GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING EVENING AT L.A. MART®’s “TAKIN’ IT TO THE BEACH” GIFT FOR LIFE BENEFIT FEATURED MULTI-TALENTED PAULA ABDUL
The Grammy award-winning recording artist was joined by Grammy-winning musicians of AC Timba Jazz Project to delight and entertain guests at L.A. Mart’s 4th Annual American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) fundraiser during the
July 2005 Gift & Home Furnishings Market™
LOS ANGELES (July 29, 2005) – A dazzling Paula Abdul, star of FOX TV’s primetime hit “American Idol,” captivated the approximately 600 guests attending L.A. Mart®’s recent Gift for Life benefit, “Takin’ it to the Beach,” hosted Saturday, July 23, 2005, at the L.A. Mart, helping to achieve record-breaking attendance and fundraising goals for the amfAR benefit.
Abdul’s star power added Hollywood sparkle to the L.A. Mart’s annual event as the performer made her entrance, stepping from a black stretch limo onto a white carpet as numerous entertainment paparazzi clamored for her photograph. Escorted into the Caribbean-themed party by L.A. Mart vice president and general manager Gerry Seibel, Abdul instantly drew crowds as guests requested autographs and posed for photos with the glamorous, gracious celebrity.
“Tonight is a Grammy award-winning evening for the L.A. Mart,” said Seibel. “Not only are we graced with the beauty, talent and generosity of the multi-faceted Paula Abdul, but we also have the pleasure of being entertained by acclaimed musicians AC Timba Jazz Project. This evening’s event and the cause we support benefit greatly from these gifted artists.”
Upon welcoming guests from the stage, Seibel introduced Abdul who applauded the crowd for their support of Gift for Life and amfAR. Addressing the rise in HIV and AIDS-related cases specifically among women, Abdul encouraged everyone to reach for their checkbooks, bid on the vast array of donated silent auction items and enjoy the party. Later in the evening, a dance with Abdul became a live auction item earning nearly $1,000 from Scott Rosenberg, principal, The Rosenberg Group, a Division of Filbert & Fig, who claimed the winning bid.
Awash in a spectrum of sunset-at-the-beach hues, the event radiated a high energy and festive mood contributing to the evening’s success, raising $37,000 and placing L.A. Mart’s total fundraising for Gift for Life in excess of $100,000 to date. The L.A. Mart once again was supported in its sponsorship by some of the best names in the gift and home furnishings industries, as well as numerous time-honored business partners and long-standing friends, including:
Presenting Sponsor: CBK, Ltd.
Gold Sponsors: L.A. Mart® Gift Association, L.A. Mart® Furniture Association
Silver Sponsor: W.E. O’Neil Construction Company
Patron Sponsors: Dillon-Wells/Home Sweet Home, Fine Lines Company, European Soaps, Ltd., Klasse Company, Inc., Lynn Mitchell Group, Robert Snoddy & Assoc., Rosalie & Friends, The Rosenberg Group, a Division of Filbert & Fig, Sales Producers, Showroom 504/Cina Hodges, Mr. Gerry Seibel
Event Sponsors: Arbor Crest Catering, The Barkley Restaurant, Catering by Herach & Ara, Down Under Vodka, Hilton Checkers, Katherine’s Collection, LA Premier, Two’s Company
Co-Media Sponsors: Gifts & Decorative Accessories, Giftware News
An extensive silent auction sponsored by L.A. Mart showrooms, vendor-partners and friends provided additional fundraising dollars as part of the evening’s event activities.
L.A. Mart®’s Gift for Life event will return in July 2006 during L.A. Mart’s Gift & Home Furnishings Market™ with several event sponsors already resuming their commitments. Details will be forthcoming as information is made available.
ABOUT GIFT FOR LIFE
Gift for Life is a volunteer group of professionals from the gift and home industries committed to making a difference by raising funds for the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), the leading U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of AIDS research, AIDS prevention, treatment education and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. For more information, call 212.806.1657.
ABOUT L.A. MART
The L.A. Mart is the pre-eminent center for gift and home furnishings products in the Western United States for the retail and design trade industries. With nearly 300 showrooms encompassing 724,000 square feet of showroom space, the L.A. Mart is dedicated to showcasing a wide array of lifestyle merchandise including gifts, fine furniture and home décor, decorative accessories, tabletop, stationery, collectibles, holiday ideas, gourmet foods, floral, linens, paper products, bath & body items, apparel, children’s giftware and handcrafted products.
The L.A. Mart is centrally located in the heart of the Furniture & Decorative Arts District at 1933 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, Calif., 90007, at the corner of Broadway and Washington Boulevard.
The L.A. Mart is a registered trademark of MMPI. The Gift & Home Furnishings Market is a trademark of MMPI.
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.
MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart, 350 W. Mart Center and 33 North Dearborn in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Washington Office Center in Washington, D.C.
Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.
MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY:
Joanna Mineau
Managing Director of Public Relations
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI)
Phone: 312.527.7074
E-mail: jmineau@mmart.com
Debra Gold
Gold & Company
Phone: 818.567.4653
E-mail: lamart@goldsco.com
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