Following are the studies, programs and projects that are currently in progress. Regular status reports are given to Roofing Alliance members at their annual April and fall meetings.
Helping our Own—ongoing (2007—funding is approved on an as-need basis—$100,383 has been distributed to date to a total of seven individuals and/or families). In 2007, The Alliance expanded its funding initiatives to helping our own, which includes reaching out to the roofing community and its members and helping fund projects dedicated to good works and charitable giving. The funding mission expansion serves to balance the programs supported by the Alliance to enable it to affect more lives in the roofing industry. Through a nomination process, the Alliance recognizes and identifies the challenges associated with life-changing events and provides assistance to create sustainable solutions for individuals or families in need.
Melvin Kruger Endowed Scholarship Program—ongoing (2007—$650,000 [$400,000 scholarship funds collected since the Alliance's inception plus $250,000 designated for the next five years.]) The Melvin Kruger Endowed Scholarship Program was established with a unanimous vote among Alliance members. Not only does the program recognize Melvin Kruger as a great industry leader but also as a person who has devoted much of his life to the cause of education. The ongoing goal is to create a permanent scholarship fund of at least $2 million. Annual scholarships in the amount of $5,000 are awarded to post-secondary students from NRCA contractor and supplier member firms. With the 2020-210 school year, a total of $895,000 has been awarded to 131 students.
Employee Outreach—committed, ongoing program (2016-2021—$72,035 total committed) This initiative is for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards program, which recognizes employees for their exceptional achievements and contributions to the roofing industry and their charitable contributions to their communities. The program identifies and honors a maximum of 10 outstanding roofing workers each year. The winners are recognized at NRCA's Industry Awards Ceremony, which is held in conjunction with the International Roofing Expo.
Construction Management Schools Initiative—committed, ongoing program (Total commitment as of 2020-21—$597,713) This initiative involves developing relationships with faculty and students in construction management schools with the following goals: (1) To develop roofing-specific material that can be integrated into current course curricula. (2) To develop an internship program for students. (3) To offer faculty and student scholarships. (4) To conduct student competitions where students are given a complex roofing issue to solve. Finalist teams then attend the International Roofing Expo, where they present their final report to a panel of judges. (5) To develop a faculty research program. (6) To establish student chapters or clubs for students interested in exploring careers in roofing.
Gold Circle Awards Program—committed, ongoing (2017-2021—$32,975 total committed) This program annually recognizes Roofing Alliance and NRCA members for outstanding contributions to the roofing industry and unique roofing-related jobs, programs and services completed between June 1 and May 31. The categories include: Outstanding Workmanship; Innovative Solutions; and Safety Preparedness and Performance. The winners are recognized at NRCA's Industry Awards Ceremony, which is held in conjunction with the International Roofing Expo.
Ronald McDonald House Charities Nationwide® Partnership (2017-2021—$200,000 total committed) Through this partnership, Roofing Alliance and NRCA members align with the 165 stand-alone Ronald McDonald houses throughout the U.S to care for their roofing needs. Members conduct regular inspections of the houses' roof systems, ensure they are properly maintained, perform repairs when necessary and are involved when the roof systems need to be replaced. The core purpose of the Ronald McDonald houses is to provide homes for family members of children who are being treated at a hospital. Many of the children have cancer; others were born prematurely. The houses provide private sleeping rooms and meals and pride themselves on offering opportunities for families to interact as they go through their difficult times. Families are asked to pay a nominal fee (about $10 per day) to stay in one of the houses, but no family is rejected if the fee is problematic.
Committed/Continued Project funding for 2020-21
$ 8,804 – Employee Outreach expenses (MVP program)
$ 2,200 – Gold Circle Awards program expenses
$ 71,480 – Construction Management Initiative
$ 51,000 – Ronald McDonald House Charities© Partnership
$ 133,484 – total committed
NEW Project funding for 2020-21
$ 80,098 – Workforce Education & Retention – Roofing Industry Focused College Course, Phase 2
$ 58,671 – Evaluating the Efficacy of Virtual Reality Technology for Improving Roofing Worker Safetybr>
$ 138,769 — total NEW funding
$272,253 total funding for 2020-21
A TOTAL OF 51 PROJECTS HAVE BEEN FUNDED to date — $5,993,170
