L.A. MART® AND CBK, LTD. TO PRESENT
‘TAKIN’ IT TO THE STREET’: THE THIRD ANNUAL GIFT FOR LIFE/amfAR
BENEFIT PARTY AT THE L.A. MART
L.A. Mart® showrooms unite to raise funds for the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR)
during the July 2004 Gift & Home Furnishings Market™
L.A. Mart at Hill Street - Saturday, July 17, 6-10 p.m.
LOS ANGELES (June 14, 2004) – Demonstrating great enthusiasm, commitment and support, the L.A. Mart® and many of the finest gift, decorative accessory and furniture showrooms on the West Coast will come together on Saturday, July 17, 2004, to present “Takin’ It To The Street”, the third-annual fundraising event for Gift for Life, benefiting the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR).
A highlight of L.A. Mart’s eight-day July Gift & Home Furnishings Market,™ “Takin’ it to the Street” will bring together more than 500 retail buyers, interior designers, showroom owners and managers, and VIP guests for some good times, hot sounds, cool libations and fabulous food ... in a humanitarian effort to help those living with HIV and AIDS.
To ensure the event’s success, the L.A. Mart is again supported in its sponsorship of the event by some of the best names in the gift and home furnishings industries, and is proud to announce these commitments to date:
Presenting Sponsor: CBK, Ltd.; Silver Sponsors: L.A. Mart Gift Association, L.A. Mart Furniture Association;
Patron Sponsors: Fine Lines Co., Dillon-Wells/Home Sweet Home, European Soaps, Ltd./Kregger, Klasse Company, Inc., PALECEK, Robert Snoddy & Assoc., Rosalie & Friends, The Rosenberg Group, Sales Producers, Mr. Gerry Seibel, vice president and general manager of the L.A. Mart; Event Sponsors: Arbor Crest Catering, The Barkley Restaurant, Catering by Herach & Ara, Enesco, Katherine’s Collection, LA Premier, Pearl Vodka, Two’s Company.
In addition, “Takin’ it to the Street” is honored to be supported once more by co-media sponsors: Gifts & Decorative Accessories and Giftware News.
An extensive silent auction sponsored by the vast array of L.A. Mart showrooms and vendor partners will provide additional fundraising dollars as part of the evening’s event activities.
“I am extraordinarily proud of our showrooms in their compassion for the cause,” said Seibel. “Together, we will create a memorable event that demonstrates our unified strength, concern and commitment in helping those living with this terrible disease whom amfAR serves.”
With cash sponsorship commitments already matching last year’s level, L.A. Mart’s third annual event is expected to exceed its 2003 fundraising efforts, further establishing the event as Gift for Life’s second-highest grossing event nationally.
Individual tickets are $20 each and may be purchased during the July 2004 L.A. Mart Gift & Home Furnishings Market™. For advance ticket or sponsorship sales, call the L.A. Mart at 800.LAMART.4.
ABOUT GIFT FOR LIFE
Gift for Life is a volunteer group of professionals from the gift and home industries who are 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, contact Sheila Charton at 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 new Furniture & Decorative Arts District at 1933 South Broadway, Los Angeles, California 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, Chicago Apparel 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 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
Director of Public Relations
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.
312-527-7074
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