What We Do
Gift for Life was founded in 1992 by a small group of gift industry professionals responding to the tragic loss of friends and colleagues as a result of AIDS. Since then, Gift for Life has raised nearly $6M for AIDS research and education, and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. After COVID-19 hit the nation hard, Gift for Life responded by adding the Hunger Crisis to its list of initiatives, and now also raises money for World Central Kitchen to help feed those in need and provide aid to those affected by natural disasters.
How We Help
Gift for Life is a charitable organization that works to unite the gift and home industries and mobilize its professionals with the common goal of helping those in need. It organizes several fundraisers throughout the year to address hunger-related issues and those associated with HIV/AIDS.
Providing Disaster Relief
In 2021 Gift for Life changed its primary focus to hunger-related crises and made World Central Kitchen its primary beneficiary of fundraising efforts.
Led by Chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen was founded in 2010 and has served more than 300 million meals worldwide. When disaster strikes, WCK teams are often the first to mobilize to quickly provide hunger-relief to the communities affected. To date, Gift for Life has raised $300,000+ for WCK, which has served hot, nutritious meals to nearly 100,000 people impacted by crisis or conflict. For more information, visit www.wck.org.
Fighting HIV/AIDS
Since 2012, Gift for Life has led a team for AIDS Walk New York, the largest single-day AIDS fundraising event in the world. In its over 30 years, the event has inspired nearly 890,000 people to walk and millions more to donate, raising nearly $155 million to combat HIV and AIDS. The funds raised at the event benefit GMHC, a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported, and community-based organization which provides prevention and care services to individuals living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS in New York City. GMHC advocates for scientific, evidence-based public health solutions for hundreds of thousands worldwide.
Feeding the Hungry
In partnership with home industry leaders and market makers, Gift for Life debuted its Home vs Hunger initiative at High Point Market in October 2022 to garner support from the home industry to fight against hunger. To date, Home vs Hunger has raised nearly $50,000 for World Central Kitchen. Gift for Life’s Home vs. Hunger team members include Chris Amos, ANDMORE; Mark Furlet, ANDMORE; Sharon Davis, ART; Jen Dolan, Arteriors; Jenny Heinzen York, Currey & Company; Jonathan Cochran, Eichholtz; Monica Loving, Ivystone; Russ Jones, Ivystone; Douglas Self, J. Douglas; and Sandra Standefer, Loloi Rugs.
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