K.I.D.S. and Fashion Delivers Gala Raises $1.15 Million For Charity

Nearly 750 industry leaders came out to support Kids In Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S.) and Fashion Delivers’ annual fundraising gala at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on Nov. 4, surpassing both the attendance and fundraising targets and bringing in a total of $1.15 million. K.I.D.S. and Fashion Delivers help fight the consequences of poverty by soliciting and distributing excess new merchandise from industries that make and market children’s, adult and home furnishings products.

This year’s gala honored: John Daly, president of Trade Finance, CIT Group, with the Fashion Has a Heart Award; Gary Simmons, CEO of Gerber Childrenswear LLC, a leading maker of infant and toddler apparel and related products, with the K.I.D.S. Lifetime Achievement Award; Andrew Hall, president and CEO of Stage Stores, a national department store chain, with the Retailer Award; and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, with the Humanitarian Award.

“Our organization’s mission is to help families in need meet the challenges they face every day, and the money raised at this event supports our ability to fulfill that mission,” said K.I.D.S. Board Chairman Peter Rosenthal. “This event is testimony to the strong sense of corporate social responsibility that defines the industries attending the gala. We are deeply grateful to them.”

K.I.D.S. and Fashion Delivers distribute approximately $62 million of donated goods annually through a network of more than 1,000 community charities serving the poor and disadvantaged throughout the U.S. Working together, K.I.D.S. and Fashion Delivers help more than 4 million children, their families and other individuals in need each year. For more information about the K.I.D.S., visit http://www.KIDSdonations.org; more information about Fashion Delivers is online at http://www.FashionDelivers.org.

In the Nov/Dec issue: Tips for boosting bedding sales The 2010 trade show preview Profiles of the 2009 Earnie winners Plus: Color makes a splash in the specialty sportswear category Coming In January: Present Principles: The rules for stocking gift items Head of the Class: School uniforms keep pace with fashion Major Step: Tips for selling department stores Winter Wear: The new look in outerwear