[Press kit]

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It was a busy summer for Gift for Life (GFL), as
various markets sponsored fund-raising
events around the country.
The Dallas Market Center (DMC) cafeteria was the place to
get a taste of some of the best food in Dallas during Dine Around, a
tasting event held during the June market. Event sponsors, buyers
and exhibitors sampled offerings from some of Dallas' finest restaurants, including North South, Ruth's Chris Steak House,
Monica's, Desperados, and Dixie House-Lakewood, all of which
donated food and services to help keep costs low. Guests were treated
to music and a silent auction in addition to the great food, and in all,
Dine Around raised more than $23,000 for GFL. Many thanks to
GFL Executive Committee members Don McEvoy and Georgia Davis,
as well as to Patsy Johnson, the DMC, and the many sponsors and
volunteers who supported this fun event!
The California Gift Show (C(,7S) and GSB Magazine sponsored the first annual Gifts from the Heart event this past July. The
Los Angeles event raised more than $16,000 for GFL while simultaneously raising an awareness of GFL on the "Left Coast." Fundraising activities included The GaLA Walk, which gave buyers the
opportunity to win a cash prize by visiting a minimum of 25 sponsors' booths (there were 60 in all) to obtain validating signatures on
their "Walk & Win" sheets. The winner, drawn at random, walked
home with a $1,250 cash prize from CGS, and a matching donation
was given to Gift for Life by CGS in the winner's name. The 3-day
event culminated with a party at Los Angeles' ultra-hip Variety Arts
Center. In addition to the ever-popular silent auction, sponsors and
ticket buyers had the opportunity to participate in Jail & Bail, in
which party-goers, for a $5.00 donation, could consign a friend to a
dance cage for a limited amount of time. The "prisoner" was escorted to one of two cages on either side of the dance floor by a
uniformed security guard, but an additional donation of $5.00 to
GFL allowed the prisoner to "escape" without incarceration! Food
for the party was donated by Cardini, Engine Co. No. 28 and
Water Grill, all Los Angeles restaurants.
Many thanks to Tara Bloom, Stacey Galbraith and Leslie Wright
of the California Gift Show, as well as to Karen Owsley and GFL
Executive Committee member Scott Schwadron, both of GSB Magazine, all of whom worked very hard to see Gifts from the Heart
through from beginning to end!
The Chicago Market held a small first-time event that raised
nearly $900 for GFL in July. Congratulations GFL Executive Committee member Gerry Seibel and his assistant, Kari O'Shea.
The Miami International Merchandise Mart donated space
for a sample sale to benefit Gift for Life during the August Gift Show
in Miami. Showrooms and manufacturers pitched in by donating
sample items for sale to the industry and to the public. A recordbreaking $11,000, the highest amount ever earned during one GFL
sample sale, was raised for Gift for Life as shoppers picked up items
at unbelievably low prices. Thanks to GFL Committee member James
Eli, and Dale Ziemer of the Miami International Merchandise Mart,
for their efforts to make this event a success!
Midwest of Cannon Falls has issued two new holiday ornaments, the Handcrafted Flying Angel and the Silver Plate Ribbon. A

percentage of sales from both items will benefit Gift for Life.
Gift for Life welcomes new Executive Committee members Tony
DeMasi, Publisher of Giftware News, Harry Moore, Senior Manager of Market Development at Seagull Pewter, and Scott
Schwadron, Publisher of GSB Magazine.

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Top: Craig Ryan, National Sales Manager of
Trade Show Development, AMC, Inc.; Vyktoria
Chen, Marketing Manager for the California
Gift Show; and Jack Ryan, President of AMC,
Inc.
Middle: Terrence Morris, National Sales
Manager for the California Gift Show, and
Christopher Menefee, Vice President of Leasing
for America's Mart. Mr. Menefee is a member
of the Gift for Life Executive Committee.
Bottom: Karen Owsley, Marketing Manager
of GSB Magazine, and Scott Schwadron, GSB
Publisher, also a member of the Gift for Life
Executive Committee.

All funds raised by Gift for Life support AmFAR programs. For further information, please contact Diane Boehm or Kelly P. Bristol at
AmFAR, 212-682-7440. The Gift for Life-Line column is written with the help of Kelly P. Bristol, Associate Director of Special Events.

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* Monday, December 1
AmFAR's 7th Annual World
AIDS Day Awards Luncheon
at the United Nations in New
York City. Will honor BristolMyers Squibb Company, Gift
for Life, Marlene Myerson,
and Dr. William E. Paul. By
invitation and advance
reservation only. Luncheon
underwritten by the Bandai
Foundation. For more
information, contact Sheila
Charton, National Director
of Special Events at AmFAR,
212-682-7440.
~Monday, December 8
Chance of the Decade,
cocktail party at Decade
nightclub in New York City to
celebrate the culmination of
AmFAR's nation-wide luxury
raffle. Special musical
performance by Buster
Poindexter and His Spanish
Rocket Ship. Festivities

include hors d'oeuvres,
cocktails and cigar bar from
6-9 p.m. For more information contact Diane Boehm at
AmFAR, 212-682-7440,
ext. 113.
* Thursday, January 22,
1998 Delicious Design
presented by ELLE DECOR,
culinary presentations from
various New York restaurants in the showrooms of
the Architects and Designers
Building, New York City.
Honorary Co-Chairs are
Jerry Orbach, Joan Rivers
and Bill Boggs. For more
information contact Kelly
R Bristol at AmFAR, 212 -682-7440, ext. 137.
*Tuesday, April 22, 1998
AmFAR Salutes the Carols a
tribute to Carol Burnett,
Carol Channing, Carole
Little, and Carole Bayer

Sager produced by Barry
Brown. At the Beverly Hilton
Hotel, Los Angeles. For
more information contact
Sheila Charton at AmFAR,
212-682-7440, ext. 157.
*Spring 1998 (Date TBD)
Fourth Houston/AmFARTogether for Medical
Research Benefit Concert at
the Houston Arena Theatre.
For more information
contact David Keesey at
AmFAR, 213-857-5900,
ext. 109.
*Tuesday, June 9, 1998
Dallas Concert Event at the
Morton H. Meyerson
Symphony Center, Dallas,
TX. For more information
contact David Keesey at
AmFAR, 213-857-5900, ext.
109.

*June 1998 (Date TBD)
Boathouse Rock VII New
York's hottest summer dance
party at the Loeb Boathouse
in Central Park, hosted by
the Young Executive Support
Committee. For more
information contact Andrew
Boose at AmFAR, 212-682 -7440, ext. 155.
*Summer 1998 (Date
TBD) Bateaux New York
Launch cocktails and dinner
to celebrate the launch of the
luxurious new dinner cruise
boat, Bateaux New York. For
more information contact
Andrew Boose at AmFAR,
212-682-7440,
ext. 155.
*Event dates are subject to
change or cancellation.
Please call to confirm all
information.

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