Organizers of the Coverings trade show announced that this year's exhibitors donated more than 190 pallets of tile and tile materials to Tile Partners for Humanity (TPFH) at the close of the show. Freeman, the service contractor for Coverings 2005, donated labor to collect materials from the show floor and transport them to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando.

TPFH is a non-profit partnership between the tile industry and Habitat for Humanity International, a non-profit organization working to eliminate substandard housing around the world. Through TPFH, industry partners provide tile, installation services and maintenance materials to Habitat affiliates interested in building with tile.

“There was a significant overflow of quality materials simply because our exhibitors did not utilize all of it during booth construction and set up. Fortunately, they generously offered to donate the remaining materials to this worthy cause,” said Tamara Christian, Coverings' show director and president of National Trade Productions.

A portion of the tile collected from the show will be used in kitchens, entryways and bathrooms of Habitat for Humanity homes currently under construction in the Orlando area. The remaining tile will be sold through the Habitat Home Store, part of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando, which sells building materials to fund new construction in the community. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be used to support new construction in the Orlando area and operations for both Habitat for Humanity and Tile Partners for Humanity.

“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of the Coverings exhibitors. Not only will materials from this donation be used to tile new Habitat homes, but they will also help generate funding for both new construction in Orlando and operations for TPFH and Habitat for Humanity,” said Ally Fertitta executive director of TPFH. “Through our partnership with Coverings and its exhibitors, TPFH and Habitat will be able to continue tiling new homes in communities across the country.”

“On behalf of the West Orange Habitat for Humanity and our two homeowners directly benefiting from the tile donation, we would like to thank Coverings for their generous donation and support,” said Marcia Praysner, representative of the West Orange Habitat for Humanity and office manager for Freeman. “This donation will benefit not only the West Orange Habitat, but also affiliates throughout Central Florida. Our communities are very fortunate to have such a gracious benefactor.”