Pier 1 Imports raises $1.1 million for UNICEF

Gift represents proceeds from greeting card sales during 2009 holidays

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 8, 2010

At the Pier 1 Imports check presentation to UNICEF are Sharon Leite, left, Mark Daily, Candice Hamilton, Robert White and James Alvarez, all of Pier 1; and Edward Lloyd and Wendy Miller of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

NEW YORK — Pier 1 Imports has presented a check for $1.1 million to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, representing proceeds from the sale of UNICEF greeting cards during the 2009 holiday season.

All the money will help the fund in its mission to decrease the number of daily, preventable childhood deaths from 24,000 to zero. UNICEF programs provide medicines, vaccines, nutritious foods, primary education, clean water, sanitation and emergency relief for millions of children and women in more than 150 countries.

"Pier 1 Imports has been an incredible partner for the last 25 years and we are thrilled at the amount of funds raised from greeting card sales this past holiday season," said Edward Lloyd, executive vice president for operations and chief financial officer of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

Three Pier 1 Imports store managers and one regional manager were presented with plaques for 2009 holiday greeting cards sales results. The store managers are Robert White, Orlando/Hunter's Creek, Fla., James Alvarez, Torrance, Calif., and Candice Hamilton, Gresham, Ore., and the regional manager is Mark Daily, Orlando, Fla.

Pier 1 started selling UNICEF greeting cards in 1985 and is now the world's largest retailer of the cards, having raised more than $27 million.