It was almost 20 years ago when Mary and Pete Fellbusch, owners of Absolute Flooring in Yorktown, met Nancy Heller for the first time. Little did they know that it would be the start of a long-term relationship that would help so many people in their community.
Absolute Flooring, which offers expert flooring sales and installations in Westchester County and surrounding areas, has been located in Yorktown since 1986. As a family-owned firm, Absolute Flooring has always had a commitment to the community. So it’s no surprise that they said yes when Heller, a Yorktown resident, walked in and asked them to donate carpeting for a new nonprofit organization that was about to open up in town.
The organization was Yorktown-based Support Connection, Inc., which has provided free support services to people affected by breast and ovarian cancer since 1996. Heller is one of the organization’s co-founders. Support Connection’s first office in Yorktown was across the street from where Absolute Flooring was located at that time. Absolute Flooring donated the carpeting not only for that first office, but also again when Support Connection moved to a different building in town. In addition, over the past 20 years, Absolute Flooring has been a sponsor of every annual Support-A-Walk and the Fellbusch’s have been personal participants in numerous other Support Connection fundraising events.
Pete says: “We are very proud of our relationship with Support Connection. It feels good to do something so worthwhile. We like supporting them because it feels more personal than if we gave to a large national organization. As a business person, I know that dollar-for-dollar, our donations to Support Connection have more of an impact and go directly back into our community.”
Absolute Flooring is a very family-oriented business. Pete and Mary’s son and daughter, both in their twenties, have both been involved with the business. Mary’s sister Diane Darby is a key member of their sales team. Focus on family is another reason for the Fellbusch’s commitment to Support Connection. Mary points out that many of their customers are women. She says: “We contribute because we believe in what Support Connection does for women and families. I give their information to anyone I meet. We have referred many of our customers to Support Connection. They always tell us the support they received was fantastic and the programs are so beneficial to them.”
Once again this year, Absolute Flooring is a Major Sponsor Support Connection’s Support-A-Walk for Breast and Ovarian Cancer. The 20th Anniversary Support-A-Walk will take place on Sunday, Oct. 5th at FDR State Park in Yorktown Heights. The event was founded by local residents to bring attention to the needs of people affected by breast and ovarian cancer. People travel from across the Hudson Valley and beyond to take part in this inspiring and uplifting community event. Proceeds fund Support Connection’s free support services and programs for people affected by breast and ovarian cancer.
Support Connection’s Executive Director Katherine Quinn says: “The support of small businesses like Absolute Flooring has helped keep Support Connection alive and well for nearly 20 years. They truly care about our mission to help those affected by breast and ovarian cancer. Absolute Flooring also does a wonderful job of building relationships with their customers. It’s no wonder they have often referred people to us for support services. Absolute Flooring is a real gift to us and to the community.”
To learn more about Absolute Flooring, visit www.absoluteflooring.com. To learn more about Support Connection’s services and the Support-A-Walk, visit www.supportconnection.org or call 914-962-6402.