Gates Home Furnishings on Extreme Makeover

November 14, 2011  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on November 15, 2011

Gates Home Furnishings has furnished a house in Medford, Ore., for the television show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition build in Medford, Oregon.

Before the identity of the winning family was even released, Gates Home Furnishings President Giff Gates committed to donating $18,000 worth of furniture for the new home. He also donated patio furniture including eight chairs and two chaises for use in the V.I.P. tent at the home build site, which could then be auctioned to help raise money for the Family/Build fund.

Though Gates was not familiar with the chosen family--C.J. and Lindsay McPhail and their three sons--or their tremendous charitable efforts through the Sparrow Clubs, he continued to work with his key suppliers to increase the amount of furniture he could donate to the project. Through his continued efforts, Gates' suppliers helped him boost his original $18,000 value contribution to more than $50,000 in new furniture for the McPhail's.  Gates and his team ended up working directly with the show's designers to determine the best use of that $50,000 value. Many of Gates' employees also volunteered on the build--taking a variety of shifts throughout the seven-day project.

Giff Gates also arranged for the home designers to take a private Hellgate Jetboat tour up the renowned Rogue River.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime, inspiring experience in the furniture industry," said Gates, whose Grants Pass store has served Southern Oregon residents since 1946. "It's a chance to help a deserving family in need to receive a home that will better their lives. And it's also the opportunity to join a very caring community as we all came together to help out one of our own."

Gates Home Furnishings and its family ownership have become well-known for charitable contributions. Father and son, Giff and Nick Gates, have worked with and supported the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life campaign, the Fourway Family Foundation, Rotary and a number of other altruistic organizations.

Giff's wife, Chris, and their family dog, Snoopy, have connections with Canine Angels, a local canine group that trains service dogs. Chris Gates arranged for the McPhail family, who have two sons on the autism spectrum, to meet several local dogs trained to work with special needs children.

"We didn't know before anyone else that Extreme Makeover was coming here," Giff Gates said. "But having participated, I whole-heartedly recommend making that spontaneous decision to any furniture store or business owner. All of our charitable efforts are rewarding, but through Extreme, we got the chance to meet the people designing the home as well as the very deserving family benefitting from the show. This was a one-of-a-kind experience, and all I can say is you€™d be crazy not to get involved."