Gift for Life

Gift for Life’s Party for Life Raises More Than $200,000

February 10, 2015— Gift for Life, the gift and home industries’ charitable organization, announced today its Party for Life event raised more than $200,000. The 23rd annual event was held on Monday, February 2 at The Boathouse in Central Park in New York City and welcomed hundreds of attendees.

“No other industry event combines the fun, the networking and the generosity of the annual Party for Life,” said Stu Teller, Gift for Life chairperson. “Congratulations to our honorees and thanks to everyone for helping make this event a big success.”

The Party for Life featured numerous NYC-themed food stations, multiple bars and a short program honoring industry leaders: Susan Feldman, co-founder and chief merchandising officer of One Kings Lane, was honored with Gift for Life’s Norman Glassberg Trailblazer Award; Beatriz Ball, founder of the eponymous metalware company, was honored with the Bert Tonkin Gift of Giving Award; and John Grob, founder of J. Grob Associates, was honored with the Chuck Yancy Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, Mike Turnbull, senior vice president of strategic relations for AmericasMart, was honored with The Founder’s Award, and Caroline Kennedy, former editor-in-chief of Gifts & Decorative Accessories, was honored for her years of service to the organization.

In addition to recognizing industry honorees, guests competed for a wide array of prizes at silent and live auctions including celebrity signed guitars, jewelry, home décor, vacation packages, marketing assistance, and much more.

Each year, Gift for Life hosts events throughout the U.S. benefitting DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. The primary mission of Gift for Life and DIFFA is to eradicate the AIDS pandemic in the U.S. Working together, Gift for Life and DIFFA will continue to raise funds for HIV/AIDS service and education programs. For additional information please visit www.giftforlife.org. Follow Gift for Life’s efforts via its free e-newsletter, available at http://www.giftforlife.org/about_gfl/press-releases-and-newsletters/.

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45 Must-Bid Auction Items Announced for Party for Life

Gift for Life, has announced that more than 45 auction items – including luxury experiences such as Fashion Week tickets and an exclusive ski/golf club membership, as well as unique gift and home décor products donated by nearly 30 leading suppliers – will be offered during the annual Party For Life on Monday, February 2, in New York City. The auction items, collectively valued at more than $65,000 are available for pre-event online bidding beginning this week at www.501auctions.com/pfl.

Among the notable auction prizes are: Tickets to four Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week events (value: priceless); One Year Membership at The Hermitage Club, a private ski and golf club (value: $15,000.00); “Marilyn” painting by Paul Gerben (value: $18,500); Vermont Ski/Mountain Bike week-long stay at the Carriage House at Darling Hill (value: $3,000.00). A number of fabulous gift and home décor items also have been donated for auction by nearly 30 leading industry suppliers including Acquiesse; AF Lighting; Alok; Ann Gish; Archipelago; Arte Italica; Artek USA, Inc.; Beatriz Ball; Cinda B; Creative Co-op; European Soaps; Global Views; Homart; Jax & Bone; Joanne & Company; John Madeiros; John Wind Maximal Art; Jonathan Adler; Jura Inc.; Marc Blackwell; Michael Aram; Paddywax; Peacock Alley; Stewart/Stand; Studio A; Thoi; Uno de 50; Trollbeads; and Wendell August. (NOTE: Product photos available upon request)

The Party for Life auction will be managed by 501 Auction services, allowing for advance viewing of the unique, and in many cases exclusive, auction items online prior to the event. Beginning today, viewers may preview the auction, pre-register as bidders and submit advance bids via www.501auctions.com/pfl. 501 Auctions uses mobile technology to notify bidders of their bid status and to competitive bids.

Make plans now to attend Gift for Life’s 23rd Annual Party for Life, benefiting DIFFA, on Monday, February 2, 2015, at The Boathouse in New York City’s Central Park. During this fun and festive evening, three industry leaders will receive achievement awards: Susan Feldman, co-founder and chief merchandising officer of One Kings Lane, to be honored with Gift for Life’s Norman Glassberg Trailblazer Award; Beatriz Ball, founder of the eponymous metalware company, to be honored with the Bert Tonkin Gift of Giving Award; and John Grob, founder of J. Grob Associates, to be honored with the Chuck Yancy Lifetime Achievement Award. Individual tickets are $125, and sponsorships ranging from $500 through $25,000 are available. For details, contact Steven Williams at swilliams@diffa.org, (212) 727-3100.

Each year, Gift for Life hosts events throughout the U.S. benefitting DIFFA. The primary mission of Gift for Life and DIFFA is to eradicate the AIDS pandemic in the U.S. Working together, Gift for Life and DIFFA will continue to raise funds for HIV/AIDS service and education programs. For additional information please visit www.giftforlife.org. Follow Gift for Life’s efforts via their free e-newsletter, available at http://www.giftforlife.org/about_gfl/press-releases-and-newsletters/.

