FIT Holds Breakfast To Benefit Home Products Development Program

Furniture World Magazine

On Tuesday, April 1, 2003, the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)held its seventh annual Scholarship Awards Breakfast to support thecollege's Home Products Development program. This special event, honored leaders inthe industry and raise funds for student scholarships. This year's distinguished honorees were ICD (Institute of CorporateDirectors) Publications executives, Ian Gittlitz, CEO and president, andCynthia Evans, senior vice president, who each received theHumanitarian Award. Bill Kilbride, president, Mohawk Home, received the Industry Leader of the Year Award. David C. Sabin, chairman, Salton, Inc., received the Outstanding Achievement Award, and Laura Sen,executive vice president, BJ's Wholesale Club, received the Retailer of the Year Award. Warren Shoulberg, editor-in-chief of HFN - HomeFurnishings News, offered lively introductions as the emcee of the morning's ceremonies. The breakfast chair for the event was Dr. Leonard Florence, SyratechCorporation. Co-chairs are Carl Goldstein, S. Lichtenberg and Co., Inc.; Lester Gribetz, Bloomingdale's; and Peter G. Scotese, chairman emeritusof FIT's Board of Trustees. The Fashion Institute of Technology is a college of art and design, business and technology of the State University of New York, with more than 30 majors leading to the AAS, BFA, BS, MA, and MPS degrees. The most recent U.S. News and World Report rated FIT number one among public colleges in the north in the "Comprehensive Colleges-bachelor's" category of its America's Best Colleges Directory. The program in Home Products Development is the only one of its kind in the country. Developed with the assistance of alumni and members of the home furnishings industry, the program consists of courses in product development, product knowledge, and marketing specific to the home products industry, both in hard (furnishings and accessories) and soft (textile) line classifications. For further press information or visuals, contact the Office of College Relations at (212) 217-7642