Aug 8, 2011

Wine & Cheese Tasting Event to Benefit Gift For Life

Gift For Life, the gift, stationery and home décor industries’ sole charitable organization, today announced it will serve as the beneficiary of a special Wine & Cheese Tasting event being held during the Summer Gift and Home Accessories Show in Seattle, August 10 – 16, 2011.

The event will be held on Monday, August 15th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Market Center.

Buyers are invited to sample wines and cheeses from Washington and Oregon’s premier vineyards and cheesemakers while enjoying live Latin jazz by the Fred Hoadley Trio. A suggested $10 donation is requested to benefit Gift For Life/Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA). Sponsored by: Schott Zwiesel, Esquin Wine Merchants, Beecher’s Cheeses, Fred Hoadley Trio and Pacific Market Center’s Independent Sales Association.

According to Lisa Goodman, Director of Marketing for the Pacific Market Center and Gift For Life Board Member, the Wine & Cheese Tasting culminates a week of new PMC Cooks culinary events being offered to buyers during Market. “We are thrilled to do this fundraising event again in celebration of our industry’s charity and fabulous wines and cheeses the Pacific Northwest are known for,” said Goodman. “We look forward to a great crowd and tremendous support.”

“We are honored to serve as the beneficiary of this unique, entertaining event,” said Leslie Street, chair of the Gift for Life board. “The Pacific Market Center is creating new opportunities for buyers to enjoy their buying trip and to support the industry charity that makes a difference in Seattle and across the U.S.”

Gift For Life presents its annual Industry Achievement Award each August as part of the Gifts & Decorative Accessories Retailer Excellence Awards. In addition, Gift For Life hosts regional events throughout the United States and a national fundraiser each winter in New York City during the New York International Gift Fair®. Funds benefit DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. For additional information please visit www.giftforlife.org.

ABOUT GIFT FOR LIFE

Gift For Life, the gift and home décor industry’s volunteer group raising funds for AIDS assistance and research through DIFFA: Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS, was founded in 1992. Since then, Gift For Life has raised nearly $4 million through special events, cause-related marketing, promotions, and from corporate and individual donations. Information is available at www.giftforlife.org.

ABOUT DIFFA

DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS is one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the U.S. Since its founding in 1984, DIFFA has mobilized the immense resources of the design communities to provide more than $38 million to hundreds of AIDS organizations nationwide. Information is available at www.diffa.org

ABOUT PACIFIC MARKET CENTER

The industry destination for buyers in the Western United States, Canada and beyond, Pacific Market Center offers permanent showrooms featuring thousands of product lines for a wide selection of merchandise to help buyers keep up with every trend affecting their consumers. Pacific Market Center draws thousands of buyers from more than 30 channels of distribution including department stores, corporate, specialty retailers, home furnishings, kitchenware, events, gourmet food, hospitality, garden/outdoor living, salons & spas, wineries, Internet, and regional chain outlets. Located in Seattle’s Design District, Pacific Market Center is open to the trade only. For more information, visit www.pacificmarketcenter.com. Pacific Market Center is owned and managed by The Benaroya Company.