Dallas Market Center named two winners for The Next Big Give, a national search for specialty retailers who give back in their communities: Brown, Houston, and Tea & Magnolias, Tulsa, Okla. The winners were selected from more than 50 retailers that are involved in a variety of ways through volunteering, raising funds or donating goods.
Both retailers offer significant support to worthy organizations and communities. We thank them for their good work and hope their stories will inspire other retailers to do the same,”said Bill Winsor, president and CEO, Dallas Market Center.
Brown, located in Houston, is owned by Jill Brown. The home furnishings retailer put its entire 2010 advertising budget towards two events benefiting uniquely different organizations: Future Farmers of America (FFA) and Yellowstone Academy, a Houston-area college preparatory school. Jill Brown felt that it was more important to put funds towards the needs she saw in her community rather than towards promoting her business through advertising.
Spurred by a belief in American ingenuity and hard work, Brown hosted FM 2490 in October 2010, which raised awareness for the FFA. Brown’s party Chandeliers and Champagne, benefiting Yellowstone Academy, included a live auction that raised close to $30,000 for the school. Yellowstone received 100 percent of the proceeds.
Tea & Magnolias is a gift and accessories retailer located in Tulsa, Okla. Owned by Susan Ponville, the store extends its generosity far beyond its immediate community to the Amazon jungles of Peru. Inspired by her past work as a missionary in Peru, Ponville sells jewelry and purses in the store made by Peruvian women with all of the proceeds going back to help the women support their families.
Also, in order to help the Tulsa community, each Christmas Tea & Magnolias hosts a Christmas Home Tour, giving all the proceeds to Pathways Adult Learning Center, a local school for special needs adults. The store also sells crosses that are handmade by a group of special needs adults in order to fund the group’s activities.
After receiving more than 50 applications, the entries were narrowed down to 10 finalists and then two winners by a panel of industry experts and Dallas Market Center representatives. The winners will receive a complimentary trip to the March 24-27, 2011 Market in Dallas including round-trip airfare and three nights hotel stay. While at Market, The Next Big Give winners will be recognized on Thursday, March 24 during The Inspired Event, a cocktail party including raffles benefiting charitable causes.
For additional information on the contest visit www.dallasmarketcenter.com/give.
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