SAVE THE DATE – PARTY ON PEACHTREE JANUARY 8th!!!!

Party on Peachtree 2015 is the Atlanta Market Event benefitting Gift For Life (GFL) and Young Gift Executives (YGE). Hosted by AmericasMart Atlanta with presenting sponsor Poo-Pourri, the inaugural Party On Peachtree will help advance the continuing work of Gift For Life and Young Gift Executives with proceeds funding HIV/AIDS prevention, research and treatment and domestic violence prevention respectively. It’s the signature event of the Atlanta International Gift & Furnishing Market.

Drinks, dinner and the sounds of the 70’s classic rock band, The Helpers, presided over by Emmy-nominated emcee, Tom Sullivan, all make Party On Peachtree the hottest ticket at Market!

Gift for Life (GFL) is a partnership between the gift, home and stationery industries to raise funds supporting HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment through the efforts of DIFFA. The Young Gift Executives (YGE) is supporting the work of Caminar Latino’s comprehensive domestic-violence treatment and prevention programs.

Thursday, January 8th

6:30 pm – 10:30 pm

200 Peachtree, just south of AmericasMart Building One

For additional information, please contact Sasha Johnson at 404-220-2311 or sjohnson@americasmart.com

Tickets are ON SALE NOW…and going FAST!!!

To Purchase:

http://www.partyonpeachtree2015.eventbrite.com/

“Party for Life” To Be Held February 2, 2015!

In support of HIV/AIDS education and services, each year Gift for Life brings the industry together for an exciting evening of fun and fundraising during NY NOW®, the Market for Home & Lifestyle (formerly NYIGF®). Last year’s event was a huge success–attracting more than 300 guests andraising over $200,000. For 2015, we have an even bigger goal! With your help, we are determined to raise a record amount of funds to assist more people across the country–from LA to Chicago to Dallas to Las Vegas to NYC to Atlanta.

Party for Life will take place on Monday, February 2, 2015, at the landmark Boathouse in Central Park. Guests will experience quintessential New York City culture and cuisine while bidding on an impressive array of hospitality experiences and luxury items in the silent auction, all in support of Gift for Life’s sole beneficiary, DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS.

In celebration of Gift for Life’s 23 years, three incredible individuals will be celebrated: John Grob will be honored with the Chuck Yancy Lifetime Achievement Award; Beatriz Ball will be honored with the Bert Tonkin Gift of Giving award; and Susan Feldman will be honored with the Trailblazer award.

Tickets for the event can be purchased through Eventbrite.

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/gift-for-lifes-party-for-life-tickets-13823932755

In addition to ticket sales, we generate much of the fundraising dollars through sponsorship. We need you to help support this important cause by committing to one of the various levels of sponsorship. Further information about sponsorship is detailed here:

GFL Party for Life Sponsorship Packet 2015

All of us at Gift For Life thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you there!!

GHTA/Gift for Life “Honor of Excellence” announced

albertmaslia

The late Albert David Maslia will be named the GHTA/Gift for Life Honor of Excellence recipient at the fifth annual ICON Honors celebration on Thursday, July 10, 2014 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

Maslia, who at his April 9, 2014 passing was Managing Director of Retail Services for AmericasMart® Atlanta, was a veteran retailer having begun his long career at Rich’s department store, and later going on to found the highly successful Linen Loft and Social Expressions specialty-store chains. The GHTA/ Gift for Life Honor of Excellence is named by independent action of the judges, at their sole discretion and initiation, from the field of Achievement nominees.

“Albert was, and is, an absolutely irreplaceable presence of vitality, energy and optimism,” notes Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., vice chairman, president and chief operating officer of AmericasMart Atlanta, the founder and primary sponsor of ICON. “His imprint on who we are, and what we do as an industry, is unmistakable and indelible. His life and legacy touches all of us in many, many ways,” Portman adds.

An Atlanta native, Maslia worked at the venerated Rich’s Department Store from 1952 to 1978. He began in the training program as a shoe salesman in the basement and worked through the ranks to become a senior vice president and member of the Board of Directors.

After 26 years at Rich’s, he left to create two well-known and successful local retail chains – Social Expressions and The Linen Loft. After 22 years at Social Expressions growing the business to 14 stores in the metro-Atlanta area and selling the chain to American Greetings.

Maslia moved on to his next venture becoming the Managing Director of Retail Services for AmericasMart, a retail instructor at the Goizueta Business School at Emory University and a consultant for a variety of organizations including American Greetings and the Small Business Administration.

Always committed to assisting and empowering the Atlanta community, Maslia was involved with a variety of associations, boards and committees such as: Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Lenox Square Merchants’ Association, Underground Merchants’ Association, Emory University Business School Alumni Board, Marine Toys for Tots, Congregation Or VeShalom Synagogue, Buckhead Business Association, City of Atlanta Board of Zoning Adjustment, Fulton County Board of Assessors, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and Cornerstone Bank of Atlanta.

