Gift for Life Launches Tiered Recognition Program in Conjunction With Summer Atlanta Market Fundraiser
June 19, 2023 — Gift for Life today announced the launch of a new tiered recognition program for donors in conjunction with Atlanta Market’s Summer 2023 Fundraising to support World Central Kitchen’s crisis-related hunger relief efforts.
Designed to celebrate the generosity of Gift for Life supporters, the new tiered recognition program will recognize annual giving at levels between $500 and $10,000+. This industry-wide recognition occurs three times per year, supplementing acknowledgement of campaign-specific donations.
“The gifts received from our industry partners are the lifeblood of organizations like World Central Kitchen,” said Ari Lowenstein, Chair of Gift for Life. “Recognition of the manufacturers, sales agencies, market-makers and trade media who support Gift for Life across multiple markets is long overdue. This new tiered recognition program will allow Gift for Life to recognize our most consistent and generous supporters for their philanthropic efforts.”
Recognition levels start at $500, and extend through $10,000+ with the following specific recognition tiers: Diamond Donor ($10,000); Platinum Donor ($5,000); Gold Donor ($3,000); Silver Donor ($1,000) and Bronze Donor ($500). Donors will be recognized three times per year – January, March and October – and totals will reset with each calendar year.
As an added bonus, Diamond and Platinum donors will be recognized as Gift for Life Sponsors for the following year and receive logo placement and testimonial opportunities in Gift for Life communication pieces.
Summer Atlanta Market Campaign Kicks-Off Tiered Recognition
Atlanta Market’s week-long “Feed the Hungry. Feel the Good” campaign kicks-off the newly introduced tiered recognition program for Gift for Life. Participating showrooms will raise funds in several ways, including donations for each confirmed order placed during the summer market; vendor contributions, direct donations from retailers; and percentage of sales.Funds raised during the July 11-17 event at AmericasMart Atlanta will support World Central Kitchen’s efforts to eradicate food insecurity across the globe.
“ANDMORE is delighted to continue our support for World Central Kitchen this July in Atlanta and to pilot the new tiered recognition program for Gift For Life,” said Sarah Mount, ANDMORE vice president marketing and Gift for Life first vice-chair. “Long-time supporters, like ANDMORE and so many of our Atlanta Market and Las Vegas Market exhibitors, are really essential to Gift for Life’s year-round fundraising efforts.”
Participating Atlanta Market showrooms confirmed to date are Schauben & Co., Road Runners, and The Link Companies, with many more to be announced. ANDMORE also will make a $2,500 donation. All gifts made through the Atlanta Market summer 2023 fundraiser will be added to the Donor’s 2023 running total and count towards the tiered recognition levels.
Donations to Atlanta Market’s “Feed the Hungry, Feel the Good” campaign benefitting World Central Kitchen are now accepted at https://donate.wck.org/atlsummer2023. ANDMORE, owners and operators of Atlanta Market, have set a $5,000 goal for the summer 2023 fundraiser.
Gift for Life was founded in 1992 by a small group of gift industry professionals responding to the tragic loss of friends and colleagues because of AIDS. Since then, Gift for Life has raised nearly $6M for AIDS research and education, and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment with charity partners AmfAR (American Foundation for AIDS Research) (1992-2007) and DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (2008-2020). In 2021, with COVID-19 temporarily causing cancelation of in-person events at industry markets, Gift for Life pivoted towards online digital events with a specific emphasis on COVID-related hunger relief. In 2023, the all-volunteer organization will continue to support programs that address hunger relief. More information is available at www.facebook.com/giftforlife.
Founded in 2010 by Chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen (WCK) uses the power of food to nourish communities and strengthen economies in times of crisis and beyond. In 2020, with COVID-19 straining traditional food security safety nets like school feeding programs, city services and food banks, WCK pivoted to safely distribute individually packaged, fresh meals in communities that need support and launched the Restaurants for the People program to scale nationwide. This program meets critical needs on two fronts: buying meals directly from restaurants and delivering them to Americans who need help. To date, the program has worked with 2,500 restaurants to serve over 12 million restaurant meals and has disbursed more than $135 million dollars directly to restaurants owners in 400 cities across 35 states. For information, visit www.wck.org.
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Media Contact:
Cathy Steel, cathysteel@cathysteelassociates.com, 203-340-9251
