Unfinished Furniture Association Supports Industry’s Charity

Furniture World Magazine

The Unfinished Furniture Assocation (UFA) announced their endorsement of “Help 1 Up,” the furniture industry’s unified charitable effort to support furniture banks. The UFA member base consists of more than 650 retailers, manufacturers and sales representatives. A “furniture bank” is a non-profit organization which collects unwanted home furnishing necessities and provides them to people in need. Those served by furniture banks are women and children escaping domestic violence, families below the poverty line, victims of natural disasters, and others requiring emergency assistance. “Furniture banks provide the most basic of home furnishings to those in need,” said Dave Sommer, president of the UFA. “Help 1 Up not just a good cause, but it will also increase sales as consumers are motivated to donate old furniture and make a new purchase.” The Help 1 Up program encourages consumers to shop at participating retailers and add 1% to their next furniture purchase. Proceeds from Help 1 Up will directly support furniture banks all across the nation, increase private monetary and in-kind donations to local furniture banks, and seed new furniture banks in underserved areas. The Help 1 Up program is administered by the National Furniture Bank Association (NFBA). Tom Polk, chairman of the NFBA, said the UFA’s endorsement underscores the reasons for a unified charitable effort across the furniture industry. “By donating home furnishings, consumers get a tax break instead of a disposal bill, and tens of thousands of pieces of furniture are donated each year. But the demand is still much greater than the supply,” explains Polk. “Help 1 Up benefits furniture banks, which in turn help people in need. Retailers see increased sales, and manfacturers see increased orders. Everybody wins.” The NFBA plans a consumer awareness campaign through broadcast and print media, slated for production by the end of 2004. Each year tens of thousands of people receive donated beds, kitchen tables, dressers, dishes, and utensils from furniture banks. According to a July 2004 survey of furniture bank operators, children represent the largest percentage of their service base. The tagline for Help 1 Up is “No child in America should have to sleep on the floor.” About Unfinished Furniture Association (UFA) The Unfinished Furniture Association was officially formed in 1990 when four regional associations become a national association. With a mission to "actively support the growth of the unfinished furniture industry and association membership through education and awareness,” UFA has become the driving force in educating the consumer about the benefits of purchasing real wood, unfinished furniture. About the National Furniture Bank Association (NFBA) The NFBA is the non-profit affiliation of furniture banks. The organization’s mission is to create comfortable home environments by providing furnishings to those in need. Contact the NFBA to learn more about the Help 1 Up program or how retailers can participate. Contact Information National Furniture Bank Association Don Lawrence Vice President, Communications (800) 576-0774 dlawrence@Help1Up.org http://www.Help1Up.org Unfinished Furniture Association (UFA) Heather Petet Assistant Executive Director (856) 642-4204 hpetet@ahint.com www.unfinishedfurniture.org