Meet Leaders of Industry’s Unified Charitable Effort at Las Vegas Market

Furniture World Magazine

Executives from the home furnishings industry’s unified charitable effort, Help1Up, will be on hand during the Winter Las Vegas Market. As part of their effort to assist families throughout the nation, World Market Center has provided Help1Up information stands at the Registration Pavilion and the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The Help1Up program is administered by the National Furniture Bank Association (NFBA) through 36 furniture banks across the country. Furniture banks provide essential home furnishings to people in need. Typical clients of furniture banks are victims of natural disasters such as hurricanes, women and children escaping domestic violence, families below the poverty line, and others requiring emergency assistance. Among the NFBA board of directors are Ray Allegrezza, editor in chief of Furniture/Today; Mary Frye, president of the Home Furnishings International Association (HFIA); and Steve DeHaan, executive vice president of the National Home Furnishings Association (NHFA). The NFBA is also endorsed by the leading home furnishings industry associations. “This is a great opportunity to personally meet people who have been supportive of the industry’s unified charitable effort,” said the NFBA’s executive director Phil Van Poetsch. “I’m looking forward to making more companies aware of how the industry has answered to the call to action.” Kathy Ireland has filmed a public service announcement encouraging viewers to donate gently used furniture to their local furniture bank, stating “no child in America should have to sleep on the floor. We can all make a difference.” The public service announcement, to be aired nationally, will be shown on the plasma screens throughout the World Market Center facilities. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita placed an especially heavy burden on furniture banks in 2005. The Red Cross, FEMA, Salvation Army, and other agencies have been referring families to Help1Up for basic home furnishings. The home furnishings industry has contributed nearly $7M in furniture to Help1Up. Tens of thousands of hurricane victims are still in need of assistance, in addition to the 100,000 people already served annually. The participation of all companies in the home furnishings industry is needed. To find out how, please visit the executives at the Help1Up information stands, ask a board member of the NFBA, or go to Help1Up.org for more information. CONTACT: National Furniture Bank Association Don Lawrence Vice President, Communications (800) 576-0774 dlawrence@help1up.org http://www.help1up.org