Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture Sponsors “Sleep In for the Cure®”

Furniture World Magazine

Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture has partnered with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Massachusetts Affiliate to sponsor the first annual “Sleep In for the Cure®,” which allows participants to raise funds to fight breast cancer by “sleeping in.” The “Sleep In for the Cure” will take place on September 23, 2007, the same day as the Massachusetts Affiliate’s 15th annual “Massachusetts Race for the Cure,” which raised over $560,000 last year. The “Sleep In for the Cure” is a way for anyone not up to racing, or who isn’t in town, to support the important work that the Komen Massachusetts Affiliate does. “Sleep In” participants raise money through pledges just like “Race” participants. But instead of suiting up for the 5K “Race” on Sunday morning, “Sleep In” participants get to stay at home in bed. “We are very excited to be working with the Komen Massachusetts Affiliate to sponsor the Sleep In for the Cure. We have already gotten an overwhelming response to this event,” said Bernie Rubin, co-founder and chairman of Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture. “Who wouldn’t want an excuse to sleep in on a Sunday morning, especially if you can raise funds to support breast cancer research and treatment at the same time. We encourage our customers to sign up and sleep in.” Registration materials are available at all Bernie & Phyl’s stores as well as online at the Komen Massachusetts site (www.komenmassrace.org). Each person who registers will receive a free eyeshade with the Bernie & Phyl’s and Komen logos and the official race t-shirt. Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. Susan died of the disease at age 36 in 1980. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, the organization has invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill its promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. The Massachusetts Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure was established in 2001 as its own non-profit entity. The Massachusetts Affiliate sponsors various fundraising events, including the Komen Massachusetts Race for the Cure®, and is a valuable resource for information and education programs on breast cancer health throughout Massachusetts. Up to 75 percent of the Affiliate’s net income stays in the community to fund local breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment projects. The remaining net income supports the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Award and Research Grant Programs, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research, meritorious awards and educational and scientific programs around the world. In 1993, the first Race for the Cure® was held in Boston with 1,100 community members participating. In 2006, the Affiliate raised over one million dollars for screening, education, and treatment grants in Massachusetts. To date, over two million in breast cancer research and education awareness grants have been funded in Massachusetts. Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture, which is owned by the Rubin family, is the largest privately held furniture retailer in Massachusetts. In 2007, Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture received the prestigious Better Business Bureau Local Torch Award for Excellence, which is given to companies that embody the highest ethical standards. It was the second time that Bernie & Phyl’s had received the Torch Award. In 2002, the company was named “Retailer of the Year” by the National Home Furnishings Association, which is the highest honor in the retail home furnishings industry. Based in Norton, MA, Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture has five stores in New England: Braintree, MA; Nashua, NH; Raynham, MA; Saugus, MA; and Westboro, MA.