SFIGF to ‘give back’ through Under One Roof partnership
WHITE PLAINS, NY — Reaffirming its commitment to the San Francisco community, the San Francisco International Gift Fair has again partnered with Bay Area non-profit Under One Roof to actively ‘give back’ during the upcoming summer market.
As part of the cooperation, Under One Roof and GLM will co-host a special discount shopping night and wine and hors d’oeuvres reception for Gift Fair participants at the non-profit’s new retail store, while Gift Fair exhibitors will collectively donate merchandise at the close of the show to Under One Roof, in support of its HIV/AIDS initiatives.
“Again partnering with Under One Roof to present a night of ‘shopping for a cause,’ as well as facilitating the donation of literally tons of goods from exhibiting companies to their retail store, strengthens the Gift Fair’s relationship with this important non-profit and makes a difference – in a very meaningful way – to our host city,” said Aubin Wilson, show manager.
“Over the past several years, the amazing benefit of receiving end-of-show donations from San Francisco International Gift Fair exhibitors directly impacts our bottom line and increases our fundraising efficiency by a factor of ten,” said Mark Burns, executive director and general manager, Under One Roof. “It’s such a natural fit – since we are both buyers at and beneficiaries of the Gift Fair – an incredible synergy that only gets better with each year’s work.”
On Sunday, July 27, Gift Fair participants are invited to attend an evening shopping event at Under One Roof’s new Castro Street location. The organization will offer shoppers a 20 percent discount on all merchandise, and wine, soft drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be provided from 6:30 – 8 p.m. A shuttle will provide transportation from the Moscone Center to Under One Roof. There is no charge for this event, but reservations for the shuttle are required. Reservations may be made online at http://www.sfigf.com/programsevents.html, or by calling 213-430-2310.
“Now that we’ve begun hosting a shopping event for San Francisco International Gift Fair participants in our new, larger Castro district shop, the relationship is taking on yet another exciting dimension that exposes our work on behalf of the City’s AIDS service groups to a broader and more receptive audience,” added Burns.
As of 2007, Under One Roof’s new larger retail location on Castro Street has tripled their space, allowing the non-profit to increase its offerings from novelty gifts, bath and tabletop into a wide range of home furnishings, an extensive urban garden collection and a colorful children’s section.
Following the show, Under One Roof staff and volunteers, supported by the Gift Fair, its contractors and Moscone Center staff, will collect merchandise and materials from exhibiting companies and facilitate their delivery to Under One Roof’s retail store. In recent years, this successful collaboration has resulted in the collection and delivery of goods, valued at tens of thousands of dollars, reaching the organization’s store shelves.
Under One Roof, a 501(c)3 organization, generates unrestricted funds for Bay Area agencies and AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) that provide HIV/AIDS education and support services. Primarily, Under One Roof (UOR) operates a retail gift store, leveraging its retail and manufacturing industry relationships to procure donated new merchandise/products as well unique purchased merchandise.
Under One Roof’s retail gift store raises hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for HIV and AIDS service organizations. Since 1990, Under One Roof has brought together community volunteers, donors, staff, sponsors and merchant supporters to fundraise in support of those living with HIV/AIDS, benefiting organizations throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. Additional information is available online at www.underoneroof.org.
