Hooker donates $1.35 million in showroom property to HPU
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, December 24, 2007
High Point — Manufacturer Hooker Furniture has donated showroom properties here with an appraised value of $1.35 million to High Point University.
The two freestanding buildings on King Street formerly were occupied by leather upholstery producer Bradington-Young, a Hooker subsidiary. Bradington-Young now shows in High Point's International Home Furnishings Center, down the hall from Hooker.
"High Point University is grateful that Hooker Furniture has blessed us with such a generous gift," said HPU President Nido Qubein. "Hooker's gift of real estate provides financial resources that will allow High Point University to continue our forward momentum, especially as we strengthen our home furnishings marketing program."
HPU says it offers the world's only major in home furnishings marketing and design through its Knabusch-Shoemaker International School of Home Furnishings Design.
"Hooker has enjoyed a long-term positive relationship with High Point University and we think it is a great institution," said Larry Ryder, executive vice president, finance and administration, for the company. "The university is certainly providing the kind of professionals we need in our industry, and we want to support them however we can."
In 1996, Hooker and its employees and sales representatives established the J. Clyde Hooker Jr. scholarship for students in the International School of Home Furnishings Design, in honor of the company's chairman emeritus and former longtime CEO.
A few years ago, employees and the corporation also donated funds for construction of the J. Clyde Hooker Jr. Atrium level in Patrick H. Norton Hall, where the Home Furnishings school is based.
