Jan 27, 2016

Online bidding opens for Party for Life auction items

Gift for Life, the gift and home industries’ charitable organization, announced that more than 40 auction items — including luxury experiences such as a 7-night stay for four at St. James’ Club in Antigua, a VIP wine tasting and tour for four at the Alexander Valley Vineyards and tickets to current Broadway hits, as well as unique gift and home décor products donated by more than 30 leading suppliers — will be offered during the 24^th Annual Party For Life Fundraiser on Monday, February 1, in New York City. The auction items, collectively valued at more than $35,000 are available for pre-event online bidding beginning this week.

Some 40 fabulous gift and home décor items, goods and services and experiential prizes have been donated for auction.  Notable gift and home décor prizes include:

• An 8-piece place setting of Arte Italica’s Bella Bianca Dinnerware;
• A baggallini Rolling Avenue Tote in violet
• An 8-piece set of Chilewich Metallic Lace Table Linens
• Fine gold-plated clip earrings and a necklace/earring set by Petra Meiren Design
• A Vera Bradley Paddleboard in Rio pattern.

The complete list of auction donors, to date, includes:  Alexander Valley Vineyards; AmericasMart Atlanta; Ann Gish; Arte Italica; AZ Imports; baggallini; Chilewich Sultan, LLC; Consuela; Dallas Market Center; Donghia; Group Sales Box Office; ICD Publications; International Market Centers; Jonathan Adler; Kramer Portraits; Kravet; La Grotta; Lizzy James; Lynn Mitchell Group – LA Mart; Mangiacotti; Marc Blackwell New York; Matteo LLC; Michael Aram; Mikel Welch; Mindful by Acquiesse; Napa Home & Garden; Nextt; Paddywax; Petra Meiren Design; photos.com by Getty Images; Posh 365, Inc. & Remembrance Ent., Inc.; Right Angle Strategies; Soap and Paper Factory; Spartina 449; Trollbeads; Umbra; Vera Bradley; and Vietri.

The Party for Life auction will be managed by 501 Auction services, allowing for advance viewing of the unique, and in many cases exclusive, auction items online prior to the event. Beginning today, viewers may preview the auction, pre-register as bidders and submit advance bids. 501 Auctions uses mobile technology to notify bidders of their bid status and to competitive bids.

Make plans now to attend Gift for Life’s 24th Annual Party for Life, benefiting DIFFA, on Monday, February 1, 2016, at The Boathouse in New York City’s Central Park.  During this fun and festive evening, three industry leaders will receive achievement awards: Suzy Batiz, the creator and CEO of Poo-Pourri, is being honored with the Norman Glassberg Trailblazer Award; Howard Henschel, president and CEO of The Norman Group, is the recipient of the Chuck Yancy Lifetime Achievement Award; and Arun Agarwal, CEO and director of Nextt, is being presented with the Bert Tonkin Gift of Giving Award.

Each year, Gift for Life hosts events throughout the U.S. benefitting DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (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. For additional information, visit www.giftforlife.org.