Umbra’s Little Red Dress continues to benefit GFL

Little_Red_Dress_GiftForLife_UmbraGift for Life has received nearly $4,500 so far from sales of Umbra’s Little Red Dress jewelry organizer – for which a portion of each sale benefits the organization. Designed by Matt Carr, Umbra’s director of design, Little Red Dress provides jewelry storage with 39 clear pockets on the front and 24 hook-and-loop closures on the back, measuring 18″ x 42″ (retailing at an affordable $20.00).

“Umbra’s stylish products are matched by a tremendously generous spirit,” says Gift for Life Chair Stu Teller. “We are pleased to partner with them in order to support HIV/AIDS education and care across the U.S.”

To see the item up close, click here.

For the original introduction of Little Red Dress, click here.

TV personality, Evette Rios, to host GFL’s Party for Life

rios+pfl2014That’s right. The effervescent bilingual television host, lifestyle expert, and writer, Evette Rios, is joining the GFL family as host of our upcoming fundraiser, Party for Life.

Evette currently hosts the CBS TV show “Recipe Rehab,” although many of us recognize her from appearances on ABC’s “The Chew,” side-by-side with famed chef Mario Batali. Her connection to GFL comes by way of an ongoing commitment to DIFFA.

“I’m very excited to be involved with Gift for Life,” states Ríos, who serves as a board member of DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS). As Party for Life host, she’ll help to introduce Gift for Life’s award honorees and assist with the live auction.

Welcome, from all of us at GFL, Evette! We’re tickled to have you in the family.

Haven’t picked up tickets to GFL’s 22nd Annual Party for Life yet? Want to be one of our shining star sponsors? Jump in—we’d love to welcome you too!

Click here for Sponsor details; click here to purchase tickets.

Bi-annual Sample Sale benefitting GFL

ParkAve_poster_2011That’s right. It’s back, and it’s grander than ever. The 17th Holiday Sample Sale will be held November 9th through January 12th in Edmonds, Washington (greater Seattle metro area).

Park Avenue Agents (in Pacific Market Center) are managing the sale of donated gifts, toys, books, home accessories, and more, available to the public at wholesale prices with all proceeds going to Gift for Life.

This year the sale is located at 22824 100th Ave West in Edmonds. Merchandise has been donated from many Pacific Market Center wholesale showrooms, independent retailers and manufactures across the country. Unsold merchandise will be donated to local AIDS-related charities such as the Lifelong AIDS Alliance and Seattle Children’s Thrift Shops.

“With the holiday season right around the corner, this event gives consumers the perfect opportunity to shop at wholesale prices while supporting a great cause,” said Heidi Park of Park Avenue Agents.

In 2011, the last time the biennial sale took place, proceeds of $30,000 were presented to Gift for Life. Since 1992, the sale has raised more than $300,000.

“The Pacific Northwest has always been a tremendous partner,” said Stu Teller, chair of the Gift for Life board. “It’s a region with strong ties to wholesale, healthy retail conditions and generous people; therefore, we expect this year to be another great success.”

To download the official press release, click here.

The Sample Sale is back!

You’ll want to jump on this one…only happens every other year!

ParkAve_poster_2011

Testing…testing….

pop machineJust working on some website issues that might auto-post to our FB page, LinkedIn group, and Twitter feed. Thanks for understanding as we “kick the side of the pop machine” a few times to get things going.

Ahhhhh, technology. Here to make us crazy some days.

Who needs football? Party for Life 2014!

Super Bowl, schmooper bowl.PFL-2014-logo

We’re not letting a little football sack our annual fundraiser. No way. 

Please join us in raising funds for HIV/AIDS education and prevention as we celebrate the accomplishments of our Honorees—Kurt S. Adler Inc. and Clare Brett Smith—plus introduce the newly renamed Norman Glassberg Trailblazer Award, commemorating his impact on the gift industry.

We’ll continue to post info as it becomes available, but here’s the most important part:

The party’s on Monday night this time (so all you pigskin fans can cozy up to hotel televisions across the city). Beginning that morning, “life as we know it” resumes in the Big Apple and surrounding areas, so there’s no reason to stay away. Even the hotel rooms get cheaper, returning to normal show special rates.

