Gift for Life Raises Record $162,000 for World Central Kitchen, Honors Founder Peter Schauben with Lifetime Humanitarian Award

Industry Celebration During Dallas Total Home & Gift Market Recognizes More Than Three Decades of Giving

DALLAS, TX – June 30, 2026 - Gift for Life announced today that it has raised a record-breaking $162,000 to benefit World Central Kitchen, marking the largest single fundraising effort in the organization's history. More donations are expected in the coming days and weeks.

The milestone was celebrated during the Retailer Excellence Awards, hosted by Gifts & Decorative Accessories magazine on June 24 at the Hilton Anatole during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market. During the event, Gift for Life honored founder Peter Schauben with its newly created Lifetime Humanitarian Award, recognizing his extraordinary leadership, vision and more than three decades of service to the gift and home industries.

Amy Loewenberg, Chair of Gift for Life presented the Lifetime Humanitarian Award to Peter Schauben at the 75th Annual REAs.

Founded by Schauben in 1992, Gift for Life has united the gift, home and stationery industries in support of charitable causes for more than 30 years. Through his leadership, Gift for Life has become one of the industry's most respected charitable organizations, inspiring generations of volunteers and supporters to make a difference. Donations made in his honor inspired unprecedented generosity from manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives, market centers, industry suppliers and friends of the organization, resulting in the largest fundraising total in Gift for Life's history.

The celebration included Gift for Life's 50/50 raffle, which raised almost $3,000 of the total raised. Winner Ann Marie Mendlow, President of WerkShoppe, generously donated her winnings back to Gift for Life, ensuring every dollar raised through the raffle will support World Central Kitchen's humanitarian relief efforts. 

"There simply wouldn't be a Gift for Life without Peter Schauben," said Amy Loewenberg, Chair of Gift for Life. "For more than three decades, Peter has inspired our industry to show up when people need help, creating a culture of compassion, generosity and community. It was our privilege to recognize his extraordinary legacy with a Lifetime Humanitarian

Gift for Life founder Peter Schauben was honored with the Lifetime Humanitarian Award for his 30+ years of uniting the industry in support of charitable causes.

Award while celebrating the most successful fundraising campaign in our organization's history. We are grateful to Gifts & Decorative Accessories magazine for providing the opportunity to celebrate Peter's remarkable legacy during the Retailer Excellence Awards. We're also incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed, donated and supported this effort. Together, we are helping World Central Kitchen provide hope and nourishment to people facing unimaginable challenges. While this evening celebrated an extraordinary legacy, it also reminds us that the work continues. We look forward to engaging the next generation of industry leaders, volunteers and supporters as Gift for Life continues its mission of service and community”

All funds raised through this campaign will benefit World Central Kitchen, which provides fresh meals to communities impacted by natural disasters, humanitarian crises and other emergencies around the world.

About Gift for Life

Gift for Life was founded by Peter Schauben in 1992 in response to the tragic loss of industry lives to AIDS. Gift for Life, the gift and home industries’ longest-running, volunteer-led, national charitable organization, continues to support year-round programs that address hunger relief, as well as annual support for AIDS Walk NY which benefits GMHC’s HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and advocacy programs. More information is available at www.giftforlife.org.