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Industry continuing to aid Sept. 11 victims

By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, October 7, 2001

High Point — The home furnishings community continues to open its heart and wallet to aid victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

In High Point, the International Home Furnishings Representatives Assn. is leading an effort to collect donations at market for two charities that aim to ease the financial burdens of families of the firefighters and police officers who lost their lives.

IHFRA is asking manufacturers to place gallon jugs at reception desks in their showrooms to collect donations. IHFRA will provide labels and will pool the funds at the association's Monday Night Social in the International Home Furnishings Center.

All donations will go to the New York Firefighters 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund and the WTC Police Disaster Relief Fund.

Manufacturers may contact IHFRA at (336) 889-3920 to have the labels mailed, or pick up labels at the IHFRA office, M1405 in the IHFC. Donations may be brought to the Social, set for 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, in the IHFC International Ballroom on the 11th floor, Green wing, or may be dropped off at the IHFRA office.

Other industry efforts include the following:

Upholstery producer Natuzzi will skip its always-crowded market party this fall and instead donate the funds budgeted for the event to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The amount of the donation wasn't disclosed. In a press release, the company said that Chairman Pasquale Natuzzi "believed now should be a time of reflection in the face of tragedy."
Hooker donated just over $34,000 to the Red Cross, with the company matching donations by employees and also making a separate corporate contribution of $10,000.
"Once again, Hooker employee-owners have responded to a need," said Larry Ryder, chief financial officer, in announcing the figure. He and Chief Executive Officer Paul Toms, along with Doug Williams, chief operating officer, had set a goal of $30,000.
Hooker executive Harrison Toms chairs the Martinsville and Henry County, Va., chapter of the American Red Cross.
Retail software vendor Storis Management Systems is donating $25,000 to the Twin Towers Orphan Fund on behalf of Storis employees. The fund helps children who lost a parent in the attack on the World Trade Center in New York.
"Our city, nation and the world has been literally torn apart by the worst act of terrorism in our history," said Storis co-founders Ira Bakst and Donald Surdoval. "The support and contributions of fellow Americans unites us in our humanity and, hopefully, in some small way eases the pain and provides support to the people directly affected."
Storis canceled its annual user conference, set for late September, as a result of the WTC attack.
Internet technology provider Whereoware is joining fund-raising efforts with its "Show Your Pride for America" program, which promotes the sourcing and resale of patriotic products. Whereoware supplier members with patriotic-themed merchandise are donating a portion of sales to disaster relief organizations, and Whereoware is donating transaction fees from these sales to the American Red Cross.
Retailers can order the products online by clicking on the American flag icon at www.whereoware.com.
"We are deeply saddened and shocked by the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, and wanted to reach out in some way to aid relief efforts," said Whereoware CEO Ben Johns. "We decided that we could use our Web site to generate financial assistance for the charities that are supporting disaster relief."
Fabric supplier Irvin Alan Fabrics donated 10% of it sales revenues for one week after the attacks to the Red Cross.

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