Last year’s event was a huge success, attracting more than 500 guests and raising nearly $250,000. For 2014, 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.

Want to see your name in lights (better than lights, actually—on a big banner, in the program, and in press releases)? Sweet. Saunter on over to the Sponsorships page and we’ll get you hooked up.

As soon as the tickets purchase page is ready to roll, we’ll post the link here (and update the Tickets tab at the top of the screen).

Now go dig out those party shoes and get set for a fun night!

GHTA Golf Tourney raises funds for GFL

ghta-logoThey’re doing it again (we say, with a smile). The Gift and Home Trade Association is holding a charity golf tournament at Torrey Pines, on Thursday, November 17, during the 11th Annual Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA) conference in San Diego.

“GHTA is a terrific partner and their member generosity helps Gift for Life make a big difference across the U.S.,” said Stu Teller, chair of the Gift for Life board. “A big thanks to everyone for helping with this fun event.”

Please sign up as soon as possible.  Green fees are $250, and for more information or to sign up, email to Marc Rice. More information on the conference is available online, on the GHTA website.

The Gift and Home Trade Association is the gift and home industry’s only non-profit professional trade association formed to help vendors, sales agencies, industry affiliates and retailers work together to improve the industry. GHTA’s mission is to lead and transform the gift and home industry to ensure its long-term health and viability. GHTA hosts an annual conference and distributes monthly newsletters to inform and educate its members.

To download the official press release, click here.

One Kings Lane sale raises $20,000 for GFL

OKL-logoThe second annual sales event hosted by One Kings Lane is behind us now…and in the bank is a brand new $20,000, benefitting Gift for Life.

The sale offered curated items from NY NOW™, the Market for Home & Lifestyle (formerly NYIGF®) and One Kings Lane vendors as an extension of NY NOW’s “Open House” trend and product display – a collaboration with One Kings Lane, Gifts and Decorative Accessories, Home Accents Today and Home Textiles Today.  The display showcased products reflective of four home design trends: Monochromatic, Neo-Traditional, Vintage with a Twist and Well Cultured.

The five-day online sale, which featured on-trend merchandise from leading suppliers, included products from: Harry Barker, Mierco and Stephanie Johnson, among others.

“We are very pleased with the results of this collaboration,” said Susan Feldman, co-founder and chief merchandising officer of One Kings Lane. “Providing quality products that benefited an amazing cause was a win-win for customers and for Gift for Life.”

“Special thanks again to One Kings Lane for their support and continued partnership for this event benefiting Gift for Life. Thanks also to the customers around the world who supported this event and NY NOW and its participating manufacturers,” said Stu Teller, chair of the Gift for Life board.

To download the official press release, click here.

Archipelago accepts Industry Achievement Award from GFL

Archipelago-accepting-award

Those of us who attended the 61st Annual Retailer Excellence Awards (Sunday, August 19) in New York can sum up the evening in five words: A Whole Bunch of Happy. The night was a fabulous success, and arguably one of the most inspiring, uplifting REAs in recent memory.

One of the highlights came when Archipelago founders, David Klass and Gregg Corzine stepped to the podium to accept Gift for Life’s Industry Achievement Award. And what a moment it was….

“We are honored to be a part of the Gift for Life program,” said Corzine. “It’s amazing to see what a difference a community can make when great minds and kind hearts are all aligned. The result and the community continue to astound me.”

“Archipelago’s mission of offering quality products that create comfort and offer care makes them worthy recipients of this honor,” said Stuart Teller, chair of the Gift for Life board. “We are proud to present the 2013 Gift For Life Industry Achievement Honor to such an innovative company and its generous founders.”

We’re really tickled to have such terrific partners in the industry, helping raise awareness for the GFL cause. A round of applause, everyone, for David and Gregg!

Photo (L to R):
David Klass (Archipelago), Gregg Corzine (Archipelago), Peter Schauben (Gift for Life), Stu Teller (Gift for Life).

Photo credit: Tony David Photography

One Kings Lane sale to benefit GFL

They’re at it again…. One Kings Lane is creating a trends-based sale to raise funds for GFL during NY Now (previously known as New York International Gift Fair):

2013 OneKingsLane Sale NYNow

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