ATLANTA – October 18, 2019 – Gift for Life, the gift and home industries’ sole charitable organization, announces that celebrity designer and style expert Thom Filicia will serve as its honorary chair and spokesperson through September 2020.
“The work that DIFFA and Gift for Life do in the fight against AIDS is so important for the design industry,” said Filicia. “I am thrilled to serve as the honorary chairman and look forward to connecting with other likeminded people who are also committed to eradicating this disease.”
Filicia will attend Gift for Life events across the country and will lend his voice to supporting the organization’s funding of the grantmaking efforts by DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS.
“Thom is a tremendous addition to our outreach and we look forward to working with him to raise awareness and funds,” said Matthew Katzenson, chair of the Gift for Life board. “His keen design eye and warm personality is matched by a motivation to support our fight against HIV/AIDS. We welcome his energy and his ability to elevate our efforts.”
Filicia’s appearances at the winter shows include serving as Celebrity Host of Gift for Life’s annual Party for Life fundraiser on Wednesday, January 15 at Atlanta’s Fernbank Museum. He also is co-hosting the ARTS Awards on Friday, January 10 in Dallas and will welcome guests at the ARTS Awards Preview Party on Thursday evening at Dallas Market Center.
In the Spring, Filicia will appear at High Point Market events and in the Summer he will serve as a celebrity guest at the “Up on the Roof” fundraiser at Las Vegas Market. The 2019 edition of “Up on the Roof” raised $16,000 for Gift for Life while welcoming a record crowd of home and gift industry representatives, a presentation by special guest Kathy Ireland and a silent auction.
Honorary Chair Thom Filicia is universally known as the interior design expert in the Emmy-Award winning “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” designer of the eponymous Thom Filicia Home Collection and his stunning modern, yet classic, interiors. Filicia was named one of House Beautiful (‘S)”Top 100 Designers,” dubbed an “International Taste Maker” by House & Garden and regaled as an “A-List Designer” by Elle Décor. Beyond his design work, Filicia has also hosted several successful shows for the Style Network, the HGTV Network and Bravo. His product line, the Thom Filicia Home Collection, includes furniture, décor, textiles, wallcoverings and more for the retail and hospitality markets.
Information about Party for Life 2020 tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at GiftForLife.org/participate.
Gift for Life was founded by Peter Schauben of Appleman Schauben in 1992 in response to the tragic loss of industry lives to AIDS. The organization’s first meeting at the National Stationery Show brought together a cross-section of the industry’s leading publishers, market centers, sales reps, manufacturers and retailers – all willing to convene and work together towards a common goal. Since that time, Gift for Life has raised more than $5 million for AIDS research, education, treatment and care through nationwide at-market events, cause marketing programs and direct donations.
Each year, Gift for Life hosts events throughout the U.S. benefitting the grantmaking of DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. In 2018, with Gift for Life’s help, DIFFA National granted $285,000 to 26 organizations providing HIV/AIDS service and education programs nationwide. For additional information visit www.giftforlife.org.
ABOUT GIFT FOR LIFE and DIFFA
Gift for Life unites the gift and home industries against AIDS with more than $5 million raised since its inception in 1992. In 2008, Gift for Life selected DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the U.S., as its primary beneficiary. Since its founding in 1984, DIFFA has mobilized the immense resources of the design communities to provide more than $44 million to hundreds of AIDS organizations nationwide. More information is available at www.giftforlife.org and at www.diffa.org.
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