IMC and Gift for Life Launch Fundraiser to Support Ukraine

June 8, 2022  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry   

The initiative, which bridges IMC’s digital and physical markets – JuniperMarket, Atlanta Market and Las Vegas Market – benefits World Central Kitchen’s efforts to provide fresh meals to displaced Ukrainian families.

“As the crisis in Ukraine escalates and as the need for food resilience programs is felt worldwide, we encourage the industry to come together to support the valuable work of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen,” said IMC CEO Bob Maricich. “By placing orders with participating gift and home furnishings brands – online and in person – buyers and sellers can make a difference for communities in need.”

Beginning June 1, IMC’s summer market giving event will raise funds in three ways: JuniperMarket will donate $5 per order (up to $5,000) through August 1; IMC’s Markets in Atlanta and Las Vegas will match donations (up to $5,000); and participating vendors will donate a portion of proceeds from at-market sales (a full list of participating vendors will be available soon and vendors interested in participating can email cometogether@giftforlife.info for information). Direct donations also will be accepted online via https://donate.wck.org/fundraiser/3931045. A fundraising goal of at least $25,000 is set for this program.

All “Come Together” fundraising will be directed to World Central Kitchen’s (WCK) #ChefsForUkraine program which has served more than 27 million meals across eight countries since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

To incentivize order-writing on JuniperMarket, as well as individual contributions, IMC will award Atlanta Market and Las Vegas Market hotel and dining prizes to donors.

From June 1 through June 15, buyers and sellers can qualify to win by either donating online at https://donate.wck.org/fundraiser/3931045, or placing JuniperMarket orders. Winners, which will be randomly selected from all eligible participants, will receive one of seven prizes connected with the summer 2022 markets:

Atlanta Market (July 12-18, 2022 at AmericasMart Atlanta)
- Hotel Indigo – two-night accommodations and breakfast for two
- Hyatt Regency – two-night accommodations and breakfast for two
- Westin Peachtree Plaza – two-night accommodations and breakfast for two
- Marriott Marquis – two-night accommodations and breakfast for two

Las Vegas Market (July 24-28, 2022 at World Market Center Las Vegas)
- $150 dining credit at Oscar’s Steakhouse at the Plaza Hotel
- $200 Dining credit at Bazaar Meat by Jose’ Andres at the Sahara Hotel
- Two complimentary tickets to either a Gordie Brown Show or a 52 Fridays show at the Golden Nugget Showroom, plus $100 Dining credit for the Salt Grass Steakhouse

From June 15 through August 1, buyers and suppliers donating directly at https://donate.wck.org/fundraiser/3931045, or placing orders on JuniperMarket will be eligible to win hotel and dining prizes for IMC’s winter 2023 markets. Seven winners will be randomly selected from all eligible donors to receive one of the following prizes:

Atlanta Market (January 10-16, 2023 at AmericasMart Atlanta)
- Hotel Indigo – two-night accommodations and breakfast for two
- Hyatt Regency – two-night accommodations and breakfast for two
- Westin Peachtree Plaza – two-night accommodations and breakfast for two
- Marriott Marquis – two-night accommodations and breakfast for two

Las Vegas Market (January 29 – February 2, 2023 at World Market Center Las Vegas), prizes are:
- $150 dining credit at Oscar’s Steakhouse at the Plaza Hotel
- Two complimentary tickets to either a Gordie Brown Show or a 52 Fridays show at the Golden Nugget Showroom, plus $100 Dining credit for the Salt Grass Steakhouse
- $200 Dining credit at Bazaar Meat by Jose’ Andres at the Sahara Hotel

While it may seem that World Central Kitchen’s Ukrainian efforts are far away, the global nature of the gift, home décor and furniture industry means that some of those impacted are participants in IMC’s community of brands.

Seven Ukrainian furniture manufacturers will be featured in a special showcase, The Ukrainian Pavilion, within the B2 Furniture Temporary Exhibits at Las Vegas Market this summer. In Summer 2022, the Ukrainian Pavilion will present chairs, tables and sofas as well as bedroom and living room furniture.

Tivoli sales manager Alla Lisovskaya, who has organized the Ukrainian Pavilion at Las Vegas Market since 2018, shared her experience meeting World Central Kitchen chefs feeding Ukrainian refugees at the Polish border while she was transporting furniture for shipment to Las Vegas Market. “The world is small. By chance, I met two World Central Kitchen chefs, from Washington DC and San Francisco, in the Lviv region of Ukraine, where our factory is located. It was amazing to meet people in our small city who are connected to the same organization that Las Vegas Market fundraising will benefit.”

IMC’s Maricich added, “Having a direct connection to people in Ukraine who are receiving aid from World Central Kitchen is humbling. We are proud to raise funds to support the communities of the exhibitors who are coming from Ukraine to Las Vegas Market, and are pleased that ‘Come Together’ donations are benefitting workers and their families who are part of our global industry. These exhibitors and their communities are in our constant thoughts and we look forward to connecting with them at Las Vegas Market.”