Morris Furniture to Receive Governor’s Arts Award

March 2, 2015  by in Furniture Retailing, Industry, Special Events   

The Fairborn, Ohio-based retailer will be moored alongside five other individuals chosen from 68 nominees submitted by individuals and organizations across the state.

Award winners will be honored Wednesday, May 13 at a luncheon hosted by the Ohio Arts Council and the Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundation.

Larry Klaben and Marilyn Klaben, owners of Morris Furniture Co., are known for their involvement and advocacy of arts education in Ohio. Since 2005, the Klabens have invested more than $1 million in area nonprofits, especially in the arts. Programs Morris supports include Wright State University,  Dayton Art Institute, Stivers School for the Arts and the Victoria Theatre Association. 

Morris Furniture has been one of the leading sponsors of Wright State University's annual ARTSGALA, a showcase that displays the work of WSU's art students. To date, ARTSGALA has raised more than $1.75 million in scholarships for its students. At WSU, the Klabens created ArtsFair, a family-friendly arts program for children that offers more than 200 creative learning opportunities, and brought the first TEDx events to Dayton.

"Everything we do is for our customers," Larry Klaben said. "If we want to support our customers, we have to support our community."