NYIGF' "Like for Life" campaign raises $1,000

Home Accents Today Staff -- Home Accents Today, 9/9/2011 11:33:32 AM

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - The New York International Gift Fair announced the successful conclusion of its month-long "Like for Life" Facebook campaign, benefitting Gift for Life.

Throughout the month of August, GLM pledged to donate one dollar to Gift for Life for each Facebook user who "liked" the NYIGF Facebook page, with a $1,000 fundraising goal for the campaign launch. Proceeds raised through Gift for Life benefit DIFFA.

"Like for Life offered us a unique opportunity to widen the NYIGF online audience, while also benefitting an industry cause," said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. "We hope that our piloting of this new Gift for Life fundraiser will encourage others in the gift, home and lifestyle industry to undertake similar efforts."

NYIGF has committed to run another "Like for Life" campaign in advance of the winter 2012 market, and is encouraging other industry buyers and suppliers to launch their own "Like for Life" fundraising initiatives.

Participation by GLM and the NYIGF followed the launch of "Like for Life" by the gift and home wholesale shopping site BWconnect, which has a similar program underway through November 30. GLM is working with Brandwise, an application service provider specializing in the gift and home industry, to develop materials which offer turnkey participation for suppliers and retailers interested in fundraising through Facebook. Complete details and participant materials, including graphics, logos, and registration materials, will be available in October.

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 $5 million through special events, cause-related marketing, promotions, and from corporate and individual donations. For more information visit www.giftforlife.org.

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. The DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS Web site is available at www.diffa.org.