this congregation had a roof over their heads. 

“The St. Mary’s project demonstrated what a big heart our industry has,” said NRCA Executive Vice President Bill Good.  “We asked for a lot of help from a lot of people and no one ever said no.” 

To support this effort, NRCA Immediate Former President Reid Ribble led a national campaign encouraging NRCA members to donate their time and money to support the Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress’ Disaster Relief Fund.  Ribble and fellow alliance members placed personal phone calls to solicit donations, collecting more than a half-million dollars in financial, material and labor contributions.  NRCA continues to aid the Gulf Region--through the fund and via thousands of volunteer hours donated by NRCA’s members.

“Being in the roofing industry provides us with a unique perspective because we are often among the first to be called when a natural disaster strikes, says Ribble. 

“NRCA, along with its members and industry partners, is proud to continue the tradition of volunteerism by supporting Rebuilding Together and other deserving organizations,” adds Good.  “Whether building homes in south Miami, assisting hurricane disaster victims in the Gulf Region, or working to provide the elderly with affordable housing, we are proud to play an integral role in this important humanitarian effort.”