Oct 14, 2015

GHTA annual conference auction to benefit Gift for Life

Gift for Life, the gift and home industries’ charitable organization, announced that it will receive a portion of the proceeds from the Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA) auction that will be held during the organization’s annual Bridgeway Collaborative Conference, Nov. 10-12, 2015, in Austin, Texas.

On Wednesday, Nov. 11, a GHTA evening social event will feature dinner, an auction and live entertainment for more than 250 conference guests. A special tequila tasting, hosted by Appleman Scahuben during the winter 2016 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, will be live auctioned at the event. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of that item will benefit Gift For Life.

“We are delighted to be partnering again with GHTA and their Bridgeway Collaborative partners to support our industry’s sole national charity,” said Frank Joens, chair of the Gift for Life board. “While medical evolution in the treatment of HIV is keeping people alive, we have already lost 15,000 people in 2015 to HIV-related deaths, and youths age 13-20 account for 26 percent of new HIV infections.

“The GHTA has been a longtime partner with Gift For Life, and we look forward to continuing our support by giving them a portion of proceeds from this conference auction item,” said Robert Ricciardi, president of GHTA. According to Ricciardi, the Atlanta-based charitable organization Caminar Latino, a domestic violence intervention program for Latino families, supported by Young Gift Executives (YGE), also will receive a portion of the proceeds. Other Bridgeway Collaborative partners are Accessories Resource Team (ART), and the Gift Sales Managers Association (GSMA).

Make plans now to bid on this auction item at the GHTA Conference and help Gift for Life’s nationwide program of HIV/AIDS education, testing and prevention. Also, mark your calendars for Gift for Life’s 24rd Annual Party for Life, benefiting DIFFA, on Monday, February 1, 2016, at The Boathouse in New York City’s Central Park. Individual tickets are $125, and sponsorships ranging from $500 through $25,000 are available. For details, contact Steven Williams at swilliams@diffa.org or 212-727-3100.

Each year, Gift for Life hosts events throughout the United States benefitting DIFFA. The primary mission of Gift for Life and DIFFA is to eradicate the AIDS pandemic in the U.S. Working together, Gift for Life and DIFFA will continue to raise funds for HIV/AIDS service and education programs.