AFW Hosts Children’s Hospital Fund-Raiser

July 6, 2006  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on July 2006 American Furniture Warehouse teamed up with Ashley Furniture and radio station KYGO-FM in Denver, Col., during June to raise $312,680 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

St. Jude, in Memphis, Tenn., is the world’s premier center for the research and treatment of cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases.

Throughout the month of June, Thornton, Col.-based AFW collected donations for St. Jude at all 10 of its Colorado locations. Later in the month, American Furniture Warehouse’s Englewood Mega Store hosted the 2006 Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon, which was broadcast live on KYGO over two days.

American Furniture Warehouse customers, KYGO listeners and the general public raised $312,680 for the hospital, which was founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas to help children and families everywhere.

This year’s radiothon included a visit from Denver-area St. Jude patient Garrett, whose family shared his St. Jude experience with the station’s listeners. Garrett is just one of the tens of thousands of children who have benefited from the cutting-edge research and treatment at St. Jude since its opening in 1962.

“We believe in helping those who need it most, and to us, children battling serious illnesses like St. Jude kids are at the top of the list,” said Jake Jabs, president and chief executive officer of American Furniture Warehouse. “The public was obviously moved by the stories of brave children and families who are served by St. Jude, as we were, and they joined us to make

a difference.”

Since its inception in 1989, the Country Cares program has grown to include more than 200 radio station partners raising more than $250 million in pledges.

In appreciation for its customers’ support of the effort, American Furniture Warehouse gave everyone who came into its stores in June the chance to register to win great prizes from KYGO and Ashley Furniture. Prizes included an Ashley living room set; a VIP suite for eight people to attend the 26th KYGO Birthday Show starring Brad Paisley and Sara Evans at Coors Amphitheater on June 23; a KYGO Flyaway trip for two to see country star Gary Allan and another KYGO Flyaway trip for two to see country star Toby Keith.

“Whenever we invite our customers to support organizations that do great work for people who are truly in need, they are right there with us, opening their hearts to make a difference,” Jabs said. “The St. Jude fund-raiser was no different, and we just wanted to let everyone know how much we appreciate their support,” Jabs said.