April 26, 2024 — Gift for Life’s Home vs Hunger team, in partnership with industry-leading home manufacturers and market-makers, today announced that its Party with a Purpose event at the Spring 2024 High Point Market has raised $21,000+ for World Central Kitchen’s crisis-related hunger relief programs.
“Our third edition of Party with a Purpose during High Point Market was a smashing success, with donations and pledges raising more than $21,000 for World Central Kitchen,” said Russ Jones, chair of Gift for Life’s Home vs. Hunger team. “Once again, Eichholtz graciously hosted the event, which drew some 200 market-goers eager to have fun and support a worthy cause.” Jones went on to say, “To those who missed us during market, donations will be accepted through April 30, to help meet our fundraising goal of $30,000 for World Central Kitchen.”
To date, the third edition of Home vs. Hunger, held Sunday, April 14, in the Eichholtz showroom in High Point has raised $21,000, which includes generous donations from ANDMORE, Eichholtz, Ivystone, J Douglas, John-Richard and Loloi as well as individual contributions from some 50 top home brands and members of the design community. Donations will be accepted through April 30 at www.giftforlife.org/donate.
(L-R) Gift for Life’s Cole Daugherty, Russ Jones and Sarah Mount welcome Home vs Hunger supporters to Party with a Purpose during High Point Market.
In partnership with home industry leaders and market makers, Gift for Life’s debuted its Home vs Hunger initiative at High Point Market in October 2022. With broad industry support, more than $60,000 has been raised to date for World Central Kitchen’s crisis related hunger relief efforts. Fundraising activities have included in-person events at High Point Market in Fall 2022, Spring 2023 and Spring 2024, as well as an online campaigns in February 2023 following devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria and in August 2023 following destructive wildfires in Maui.
Gift for Life’s Home vs Hunger team members include Sharon Davis, ART; Jen Dolan, Arteriors; Jenny Heinzen York, Currey & Company; Jonathan Cochran, Eichholtz; Chris Amos, ANDMORE; Mark Furlet, ANDMORE; Monica Loving, Ivystone; Russ Jones, Ivystone; Douglas Self, J Douglas; Christie Schellenbach of Ivystone; and Sandra Standefer, Loloi Rugs.
Gift for Life was founded by Peter Schauben in 1992 in response to the tragic loss of industry lives to AIDS. The organization’s first meeting at the National Stationery Show brought together a cross-section of the industry’s leading publishers, market centers, sales reps, manufacturers, and retailers – all willing to convene and work together towards a common goal. Since that time, Gift for Life has raised nearly $6 million for AIDS research, education, treatment and care through nationwide at-market events, cause marketing programs and direct donations. In 2021, Gift for Life pivoted towards online digital events with a specific emphasis on supporting World Central Kitchen’s COVID-related hunger relief. Since that time, Gift for Life has led gift and home industry efforts to fund provision of nearly 100,000 hot, nutritious meals to communities impacted by crisis and conflict worldwide. Gift for Life, the gift and home industries’ longest-running, volunteer-led, national charitable organization, continues to support year-round programs that address hunger relief, as well as annual support for AIDS Walk NY which benefits GMHC’s HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and advocacy programs. More information is available at www.giftforlife.org
Founded in 2010 by Chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen (WCK) is a nonprofit organization that is first to the frontlines providing fresh meals in response to crises, while working to build resilient food systems with locally led solutions. Applying a model of quick action, leveraging local resources, and adapting in real time, WCK has served more than 300 million nourishing meals around the world. When disaster strikes, WCK’s Relief Team mobilizes with the urgency of now to start cooking and serving meals to people in need. By partnering with organizations on the ground and activating a network of local restaurants, food trucks, or emergency kitchens, WCK serves comforting meals to survivors of disasters quickly and effectively. To support regional economies, WCK prioritizes purchasing local ingredients to cook with or distribute directly to families in need. WCK knows that good food provides not only nourishment, but also comfort and hope, especially in times of crisis. Learn more at wck.org.
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