Art Van Furniture To Celebrate 50th Birthday Party

Furniture World Magazine

Art Van Furniture announced that it will celebrate at its 50th Anniversary Gala on October 1st at the Warren store on 14 Mile Road. The store will be transformed into an elegant fantasy complete with red carpet, celebrities, a strolling supper and a live TV telecast. More than 1,000 business leaders, VIPs, employees, vendors, customers and friends will attend the birthday bash for a night of intrigue, fun and charity. Art Van Furniture is underwriting the entire event with 100 percent of ticket sales going to the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center and the Neuroscience Institute at Henry Ford Health System. “We are extremely pleased to be able to help these important regional medical centers,” said Art Van Elslander, chairman and founder of Art Van Furniture. “I believe it is our responsibility to give back, when you’re fortunate to be as successful as we’ve been for five decades.” Art Van opened its first store on Detroit’s east side in 1959, and is preparing to open its 31st store in Grandville, Mich. this month. The Gala is drawing national and local attention. The guest list includes Cindy Crawford, who has a long business relationship with Art Van Furniture and has her own popular furniture line; Jonas Jerebko, a 2009 NBA Detroit Pistons draft pick and the first Swedish basketball player in the NBA; and notable local community leaders. WXYZ-TV Channel 7 will broadcast the event live from 7:00 – 7:30 pm, and the station’s own Diana Lewis will be Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening. The broadcast will include interviews and a retrospective of Art Van Furniture’s milestones. Guests will enjoy presentations by iL CiRCo, a cirque performance group, and dancing to The Simone Vitale Band. All guests will receive a custom gift box of Sanders chocolates, with one special box containing a ‘Golden Ticket’ for a spending spree worth $2,500 at Art Van Furniture. The Gala is the culmination of a yearlong campaign to give back to communities throughout Michigan. Other programs this year included donations to schools across the state, 500 mattresses to shelters, 50 bedroom suites to chronically ill children, and the Art Van Million Dollar Charity Challenge that helped 50 non-profit organizations throughout the state. “What a joy it is to help these children, health and human services groups. It’s our way of saying, ‘Thank you,’ ” added Van Elslander. For more information, visit www.artvan.com. Special Galas will also be held at the Flint Art Van store on October 4, and at the Grand Rapids store on October 28. Like the Warren Gala, all proceeds will benefit regional medical centers. About Art Van Furniture: Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Art Van Furniture is Michigan’s largest furniture retailer and America’s largest independent furniture retailer, operating 30 stores in 29 communities throughout Michigan, a full service e-commerce website plus a new freestanding bedding store in Canton, Michigan, Art Van Pure Sleep. The company is family-owned and headquartered in Warren, Michigan. For more information, visit www.artvan.com