Art Van Furniture Kicks off Charity Challenge

May 17, 2012  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in on May 18, 2012

The Art Van Million Dollar Charity Challenge kicks off today and runs two weeks offering 150 Michigan-based charities to earn grants totaling $50,000.

The retailer is asking the public to vote for its favorite Art Van Million Dollar Charity Challenge organization. The top three vote getters will win grants of $25,000, $15,000 or $10,000. The challenge is on for each charity to get the word out through e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, billboards, or whatever other means possible.

To cast a vote, supporters go online. Only one e-mail will be allowed. Winners will be announced by Art Van Furniture on June 1.

The challenge was added last year to the Art Van Million Dollar Charity Challenge as a way to raise funds and awareness for grass roots organizations.

 Last year's winners were: $25,000-Senior Neighbors, which promotes the health and well-being of older adults; $15,000-Seedlings Braille Books for Children, which is dedicated to increasing the opportunity for literacy by providing Braille books for children; and $10,000 to North Star Reach, a camp experience for children and families of children with serious or life-threatening health challenges.

The Art Van Million Dollar Charity Challenge awards challenge grants from $5,000 to $50,000 to support Michigan-based nonprofit organizations that focus on children, health and human services programs. Within the last three years, 150 Michigan charities have been awarded a total of $3 million. Through the challenge component, $10 million has been raised since the program began in 2009.