Gift for Life’s annual fundraiser, Party for Life, is moving to Atlanta for its 2020 celebration, to be held on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, 6:30-10 p.m., at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Highlights of the event’s first-ever hosting outside of New York City include a guest appearance by celebrity designer Thom Filicia; special recognition of gift visionary Anne McGilvray; and staging at one of Atlanta’s most iconic cultural attractions.
“With a stellar new location, a fantastic honorary event chairman and a celebration of one of the most important women in our industry, we will be starting 2020 off right!” said Matthew Katzenson, Chair of the Gift for Life board. “Party for Life is Gift for Life’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and all proceeds benefit the grantmaking efforts of our beneficiary DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS.”
The 28th annual Party for Life will be elegantly staged in Fernbank’s Great Hall. Attendees will mix and mingle amidst full-scale molds of dinosaur fossils as they enjoy an open bar and chef-prepared hors d’oeuvres and participate in a silent auction featuring an array of Atlanta-themed prizes.
2020 marks Party for Life’s first staging against the backdrop of the Atlanta Market. “We are greatly honored that Gift for Life has chosen Atlanta and the Atlanta Market as the new location for this important event,” said Bob Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers. “Party for Life is the preeminent charitable event for our industry, and we look forward to joining with our Atlanta Market community to position Party for Life 2020 as the signature event of the winter market season.”
Honorary Chairman Thom Filicia is universally known as the interior design expert in the Emmy-Award winning “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” designer of the eponymous Thom Filicia Home Collection and his stunning modern, yet classic, interiors. Filicia was named one of House Beautiful's "Top 100 Designers," dubbed an "International Taste Maker" by House & Garden and regaled as an "A-List Designer” by Elle Décor. Beyond his design work, Filicia has also hosted several successful shows for the Style Network, the HGTV Network and Bravo. His product line, the Thom Filicia Home Collection, includes furniture, decor, textiles, wallcoverings and more for the retail and hospitality markets.
“The work that DIFFA and Gift for Life do in the fight against AIDS is so important for the design industry,” said Filicia. “I am thrilled to serve as the honorary chairman and look forward to connecting with other likeminded people who are also committed to eradicating this disease.”
Anne McGilvray, recipient of Gift for Life’s 2020 Chuck Yancy Lifetime Achievement Award, is founder of Anne McGilvray & Company, a female-owned and operated agency operating in 43 states with eight permanent showrooms. In addition to the agency, McGilvray operates two beloved retail stores in Dallas.
Information about Party for Life 2020 tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at GiftForLife.org/participate.
Gift for Life was founded by Peter Schauben of Appleman Schauben in 1992 in response to the tragic loss of industry lives to AIDS. The organization’s first meeting at the National Stationery Show brought together a cross-section of the industry’s leading publishers, market centers, sales reps, manufacturers and retailers – all willing to convene and work together towards a common goal. Since that time, Gift for Life has raised more than $5 million for AIDS research, education, treatment and care through nationwide at-market events, cause marketing programs and direct donations.
Each year, Gift for Life hosts events throughout the U.S. benefitting the grantmaking of DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. In 2018, with Gift for Life’s help, DIFFA National granted $285,000 to 26 organizations providing HIV/AIDS service and education programs nationwide. For additional information visit www.giftforlife.org.
