For nearly 50 years, AWCI has had a crucial “sister” organization: the Foundation of the Wall and Ceiling Industry. Operating as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Foundation’s mission is clear: “to provide resources to grow, research to inform and philanthropy to CARE, in support of the wall and ceiling industry.”
While the Foundation is a separate entity from AWCI, complete with its own board, budget and strategic plan, its sole purpose is to support AWCI’s members and the broader industry. This symbiotic relationship allows it to focus on initiatives that directly benefit our community.
Research and Industry Insight
The Foundation has a long history of funding reports on issues of importance to our industry. Building on that history, we made a key strategic decision last year to partner with FMI to conduct an annual, comprehensive study of member industry trends.
The findings from the 2024 report provided invaluable market insights, enabling member companies and AWCI alike to think strategically about the market and their own businesses. We are already looking forward to the 2025 report scheduled for release this November. Over time, these annual reports will allow us to benchmark performance, identify long-term trends and establish a reliable index for the wall and ceiling industry.
Focused Philanthropy and Giving Back
Beyond research, the Foundation has long maintained a strong charitable focus. Earlier this year, for instance, we contributed $5,000 to the Texas Lath and Plastering Contractors Association’s workforce development and scholarship efforts.
Continuing this commitment to local communities, we will provide another $5,000 to the local Kentuckiana Build at the upcoming Industry Leaders Conference (ILC) in Louisville. We fully intend to make similar contributions in the future to local construction-related organizations in the cities hosting our major events, like BUILD: AWCI’s Convention and Expo and ILC. Giving back is simply fundamental to the Foundation’s mission.
The Cornerstone: AWCI CARES
Of course, the cornerstone of the Foundation’s philanthropic efforts is the AWCI CARES Program. The acronym stands for Caring Action Relief in Emergency Situations. I’ve said it before, and it’s true: one of the best parts of my job is when I sign checks awarding CARES grants. For the past 20 years, CARES has served as a critical helping hand for AWCI employees and their families during tough times, providing financial assistance when it’s needed most.
The program is designed for direct impact: CARES pays bills directly instead of paying the person in need. Assistance goes toward covering crucial expenses, including: medical bills; rent and mortgages; household bills for electricity, water and phone; and car payments.
A Call to Action
While CARES has distributed nearly a half million dollars over 20 years, I know more employees across AWCI’s 2,400+ member companies face hardship, and I hope we receive more grant requests.
Though the Foundation has significantly increased CARES awareness through all our channels—from Construction Dimensions to social media—requests haven’t substantially risen. Why? People are often reluctant to ask for help, and construction companies are excellent at “taking care of their own.” However, the major challenge remains that employees most in need simply don’t know CARES exist. This is where AWCI member leaders come in.
It is up to you—the individuals who receive our information—to ensure your employees know this financial safety net is available. We can send all the emails and posters we want, but it is ultimately on you to “get the word out.” If you do your part, we will blow the budget for CARES and sign assistance checks weekly, which would be a welcome development.
“Words cannot describe the gratefulness that my family and I have for you! This will surely make my treatment easier, having peace of mind that bills can get paid.” – Grant Recipient
To donate to the Foundation or for more information about the CARES program, visit the website.
Mike Stark, CAE, is the chief executive officer of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry.
