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DownEast Home & Clothing contributes to CHOICE Humanitarian

Home Accents Today Staff -- Home Accents Today, 5/16/2011 10:06:12 AM

SALT LAKE CITY - Retailer DownEast Home & Clothing launched a marketing initiative to benefit CHOICE Humanitarian, a nonprofit working in rural villages in developing countries.

From May 16 through June 18, 2011, customers who donate $5 or more to CHOICE Humanitarian receive a $5 coupon off their next purchase of $35 or more of home furnishings or apparel. Proceeds will help CHOICE and DownEast build a school in Guatemala this June. Also during that 30-day period, those interested in participating in CHOICE's international outreach can register for a chance to join an expedition, an experience valued at over $2,000.

The initiative grew out of a partnership between DownEast employees and CHOICE that began in 2009. In 2010, a group of DownEast employees, along with COO Rich Israelsen, traveled with CHOICE Humanitarian to Chirixquitzac village in Guatemala, where they spent a week working alongside villagers digging trenches to help build the community's first system to provide clean drinking water. This June, a second DownEast group will travel with CHOICE to help build the village's first elementary school.

Through its corporate matching program, DownEast employees have contributed more than $60,000 to CHOICE Humanitarian since 2009 and employees remain in contact with "their" village. DownEast employees also played a key part in helping to enroll 100% of the village women in adult literacy classes.

"From a business perspective, our partnership has not only created team building opportunities, but has also made fulfilling our mission as an organization more meaningful," Israelsen said. "The better we are at providing our customers with quality merchandise at affordable prices, the better positioned we are to help our friends in Guatemala."

Photos and stories from the expedition will be shared on the At Home with DownEast Home blog.

Those interested in entering to win the CHOICE expedition should visit www.choicehumanitarian.org. The winner will be notified by June 30, 2011, and can select from planned expeditions in the remainder of 2011 or 2012. All expeditions currently scheduled are listed on the CHOICE website. The trip does not include airfare.

Founded in 1991, family-owned DownEast operates an online store and 43 retail locations throughout the western U.S. Of those 43, nine are Home & Clothing stores. The Home & Clothing stores are all located in Utah and Idaho, showcasing home furnishings in approximately 15,000-20,000 square feet. The retailer also sells a select number of home accessories via its online store (www.downeastbasics.com).

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