Gift for Life, a charity organization for the gift, stationery and home decor industries, elected new leadership for its board of directors, with Ari Lowenstein of Emergent Workshop serving as chair through 2025.
Gift for Life also announced its Home vs. Hunger team will present its “Party with a Purpose” fundraising event during the High Point Market, Friday, April 21, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m at the Eichholtz Showroom, 129 South Hamilton Street in High Point, NC. All proceeds will benefit World Central Kitchen’s crisis-related hunger relief efforts.
In addition to Lowenstein’s appointment to the Gift for Life chair, the charitable group also instituted a change to its vice chair role, splitting the current duties into two positions. Board member Sarah Mount of International Market Centers was elected as first vice chair; and Emalee Hoffman of Orange Circle Studio/Studio Oh! was elected as second vice chair.
After serving as the GFL chair for the past two years, Cole Daugherty of Dallas Market Center steps into the role of immediate past chair.
Lowenstein has been involved in the gift industry internationally since 1997. In 2014, Lowenstein co-founded Canopy, a seller account management company guiding the presence of many businesses on Amazon. In 2016, he founded Emergent Workshop, a consulting company advising manufacturers and service providers. In 2019, Lowenstein joined Brandwise, serving as chief strategy officer and then as senior vice president, corporate development at MarketTime.
“The history of Gift for Life over the past 31 years is remarkable,” Lownstein said. “So much work has been done by so many. Continuing that tradition, while preparing for the future, is our goal.”
IMC’s Mount is vice president, content and digital marketing Prior to this role, Mount led the marketing team for Juniper by IMC, and she previously served as vice president, at AmericasMart Atlanta
Hoffman began her gift and home furnishings career as a buyer in 2009, and she joined Orange Circle Studio/Studio Oh! in 2014, working her way from a role in customer service to vice president, sales.
Gift for Life debuted its Home vs Hunger initiative at High Point Market in October 2022. An in-person event at the Fall 2022 High Point Market and an online campaign in February 2023 following earthquakes in Turkey and Syria together have raised nearly $28,000 for World Central Kitchen.
“The Home vs. Hunger team created a visible and tangible way for industry members to connect and combine resources to make a difference in the world,” Lowenstein said.
Email homevshunger@gmail.com for tickets to this year’s fundraising event. Donations are accepted at Home Vs. Hunger 2023.
