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Art Van Furniture Awards $1 Million to 50 Charities in 50 Hours

5 Events Held to Celebrate Charities Throughout Michigan

The Art Van Furniture management team travelled 500 miles in 50 hours to award $1 million to 50 charities around the State of Michigan, as part of the "Art Van Million Dollar Charity Challenge." This Challenge is part of the year-long celebration 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.

Art Van Furniture Chairman and Founder Art Van Elslander and President Gary Van Elslander hosted events in Warren, Flint, Grand Rapids, Traverse City and Lansing from Monday morning through Wednesday morning, announcing the organizations which will receive these grants and asking others to help support these important Michigan-based non-profits that focus on children, health and human services programs. The selected charities received grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 each.

"If you're fortunate enough to be as successful as we have been, then I believe it is your responsibility to give back," said Art Van Elslander. "The Art Van 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 50th Anniversary celebrations continue for Art Van Furniture with Gala Fundraising Events scheduled for October to benefit important regional medical centers. Other local events will be held for staff members and customers at all Art Van Furniture stores throughout October, and a 1959 Corvette convertible is being given away online through the ArtVan.com website.

The recipients of the Art Van Million Dollar Charity Challenge are:

Southeast Michigan                     Judson Center, Inc.
Assistance League of                   North Oakland SCAMP Funding
 Southeastern Michigan                  Corporation
Child Abuse & Neglect                  Northeast Guidance Center
 Council of Oakland County             Old Newsboys' Goodfellow Fund of
Dawn Farm                               Detroit
Families Against Narcotics             Penrickton Center for Blind Children
Fish & Loaves Community                Reaching Higher
 Food Pantry                           Seedlings Braille Books for Children
For The Kids Foundation                Special Dreams Farm
Forgotten Harvest                      Starfish Family Services
Friendship Circle                      The ALS Association, Michigan
The Rainbow Connection                  Chapter
The Restore Foundation                 Kids Food Basket
Therapeutic Riding, Inc.               Mecosta County Senior Center
United Cerebral Palsy of               Northern Michigan
 Metro Detroit (UCP/Detroit)           Goodwill Industries of Northern
Variety, The Children's Charity         Michigan
Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan                Munson Healthcare Regional
Flint / Saginaw / Bay City / Midland    Foundation
Child Abuse Prevention Council         Otsego Memorial Hospital Foundation
 of Shiawassee                         Women's Resource Center for the
 County                                 Grand Traverse Area
City Rescue Mission of                 Mid Michigan and Statewide
 Saginaw, Inc.                         Alzheimer's Disease and Related
CORY Place, Inc.                        Disorders Association, Inc.
Hurley Foundation                      Children's Leukemia Foundation of MI
Partnership Center                     Council for the Prevention of Child
West Michigan                           Abuse & Neglect
Benjamin's Hope                        E.V.E., Inc.
Catholic Family Services               Ele's Place, Inc.
Community Advocates for Persons        Leader Dogs for the Blind
 with Developmental Disabilities       Livingston Area Council Against
Hospice of Michigan                     Spouse Abuse, Inc. (LACASA)
Hospice of Muskegon County, Inc.       Michigan AIDS Coalition
 (DBA Harbor Hospice)                  SIREN/Eaton Shelter, Inc.
                                       The Kimberly Anne Gillary Foundation

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