New Wigs 4 Kids Center to Support Southeast Michigan Youth

ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich., May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Wigs 4 Kids kicked off its Wellness Center Capital Campaign on Friday night in style – with a fundraiser called "The Right Combination" held at Art Van Furniture on 14 Mile Road in Warren. The event was celebrated by over 400 guests and raised nearly $17,000 for the campaign launch.

Wigs 4 Kids is a non-profit organization that provides comprehensive resources for children and teens dealing with challenges due to hair loss.  It has been operating from a 600 square foot facility for the past 6 years – and thanks to this campaign, will be opening a new 2900 square-foot facility on Harper Road north of 12 Mile Road in St. Clair Shores.  The opening of the Wigs 4 Kids Wellness Center is scheduled for June 5 and will offer multiple resources including educational, psychological, social, and professional services, all to help self-esteem challenges that many children face during hair loss.

"Art Van's kindness and the support and generosity of people like Mr. Van Elslander in the community make our organization possible," said Maggie Varney, who started the organization in 2003. "This really is the 'right combination' of people to help create an environment under one roof to help these kids in need, hence the title of the campaign and party." The funds raised on Friday, combined with the $300,000 in recent donations, bring the campaign to 25% of its goal of $1.25 million. "At our new center, we'll be able to help more children in one year than we've seen in the previous six years," said Ms. Varney.  

A highlight of the event was the unveiling of a painting by noted artist Dominic Pangborn titled "Mother and Child," created in memory of a recent client of Wigs 4 Kids. The painting will hang in the new facility.  Also attending the event were Eleanor Josaitis, State Representative Sarah Roberts and City Councilman Ron Frederick.  

Wigs 4 Kids is a 2009 Art Van Furniture Million-Dollar Charity Challenge recipient, one of 50 organizations across the state which received grants last year.  "Hosting this campaign party is just one of the ways we are supporting this important organization," said Art Van Elslander, "We will also provide all the furnishings for the Wellness Center and a talented decorator to handle the interior design. Wigs 4 Kids has shown so much kindness and support to others; we wanted to do the same for Ms. Varney and the organization."

For more information, including volunteering and donation opportunities, or to contact Maggie Varney, visit www.Wigs4Kids.org.

Photos available upon request.

About Wigs 4 Kids

A non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that reaches out to kids and young adults with hair loss, Wigs 4 Kids' main focus is on cancer patients and includes other young people with similar appearance related challenges that cause hair loss such as alopecia, trichotillomania, lupus, hydrocephalus, burns and other disorders. Wigs 4 Kids helps children, ages 3 through 18, who struggle to deal with social acceptance because of physical appearance by providing custom-fitted, individually cut, age-appropriate wigs.

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 31 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 is family-owned and headquartered in Warren, Michigan. For more information, visit artvan.com.

SOURCE Wigs 4 Kids