Application process begins January 19; retailer to distribute $375,000 in new grants to competing Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana charities

WARREN, Mich., Jan. 19, 2015 — (PRNewswire) —  Charities...start your fundraising engines! The first lap in the race for revenue among competing nonprofits in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio as part of the 2015 Art Van Charity Challenge begins Monday, January 19, 2015. For the seventh consecutive year, Art Van Furniture is making a substantial financial commitment of $375,000 to support the communities it serves as part of this pioneering philanthropic program. Cindy Crawford, international supermodel, businesswoman, philanthropist and 2015 Art Van Charity Challenge ambassador, announced today that the grant application process has opened for nonprofit organizations focusing on children, healthcare and human services.

Charities that have participated in the past as well as first time grant applicants are eligible to enter through March 2. Once the participating nonprofits have been chosen, each will develop their specific fundraising strategies. Finally, the charitable organizations will compete to raise the most money in the Art Van "Challenge Grant Competition" during a five week period from May 18 through June 22. The top ten winners will be announced on June 24 and will be awarded grants ranging from $75,000 to $7,500. The remaining participants will keep the funds raised during the Art Van Charity Challenge, as well as any bonus challenge money they won during the competition.

"There are few things in life more empowering than getting involved and giving back to help others," said Crawford, who lost her brother to leukemia when she was nine years old and helped raise money for the Leukemia Foundation of America as part of her healing process. "I have been devoted for a long time to doing my part to enhance the world."

"Incentivizing nonprofits to creatively raise money to support the important work they do has proven to be game-changing," said Art Van Elslander, founder and chairman of Art Van Furniture. "The grant competition inspires people everywhere to come together for their favorite cause. Our combined efforts will generate $1 million for nonprofit organizations and we look forward to another exciting fundraising race to the finish."

The Art Van Charity Challenge has generated nearly $20 million in donations over the past six years and supported over 200 charities. Powered by CrowdRise, an online charitable fundraising site, the Art Van Charity Challenge raised $280,000 in the final 24 hours and secured $175,000 of the funds in the final hour during last year's campaign, setting a crowdrise.com record. For more information, visit artvancharitychallenge.com.

About Art Van Furniture
Art Van Furniture is the Midwest's largest furniture retailer and America's largest independent furniture retailer. The company operates 94 stores throughout Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana, including freestanding Art Van PureSleep mattress stores, Art Van Flooring stores, and Art Van Furniture franchise locations as well as a full service e-commerce website. Founded in 1959, the company is family-owned and headquartered in Warren, Michigan. Visit artvan.com for more information.

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SOURCE Art Van Furniture

Contact:

Art Van Furniture Diane Charles, Director of Corporate Communications, Art Van Furniture Email Contact (586)983-3022 office, (586)850-7332 cell Web: http://www.artvancharitychallenge.com