Hooker Furnishings, a longtime supporter of International Society of Furniture Designers’ (ISFD), is also now a bronze level sponsor of the ISFD Tom Conley Scholarship Fund. ISFD founded the scholarship to support gifted student designers from schools across the country.
“We are happy to be part of this effort and applaud the ISFD’s initiative to use the funds to involve young people who are not regularly exposed to our industry,” stated Mike Harris, president of Hooker casegoods & upholstery. “Hooker Furnishings is always looking to create and nurture partnerships with organizations that will support our goals of creating a truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture throughout our company and our industry. Our hope is that this gift will help to support the next generation of designers as well as encourage and attract more diversity to our industry.”
“On behalf of the ISFD board of directors I would like to thank Hooker Furnishings for their generous donation to support the education of the next generation of designers,” David Blair, executive director of ISFD said. “With this donation we can help offset tuition and other fees for the design students and ensure the long-term success of the scholarship program.”
The ISFD student scholarship was established in 2010 by the then ASFD board of directors with the instrumental help of long-time members Richard and Catherine Frinier. Beginning in 2023 the scholarship was renamed the Tom Conley Scholarship in honor of the retiring Tom Conley, past president and chief executive officer of the High Point Market Authority, longtime ISFD board member and tireless advocate of ISFD.