Part of his legacy to his wife of 60 years, Lucy, his four children Dianne, Elise, Stephanie and Darryl, his 12 grandchildren and great-grandson, was his fervent belief that people are more important than things. Throughout this life and career, Maslia stuck by his ideals and mentored countless friends and colleagues to do the same.

The ICON Honors 2014 celebration is scheduled for Thursday, July 10 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis (please click here for details). Tickets and tables are on sale here.

GFL/NSS Team raises $24,000+ in NY AIDS Walk

Gift For Life National Stationery Show AIDS Walk NY 2014

Color us proud.

The Gift For Life/National Stationery Show team raised more than $24,000 for men, women, and families who are living with HIV/AIDS. The team was just shy of its $25,000 goal, but hey…we’re talking big numbers here, folks.

These funds, along with a generous matching grant of $5,000 from DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) will bring the team’s total funds raised for AIDS Walk NY to more than $30,000. At the start of the walk, the Gift For Life/National Stationery Show was ranked 16th among the event’s overall top fundraising teams.

“It was an honor to be tapped as this year’s team leader,” said Su Hilty, team captain. “Living in the city gave me great access to the entire AIDS Walk staff and the GMHC team as well as events leading up to the walk. Those connections helped with this year’s increased fund-raising! Kudos to all!”

More than $10,000 of the team’s total was raised by Gift for Life board member, Matt Katzenson owner of Fine Lines; and the team boasted an additional five “Star Walkers” who each raised more than $1,000 for the event: Marci Bracken of Gift Shop Magazine; Jenny Hammons, Gift for Life board member and owner of Jenny Hammons/Company; Su Hilty, team captain and gift and home industry ambassador; Christophe Rammant of BOLON; and Stu Teller, Gift for Life Chair and co-owner of Right Angle Strategies.

Some 25 team members completed the 10K walk through Central Park and New York’s Upper West Side, and another 5 team members conducted a “virtual” walk through the aisles of the National Stationery Show on Sunday, May 18.

To download the official press release, click here.

Seattle Sample Sale raises $23,000 for GFL

ParkAve_poster_2011

Remember the big holiday fundraiser in Seattle? Wondering how the numbers shook out? Well, buckle your seatbelts—the news is that good.

The 17th Holiday Sample Sale raised more than $23,000 on behalf of Gift for Life in December and January, featuring products from the Pacific Market Center in Seattle. Since 1992, the sale has raised more than $300,000 for GFL.

Park Avenue Agents of the Pacific Market Center managed the sale of donated gifts, toys, books, home accessories and more, which were available to the public at wholesale prices – with all proceeds going to Gift For Life. Merchandise was donated from many Pacific Market Center wholesale showrooms, independent retailers and manufacturers across the country. Unsold merchandise was donated to local AIDS-related charities such as the Lifelong AIDS Alliance and Seattle Children’s Thrift Shops.

“Thank you to everyone who helped create another wildly successful Seattle Sample Sale,” said Stu Teller, chairman of the Gift for Life Board. “Your generosity and dedication to the cause has generated tremendous financial support.”

To download the official press release, click here.

Up on 10: Las Vegas continues to support GFL

Vegas

It’s that time again—join us for a fan-tab-u-lous party in glittering Las Vegas!

Monday, July 28, 2014
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Building C, 10th Floor, Space 1052

Las Vegas Market proudly presents its annual Gift for Life charity event during summer market. Join us on 10th floor of Building C, Las Vegas Market’s newest destination for gift and lifestyle products, as we enjoy cocktails, light bites, entertainment, a silent auction, and great friends. 100% of the proceeds will benefit Gift for Life.

Click here to purchase tickets.

It’s not too late to donate

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Team GFL/NSS is lacing up their shoes, preparing for their third year in the NY AIDS Walk–the largest AIDS-related fundraising walk in the U.S. To those of you who are pulling on shoes with them, hooray!

Not everyone can jump in, though—sometimes, real life and work get in the way. That doesn’t mean you can’t help out; we’re still accepting pledges and donations on the GFL/NSS team page. C’mon…flip over there, chip in, and be part of the change.

Who knew it could be so easy to do so much good?

GFL + NSS + NY AIDS Walk = Win/Win/Win

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For the third year in a row, Gift for Life is partnering with the National Stationery Show to participate in the country’s largest AIDS fundraising walk—NY AIDS Walk 2014—to be held May 18, 2014. That doesn’t mean you have to be a member of GFL or attending NSS; virtual walkers are all the rage, allowing those of us who can’t be in Central Park to support the cause from afar.

It’s not too late to sign up (walking or as a virtual walker). Visit the GFL/NSS Team page to get started! As you garner donations, our numbers increase and the impact grows. After all, even a small donation can have a major impact on lives. Lots of lives. Just check out the graphic above.

So….what are you waiting for? Get cracking, folks! We want to make last year’s numbers look like the warm up act.

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