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West Michigan Alert: Art Van Furniture Awards $1 Million to 50 Charities in 50 Hours

West Michigan Charities Announced at Reception This Morning

It's been a Marathon between cities throughout the state of Michigan in a dash to give away $1 Million to charities across the state as part of The Art Van Million Dollar Charity Challenge. Yesterday, worthy recipient charities were awarded checks at a morning press conference held at Art Van's Warren location. Then the challenge took to the road, with Art Van Founder and Chairman Art Van Elslander presenting checks to Flint and Saginaw area charities in an afternoon press conference. At the break of dawn this morning, the Art Van Million Dollar Charity Challenge team hit the road for the third in a series of five press conferences, to award funds to charities that help out those in our communities. This morning's stop: Grand Rapids.

It's all part of Art Van Furniture's 50th Anniversary. From its first store in 1959 to its 30 stores and over 2,500 employees today, Art Van Furniture continues its long tradition of giving back to the communities of Michigan.

Chairman and Founder Art Van Elslander announced the organizations from West Michigan who will receive these grants during a reception this morning at the Art Van Furniture store in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This was the third of five events around the State, where selected charities are awarded grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 each. The organizations are Michigan-based 501(c)3 non-profits who focus on children, health and human services programs.

"If you're fortunate enough to be as successful as we have been, then I believe it is your responsibility to give back," said Mr. Van Elslander, "The Million Dollar Charity Challenge will benefit 50 remarkable and deserving organizations to help them continue their outstanding work and improve the lives of people across our state. We designed these grants as challenge gifts in order to encourage others to donate and maximize fundraising opportunities."

The West Michigan grant winners are: Benjamin's Hope; Catholic Family Services; Community Advocates for Persons with Developmental Disabilities; Hospice of Michigan; Hospice of Muskegon County, Inc. (DBA Harbor Hospice); Kids Food Basket; and Mecosta County Senior Center. Other recipients are being announced at receptions in Warren, Flint, Traverse City and Lansing during a 50 hour tour of the State.

About Art Van Furniture

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Art Van Furniture is Michigan's largest furniture retailer and America's largest independent furniture retailer, operating 30 stores in 29 communities throughout Michigan, a full service e-commerce website plus a new freestanding bedding store in Canton Michigan, 'Art Van Pure Sleep'. The company was recently named "2009 Furniture Retailer of the Year" by Furniture Today. The company is family-owned and headquartered in Warren, Michigan. For more information, visit www.artvan.com.

Photos and artwork are available for download at: ftp://ftp.artvan.com, Username: artvan Password: press