Furniture bank sponsors needed
Currently there are only 70 nationwide
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, June 28, 2006
ATLANTA — The home furnishings industry has launched “600 in ’06,” a first-ever campaign to recruit 600 sponsors to open new furniture banks and support existing ones.
The non-profit National Furniture Bank Assn. represents almost 70 furniture banks nationwide. These organizations collect used home furnishings to donate to the needy, including survivors of natural disasters, women and children escaping domestic violence, and working families with earnings below the poverty line. Banks annually collect and distribute more than 1 million pieces of furniture.
“There is a combined universe of some 40,000 companies in our industry,” said Ray Allegrezza, editor in chief of Furniture/Today and an NFBA board member. “From home furnishings retailers, accessory retailers, suppliers, manufacturers and others, it’s time we all got together to make a difference.”
NFBA Executive Director Phil Van Poetsch said the home furnishings industry has embraced the effort “first and foremost because it’s a very worthy cause.”
Sponsors represent all parts of the industry, including retailers, manufacturers and suppliers, and can be a company or an individual. Don Lawrence, an NFBA spokesman, said one individual sponsor is a private philanthropist outside the furniture industry who supports the cause.
The NFBA will announce new sponsors monthly. Sponsors will be listed on the Help1Up Web site, www.help1up.org, along with the sponsor’s logo, company description and hyperlink. Retailers can have their store locations added to the “Find By Zip Code” function of the site to assist customers wishing to shop retail sponsors.
Nearly 25 sponsors already are supporting the 600 in ’06 drive.
Mary Ann Levitt, president of Breuners Arizona in Scottsdale and also president of the National Home Furnishings Assn., said, “I’m proud to do whatever I can. I know that our industry can only make an impact if we all act together, now, and show the American public we care.”
Wogie Badcock, executive vice president of retailer W. S. Badcock in Mulberry, Fla., said, “Six hundred sponsors is way too low. It’s a fantastic cause.
“I know the entire industry will join together to make it a success.”
Initial sponsors include retailers Alperts Furniture, See-konk, Mass; Badcock Home Furniture, Mulberry, Fla.; Bob’s Discount Furniture, Manchester, Conn.; Breuners Arizona, Scottsdale; Gabberts Furniture, Minneapolis; Gorin’s Furniture, Norwich, Conn.; Jennifer Convertibles, Woodbury, N.Y.; Lack’s Furniture, Pharr, Texas; and Wolf Furniture, Bellwood, Pa.
Also, Furniture First, Hooker Furniture, Kathy Ireland Home by Alta, Kathy Ireland Home by Hanna’s Candles, Kathy Ireland Home by Labs, Kathy Ireland Home by Martin, Kathy Ireland Home by Pacific Coast Lighting, Kathy Ireland Home by Standard, Kathy Ireland Home by Therapedic, Kathy Ireland Worldwide, MGM Transport and National Cos.
Industry associations that have endorsed the effort and are encouraging member participation include the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Assn., Futon Assn. International, Home Furnishings International Assn., Interior Design Society, International Home Furnishings Representatives Assn., National Home Furnishings Assn., North American Retail Dealers Assn., Unfinished Furniture Assn., Western Home Furnishings Assn. and WithIt.
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