July 16, 2019 — Gift for Life, the gift and home industries’ sole charitable organization, is collaborating with Progressive Business Media (PBM) and its Gifts and Decorative Accessories brand to continue its successful “text-to-give” campaign in connection with the 2019 Retailer Excellence Awards (REAs). Donations, which are being accepted now through the event on Sunday, August 11, at New York City’s Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, will directly benefit Bailey House, which provides home, hope and community to people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses throughout New York City.
“We are delighted to partner again with Progressive Business Media to raise awareness and funds for Gift for Life through this 21st century fundraising technology as part of the Retailer Excellence Awards,” said Matthew Katzenson, chair of the Gift for Life board. “We raised $7,000+ in our first effort last August and we hope to raise at least $10,000 for Bailey House in 2019.”
Suggested donations, and initiatives funded at each level are: $25 provides light breakfast for clients to take medications when coming in to see a case manager; $50 pays a client’s utility bill for a month; $100 provides transportation for a homeless veteran to healthcare and treatment appointments; $250 underwrites a recreational outing for clients to promote socialization; $500 provides 100 meals in food pantry bags to formerly homeless veterans; $1,000 provides a month’s rent and safe housing for a LGBTQ young adult.
To donate, simply text the code GFL2019 to 44-321. A text reply will provide a secure link where donations can be made. A credit card is required and donations by check and cash will not be accepted. Everyone associated with the gift and home furnishings industry – retailers, retail buying groups, product manufacturers, product designers, sales organizations, market producers, trade publications and service providers – is eligible to participate and encouraged to contribute. Donations also can be made online at https://secure.givelively.org/donate/design-industries-foundation-fighting-aids-diffa/support-gift-for-life-s-text-to-give-campaign.
Bailey House provides housing and health services to 1,800 men, women, and children in New York City who are living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses. The organization helps clients address homelessness, poverty, hunger, substance use, mental illness, and other critical issues that make survival hard, if not impossible.
“This is a worthy cause and our way of asking the industry to easily participate with us to raise money and awareness,” said Catherine Silver, President of Progressive Business Media. “We are proud to collaborate with our partners to support Bailey House and hope that the industry will join us in supporting this cause with a donation as well as in person at the Retailer Excellence Awards on August 11th in New York City.”
Gift for Life will present its 2019 Industry Achievement Award to Rifle Paper founders Anna and Nathan Bond at the 68th Annual Retailer Excellence Awards (REAs), on Sunday, August 11, at New York City’s Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers. Hosted by Gifts and Decorative Accessories, the Retailer Excellence Awards recognize excellence in retailing and individual achievement. During this festive industry gathering, REA finalists will be recognized, retail category winners will be announced, and special recognition awards will be presented. Tickets, which are $185 each including cocktails and dinner, are available through http://rea.pbmconferences.com/.
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. 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 main charity partner. Since its founding in 1984, DIFFA has mobilized the immense resources of the design communities to provide more than $40 million to hundreds of AIDS organizations nationwide. More information is available at www.giftforlife.org and at www.diffa.org.
ABOUT REAs: On August 11, 2019, Gifts and Decorative Accessories will host the 68th annual Retail Excellence Awards in a gala event in New York City. Retailers will be honored in seven categories, and awards will be also be given to the vendor and manufacturer’s rep of the year. Join us for cocktails, strolling dinner, dessert and ceremony at the beautiful waterfront Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers. A portion of the night’s proceeds will benefit Gift for Life. For tickets, visit http://rea.pbmconferences.com/
Progressive Business Media, (PBM), is the premier business marketing services, media, and communications company serving the home furnishings industry. It is the parent company of brands including Furniture Today, Home Accents Today, and Gifts and Decorative Accessories. PBM’s brands deliver content and research through multiple channels and formats and provide wide ranging marketing services offerings to industry participants. The company prides itself on being part of the various business communities it serves: bringing people together to discuss issues of the day and to deliver meaningful content to the right audience, through the right channel, at the right time. To learn more, please visit www.progressivebusinessmedia.com.
Gifts and Decorative Accessories is the gift industry’s leading trade resource. Established in 1917, the brand just celebrated 100 years of excellence. The brand delivers the latest news, products, trend information and business insights for retailers, manufacturers and others supporting this dynamic industry. Please visit http://www.giftsanddec.com.
