Gift for Life is once again collaborating with Gifts & Decorative Accessories to continue its text-to-give campaign in connection with the 69th annual Retailer Excellence Awards. Donations, which are being accepted now through the virtual event on Thursday, Aug. 6, will directly benefit A Sister’s Gift Women’s Center (ASG), the first stand-alone HIV/AIDS agency serving women in Dallas and the first in Texas to incorporate a female gender-based peer-lead intervention model. ASG serves females (aged 13 and up) and their families impacted by HIV/AIDS with counseling, peer support programs, food assistance and transportation.
“Gift for Life was founded in 1989 in response to the AIDS pandemic. The current COVID-19 crisis has been devastating for many HIV and AIDS-impacted individuals, and A Sister’s Gift Women’s Center has provided exceptional support to these at-risk communities during the pandemic,” said Matthew Katzenson, chair of the Gift for Life board. “Our text-to-give partnership with Gifts & Decorative Accessories offers our industry an easy and effective way to make a big difference in the lives of individuals whose lives are impacted by HIV/AIDS.”
A Sister’s Gift Women’s Center (ASG) is a community based non-profit 501(c)3 agency which serves females (aged 13 and up) and their families living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS. Its mission is to proactively identify HIV positive females and provide them with supplemental resources to enhance and prolong their quality of life and create community awareness to prevent the spread of the disease. Over 95 percent of ASG’s clients live below the poverty guidelines and 70 percent are in poor health.
For 2020, suggested donations and initiatives funded at each level are: $40 provides 10 bus passes to medical appointments; $80 pays for hygiene products for 10 clients; $120 pays for food baskets for four families; $250 underwrites in-take counseling sessions; and $500 pays for group counseling sessions. To donate, simply text the code GFL2020 to 44-321. A text reply will provide a secure link where donations can be made by credit card. Everyone associated with the gift and home furnishings industry — retailers, retail buying groups, product manufacturers, product designers, sales organizations, market producers, trade publications and service providers — is eligible to participate and encouraged to contribute. Donations also can also be made online at https://tinyurl.com/GFLREA.
“The gift industry is a warm and caring community and this campaign is just another way they can contribute to a worthy cause and help those in need,” said Lenise Willis, Editor in Chief of Gifts & Decorative Accessories. “We are so proud to once again collaborate with Gift for Life and our industry partners to support A Sister’s Gift, which is an incredibly deserving recipient. I hope everyone will join us in supporting them with a text or online donation.”
As part of the Retailer Excellence Awards, Gift for Life will present its 2020 Industry Achievement Award to Adam Glassman, creative director for O, The Oprah Magazine. Hosted by Gifts & Decorative Accessories, the Retailer Excellence Awards recognize excellence in retailing and individual achievement.