Mohawk Becomes Proud School Crasher in Community-Focused School Makeover Program

Aug 29, 2017 11:55 AM ET

CALHOUN, Ga. Aug. 29, 2017 /3BL Media/ — This summer, Mohawk Industries partnered with a Georgia-based credit union to “crash” four schools and give them makeovers in the fourth annual Georgia United Credit Union School Crashers℠ program.

School Crashers offers local schools the opportunity to apply for a facility makeover. In 2017, 330 schools submitted nominations for makeovers.

The goal of the program is to bring communities together to support local schools and their school systems, and that was its appeal to Mohawk, according to Kevin Wildes, vice president of marketing for Mohawk Group, the commercial division of Mohawk Industries.

“At Mohawk Group, we believe in better,” Wildes said, “and that means we have a commitment to improve the standard of living in the communities in which we live and work. We know, from our long work serving the education market, that environment does have an impact on learning. We wanted to help these schools create places where kids truly want to come and learn.”

Wildes describes all four schools that received donations of carpet and adhesive as “part of our community, our neighbors.” Mohawk Group’s durable commercial broadloom carpet in classic education colors was installed in Canby Lane Elementary, Decatur; Fairington Elementary, Lithonia; Eagle Woods Academy, Lithonia; and Pleasant Grove Elementary, Dalton.

“The expressions of all who first saw the carpet were priceless,” said Laurie Grant, principal of Pleasant Grove Elementary School. “It has transformed the overall atmosphere in each classroom to a warm, inviting school home. We cannot thank Georgia United and Mohawk Industries enough for their generous donation to our school.”

School Crashers projects have now wrapped up all renovations, and the facilities are ready to give students a fresh, new start for the school year. Before and after photos of this year’s benefitting schools are available at www.gucu.org/schoolcrashers.

“The goal of School Crashers is to improve the look and feel of these schools to help improve all students’ educational experience and distinguish the learning environment as a safe and happy place for students,” said Shawn Turpin, senior vice president of sales and service, Georgia United Credit Union. “Our School Crashers program makes a huge difference in these students’ lives and provides an opportunity for Georgia United team members, community members, educators, parents and students to work together.”

Additional School Crashers partners included The Home Depot Foundation, Chick-fil-A Foundation and Coca-Cola. Other projects done in conjunction with this year’s initiatives included creating new outdoor classrooms, building a therapeutic garden for special needs students, painting interiors and exteriors, making blacktop games, planting new landscaping and painting wall murals.

Contact:
Luke Chaffin 
762.204.5607
luke_chaffin@mohawkind.com

About Mohawk
Mohawk Industries is a leading global flooring manufacturer that creates products to enhance residential and commercial spaces around the world. Mohawk’s vertically integrated manufacturing and distribution processes provide competitive advantages in the production of carpet, rugs, ceramic tile, laminate, hardwood, stone and vinyl flooring. Our industry-leading innovation has yielded products and technologies that differentiate our brands in the marketplace and satisfy all remodeling and new construction requirements. Our brands are among the most recognized in the industry and include Mohawk, American Olean, Daltile, Durkan, IVC, Karastan, Marazzi, Pergo, Unilin and Quick-Step. During the past decade, Mohawk has transformed its business from an American carpet manufacturer into the world’s largest flooring company with operations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia and the United States.

About Georgia United Credit Union
Georgia United Credit Union is ranked as one of the top credit unions in Georgia in both size and safety with over $1 billion in assets, 160,000 members and 19 branch locations. Georgia United seeks to make members’ lives easier by offering products, services and education to help members meet their needs and achieve their goals. Georgia United Credit Union serves all state agency employees, the board of regents of colleges and universities, employees of over 500 companies and 11 county school systems.