WHFA’s Sharron Bradley Appointed to NFBA Board

Furniture World Magazine

The National Furniture Bank Association (NFBA), the unified charitable organization of the home furnishings industry, announced that Western Home Furnishings Association’s (WHFA) executive director Sharron Bradley has been appointed to the NFBA board of directors. Bradley will join other well-known home furnishings industry leaders on the NFBA board, including Home Furnishings International Association (HFIA) president Mary Frye, National Home Furnishings Association (NHFA) executive vice president Steve DeHaan and Furniture/Today Magazine editor-in-chief Ray Allegrezza. “I’ve been advised by a number of people in the industry to ‘buckle my seat belt,’” quipped NFBA executive director Phil Van Poetsch good-naturedly about Bradley’s appointment. “Sharron has already been instrumental in our effort to engage the home furnishings industry. The board of directors is excited that she accepted their invitation to join them.” Bradley’s appointment comes just prior to a crucial NFBA board of directors meeting in two weeks. The board’s primary agenda item is to discuss the status of the NFBA’s 600 in ‘06 drive toward attaining 600 sponsors from within the home furnishings industry during 2006. Mary Frye said that Bradley’s appointment to the board was unanimous. “Sharron has a track record of being someone that gets things done,” stated Frye. “Once she’s locked onto a goal, she puts forth her trademark grit and determination to succeed.” Representing 70 furniture banks across the country, the mission of the NFBA is to increase the operational capacity of existing furniture banks, and to launch new ones. Furniture banks collect used home furnishings from the general public, then donate them to needy families such as survivors of natural disasters, women and children escaping domestic violence, and working families living below the poverty line. Furniture banks keep used furniture off the secondary sale market, and also prevent thousands of tons of perfectly usable furniture from ending up in incinerators and landfills. Help1Up is the NFBA’s national public awareness campaign. All of the major home furnishings industry associations endorse the effort and are encouraging members to participate. Supporters include Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association (BIFMA International), California Furniture Manufacturers Association (CFMA), Futon Association International (FAI), Home Furnishings International Association (HFIA), Interior Design Society (IDS), International Home Furnishings Representatives Association (IHFRA), National Home Furnishings Association (NHFA), North American Retail Dealers Association (NARDA), Unfinished Furniture Association (UFA), Western Home Furnishings Association (WHFA), and WithIt. “I can’t wait to get started. This is a fantastic organization that helps hundreds of thousands of people in our country every year,” said Bradley about her appointment to the NFBA board. “The entire furniture industry benefits from furniture banks.” Bradley said her goals are to “do whatever I can to engage this industry, and see the number of furniture banks in America double within 18 months.” Buckle your seat belts. About the National Furniture Bank Association (NFBA) The NFBA is the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of the home furnishings industry. Its mission is to create comfortable home environments by providing essential furnishings to those in need. No child in America should have to sleep on the floor. Kathy Ireland is the Help1Up Ambassador. Contact: National Furniture Bank Association Don Lawrence Vice President, Communications (800) 576-0774 dlawrence@Help1Up.org http://www.help1up.org