For Immediate Release
Kevin DeSantis
(212) 645-6900 x118 or
kevin@jerichopr.com
IKEA GIVES PEOPLE A “HELPING HAND” TO “CARRY OUT”
THE HOME OF THEIR DREAMS
At the “IKEA Helping Hands Event” You Can Donate the Furniture That No Longer Represents Your Personal Style to Help Decorate Someone Else’s Home

Burbank, California, June 20, 2003 - Often times the thought of moving that old chair, end-table or sofa out of your house seems more of a hassle than its worth. But what if that piece of furniture could represent a way for you to renew your home, but also provide a needy family with the means to spend quality time together?

IKEA, the leading home furnishings retailer, from June 20 through June 22, is conducting the IKEA Helping Hands Event at all Los Angeles stores (Burbank, Covina, Orange County Costa Mesa and Carson). Bring to IKEA the usable furniture in your home that no longer represents your personal style – from that end table you’ve been meaning to toss to the barker lounger that just seems to take up space in the den – to benefit Habitat for Humanity. Donations for Habitat for Humanity will help build simple decent homes for low-income families.

Everyone that participates by donating their “treasures” will receive an IKEA coupon toward a new purchase ($20 off purchases over $100; $50 off purchases over $250; $100 off purchases over $500; and $200 off purchases over $1,000). The IKEA coupon will be redeemable for the three-day event. Representatives from Habitat for Humanity will also be on-hand to provide people with tax-deductible donation receipts.

“Sometimes it is easier to keep an old piece of furniture in the house that actually go through the trouble of moving it,” explained Chris Maynard, store manager, IKEA Burbank. “This program not only gives people a great incentive to reduce clutter in their homes and get organized, but also provides them with the inspiration and opportunity to not only renew a bit of their own home, but help others in the process.”

IKEA offers a wide variety of items to help spruce up the home, adding the perfect seasonal touches – everything from fresh new textiles, furnishings and accessories that work both inside and outside the home, as well as functional storage options to help reduce clutter.

Since its founding in 1943, IKEA has offered a wide range of home furnishings and accessories of good design and function, at prices so low that the majority of the people can afford them. IKEA is recognized as a socially responsible company, and continuously supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the environment. Currently, IKEA has more than 180 stores in 31 countries, including 16 stores in the United States and ten stores in Canada. To visit the IKEA Web site, please go to http://www.ikea-usa.com.

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is an organization, which seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. Habitat has built more than 125,000 houses around the world, providing more than 625,000 people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. HFHI was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller along with his wife Linda.