Kathy Ireland Worldwide Receives First Manufacturer of the Year Award from Furniture Industry's ''HELP1UP'' Charity

Furniture World Magazine

Kathy Ireland Worldwide, the $1.5 billion/year design and manufacture firm founded by the Lifestyle Designer whose name it bears, today (March 29) was designated first recipient of the Manufacturer of the Year Award from the furniture industry's HELP1UP and The National Furniture Bank Association. The honor was presented at the awards breakfast launching the start of the High Point Market, one of the world's largest furniture sales gatherings in High Point, N.C. Ms. Ireland received the award not only for her extraordinary furniture sales success, but for her leadership in philanthropy generally, and in launching the HELP1UP program which will provide furniture to over 100,000 needy families each year. The lifestyle designer, who was dubbed by Forbes Magazine "super-model-turned-super-mogul,” works with the National Furniture Bank Association (NFBA) to initiate HELP1UP which is supported by the home furnishings industry's retailers, manufacturers, representatives and service companies. The effort... completely free, socially responsible and environmentally friendly... provides a used furniture removal service for the general public, delivering those goods directly to families in need. Kathy, who serves as National PTA Ambassador for Youth, and is an active supporter of Athletes and Entertainers for Kids, Feel the Children and The Special Olympics stated: “Our team at Kathy Ireland Worldwide is extremely humbled to receive this acknowledgement of our brand. Our company shares this honor with each of our cherished manufacturers and customers, who join KI Home and make it possible for us to fulfill our mission of “…finding solutions for families, especially busy moms.” “We share this honor with every team member at KIWW and with the generous visionaries who serve HELP1UP, as the Board of Directors at the National Furniture Bank. No child in America should have to sleep on the floor. “No family should be forced to live without furniture. HELP1UP and The National Furniture Bank is making a difference. We are grateful to be a small part of that great difference,” said Kathy. About Kathy Ireland Worldwide: Kathy Ireland Worldwide (KIWW) is the design and marketing firm founded in 1993 by CEO and Chief Designer, Kathy Ireland. The primary mission of KIWW is “…finding solutions for families, especially busy moms.” Forbes Magazine reported that KIWW is a “design empire which grosses over one billion dollars annually in retail sales.” This year Newsweek noted, “Annual sales run to $1.4 billion.” KIWW products include flooring, rugs, home furniture, office and entertainment furniture, lighting, decorative accessories, window coverings, bedding, mattresses, candles, apparel, jewelry, blankets and top of bed. In 2000, KIWW began expanding its mission and consumer needs, with the addition of specialty brands, presenting “Design Ambassadors” ACafé by Chef Andre for food and entertaining, J du J cultivated by Nicholas Walker for outdoor living and garden inspirations and The Quilts of Gee’s Bend whose original works of art from rural Alabama are the Genesis of unique designs for home. The original Quilts of Gee’s Bend gained international recognition through museum tours around the world. KIWW teams with industry leaders in each category of business, Flooring-Shaw Industries a Berkshire-Hathaway Company, Rugs-Shaw Living a Berkshire Hathaway Company, Home Furniture-Kathy Ireland Home by Standard, Office and Entertainment Furniture-Kathy Ireland Home by Martin, Lighting-Pacific Coast Lighting, Decorative Accessories-Pacific Coast Accessories, Window Coverings-Kathy Ireland Home by Alta, Bedding-Kathy Ireland Home by Therapedic, Permanent Florals-Kathy Ireland Home by Labs, Candles-Kathy Ireland Home by Hanna’s Candle Co., Socks-Kathy Ireland by Moretz, Active wear-Kathy Ireland by Orioxi, blankets- Kathy Ireland Home by Faribault Mills, Top of Bed- Kathy Ireland Home by Hallmart Collectibles and Jewelry-Kathy Ireland Exclusively for House of Taylor Jewelry. House of Taylor Jewelry (NASDAQ:HOTJ) is a publicly traded company. For more information please visit www.kathyireland.com. About the NFBA: The NFBA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to increase the service capacity of existing furniture banks, and to open new furniture banks in areas without one. No child in America should have to sleep on the floor. Contact the NFBA to find a furniture bank near you or to become a sponsor. www.Help1Up.org