Five Celebrity Presenters Headline Hall of Fame Induction Banquet

October 7, 2016  by Jane Chero in Industry, Special Events   

The five will present the coveted Affie Awards to this year’s inductees.

Bench, the legendary Cincinnati Reds catcher and Baseball Hall of Fame member, will lead off the induction honors.  “Being named to any Hall of Fame is an enormous achievement,” Bench said, “and it’s gratifying to play a role in showing these individuals the respect that they have earned from their peers.”

Like Bench, Thom Filicia, TV personality, author and designer, will make his first appearance at the induction celebration. “As someone who has had a diverse experience in this industry, from high-end interior design to television makeovers, publishing books, designing products and even opening my own to-the-trade showroom, this is my first time attending the Furniture Hall of Fame induction ceremony. I’m honored to attend this year’s ceremony and look forward to presenting an award.”

Filicia is the creative force behind the Thom Filicia Home Collection, including furniture, rugs, curtain hardware, artwork, pillows, throws, fabrics and trimmings, through collaborations that include licensing agreements with Kravet, Soicher Marin, Safavieh and Vanguard Furniture.

Also presenting will be model-turned-licensing-mogul Kathy Ireland, who was recently named to the Forbes 2016 list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women. “I’m honored to again take part in the Hall of Fame Induction Celebration,” said Ireland. “Everyone in this business owes a debt of gratitude to those who came before us and laid the foundation on which this global industry has been built.”

Ireland is chairman and CEO of kathy ireland Worldwide, a design and marketing company that licenses her name to more than 17,000 products including Nourison, Pacific Coast Lighting, American Family Insurance, Martin Furniture, Bush Furniture, A and B Home, Lenox Gorham, Modern Living Television, Sandbox Properties, Madison Industries, Blue Ridge Textiles, East West Basics and Worldwise.

Award-winning actress, author, artist and designer Jane Seymour will return for her third year as a presenter at the home furnishing industry’s preeminent event. “Last year was such an inspiring evening, and I’m certain the stories that we hear about the new inductees will be equally moving and impressive. It’s an honor to be asked and a pleasure to participate,” said Seymour.

Seymour launched her lifestyle furnishings brand in 2004, partnering with AICO as the Michael Amini & Jane Seymour, A Design Collaboration. Her other home furnishings products include licensed lighting for StyleCraft Home, custom framing for Fotiou, and the Jane Seymour line of fine art and botanicals. 

Entertainment icon Donny Osmond and the signature performer at the induction ceremonies, has licensed collections as the Donny Osmond Home by Debbie and Donny Osmond brand with Coaster Fine Furniture, and others. 

“I said ‘yes’ the instant that (Foundation President) Michael Amini approached me, without hesitation,” Osmond said.  “This is a wonderful opportunity to support the home furnishings industry and quite frankly, to rub shoulders with amazing leaders.  I know that I will walk away inspired by an industry that I have come to love.”

“It is going to be an amazing evening, in part because of the celebrity presenters that have so freely given of their time to us,” said Amini. “We are honoring our legends with other stars that recognize the significance of the Hall of Fame and of the evening to the industry.  They each add to the celebration and we appreciation their generosity.”

The five industry leaders being inducted are John Bray, chairman and CEO of Vanguard Furniture; Robert B. Currey, founder of Storehouse Inc. and Currey & Company; Art DeFehr, chairman of Palliser Furniture Holdings Ltd.; Richard Frinier, award-winning designer and principal and creative director of the Richard Frinier Design Studio; and Robert Ching Wo, chairman of C.S. Wo & Sons.

Tickets for this year’s induction celebration are priced at $250 for members ($2,500 for a table of 10) and $300 for non-members ($3,000 for a table of 10). For more information about the celebration, to purchase tickets or to become a sponsor, visit the event’s website at www.CatchtheSpirit2016.com.