Jun 29, 2007

L.A. Mart and L.A. Mart Gift Association to Present “Takin’ it to the Sea,” Sixth Annual Gift For Life amFAR Benefit Gala

LA – Demonstrating its ongoing commitment and support to amfAR, the L.A. Mart and many of the finest gift, decorative accessory and furniture showrooms on the West Coast will come together on Saturday, July 21, from 6-10 p.m., to present “Takin’ It To The Sea,” the sixth annual fundraising event for Gift for Life (GFL) benefiting the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR).

The after-hours highlight of L.A. Mart’s eight-day July Gift & Home Furnishings Market, “Takin’ it to the Sea” will bring together leading retail buyers, manufacturers, interior designers, showroom owners and managers, and VIP guests for networking, hot sounds, cool libations and fabulous food – all in a humanitarian effort to help those living with HIV and AIDS.

The California Gift Show will once again join forces with the L.A. Mart as a contributing sponsor to the fundraiser. Supporting what has become the West Coast market celebration and second-highest grossing event for Gift for Life, the L.A. Mart’s GFL event has cumulatively generated $150,000 to date.

In keeping with the resounding business theme of the July 2007 Gift & Home Furnishings Market, the gala will also pay tribute to the cornerstone of the gift industry, the 1.9 million independent retailers in business around the country. The City of Los Angeles will proclaim July 21 Independent Retailers’ Day throughout the city and will encourage every citizen to participate by choosing to shop independent retail businesses. A representative from the Mayor’s Office of the City of Los Angeles will honor the industry’s independent retailer and all of the 85,000 independent retailers in Los Angeles during a special evening presentation.

“We are extraordinarily grateful to all of our contributors: the California Gift Show, our showrooms, and our media partners for taking part in this year’s ‘Takin’ it to the Sea’ benefit,” said Michael Kessler, vice president and general manager, L.A. Mart. “Together, we will once again create a memorable event that demonstrates our unified strength, concern and commitment in helping those living with this terrible disease and served by amfAR.” Kessler also acknowledged the City of Los Angeles for recognizing the importance of all independent retailers, with its July 21 Independent Retailers’ Day Proclamation in Los Angeles.

L.A. Mart’s GFL fundraiser continues to be supported by some of the best names in the gift and home furnishings industries. The following sponsorship commitments have been made to date:

Contributing Sponsor: California Gift Show; Presenting Sponsor: L.A. Mart Gift Association; Gold Sponsor: L.A. Mart Furniture Association; Patron Sponsors: Bernhardt/Century, Filbert & Fig/The Rosenberg Group, Fine Lines Company, Flemming Chalef, Inc./Lynn Mitchell Group, Joanne & Company/Kregger & Kompany, Klasse Company, Moda Dora Gift and Home, Rosalie & Friends, Inc., Sales Producers, Inc., Mr. Gerry Seibel, Veneman Collections, and Vest & Associates; Event Sponsors: B & C Catering, The Barkley Restaurant, Home Sweet Home, LA Premier, NET/30, Inc., Sterling Industries, and Two’s Company. In addition, “Takin’ it to the Sea” is honored to be supported once more by Co-Media Sponsors: Gifts & Decorative Accessories and Giftware News magazines.

Individual tickets are $20 each and may be purchased during the July 2007 Gift & Home Furnishings Market at the L.A. Mart . For advance ticket sales call the L.A. Mart at 800.LAMART.4. For more information about “Takin’ it to the Sea” or the L.A. Mart, please visit lamart.com.

The L.A. Mart has proudly served as the West Coast’s premier market center for manufacturers and independent retailers for half a century.

ABOUT GIFT FOR LIFE

Gift for Life is a volunteer group of professionals from the gift and home industries who are making a difference by raising funds for the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), the leading U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of AIDS research, AIDS prevention, treatment education and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. For more information, call 212.806.1657.

ABOUT L.A. MART

The L.A. Mart is the pre-eminent center for gift and home furnishings products in the Western United States for the retail and design trade industries. With nearly 300 showrooms encompassing 724,000 square feet of showroom space, the L.A. Mart is dedicated to showcasing a wide array of lifestyle merchandise including gifts, fine furniture and home decor, decorative accessories, tabletop, stationery, collectibles, holiday ideas, gourmet foods, floral, linens, paper products, bath & body items, apparel, children’s giftware and handcrafted products.

The L.A. Mart is centrally located in the heart of the Furniture & Decorative Arts District at 1933 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, Calif., 90007, at the corner of Broadway and Washington Boulevard.

The L.A. Mart is a registered trademark of MMPI. The Gift & Home Furnishings Market is a trademark of MMPI.

Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.

MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart and 350 West Mart Center in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the Boston Design Center in Boston; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Federal Center Southwest in Washington D.C.

Vornado Realty Trust, owners of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.