Amid Cold Temps, Giving at Ambiance Heats Up for Annual Valentine's Season Fundraiser for the American Heart Association

CLEVELAND, Jan. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Although the Cleveland and Northeast Ohio region may be facing one of its coldest winters in years, the spirit of giving has been heating up in honor of the American Heart Association's signature "Have a Heart" fundraising campaign. And right on time, the romance consultants at Ambiance, Inc. have launched their annual in-store effort to raise money in the hopes of wiping out heart disease, the number-one leading cause of death in the United States.

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In January, the store, which is dedicated to helping couples keep their passion alive and their love strong with lingerie and tasteful gifts, started proactively asking customers to give to the cause when purchasing items for loved ones and particularly in light of the upcoming Valentine's Day. Its goal this year is to raise $10,000, which will be given to the Ohio Valley Affiliate of the American Heart Association.

"While there have been many advancements in both medicine and treatments for heart disease, there is still so much that must be done to keep fighting this battle," says Jennifer Downey, president of Ambiance. "That's why it's more important than ever for people to brace the cold temperatures, come in and shop for their loved one, and consider giving whatever they can to keep hearts healthy and ticking. Even if it's just a dollar donation, every dollar counts."

Founded 30+ years ago, Ambiance maintains its mission to help women and couples ignite the spark of romance in their intimate relationships. As a woman-owned business, Ambiance embodies sophistication and a positive customer experience, both in its retail stores and its online store. However, Downey and her staff have held themes of "making a difference" and "giving back" close to their hearts, too. Since 1993, the store has collected $62,596 in cash donations for the American Heart Association. Additionally, the store has fundraised for other causes, donating $16,167 to the J.D. Breast Cancer Foundation between 2011-2013 and tracked an estimated $105,682 in giving retail gift certificates and goods to many local charities, nonprofits and community events between 1991-2013.

"When people come in to shop, they're excited and often overjoyed about being able to find that perfect gift," Downey says. "But also contributing to a worthy cause makes their purchase even that much more meaningful. The person on the receiving end feels special, while whoever is doing the buying feels fantastic. Of course, in appreciation of the generosity, we have a fun way to recognize them."

When customers make a purchase in the store, Ambiance retail consultants ask them to donate a dollar or more to the American Heart Association. In return, they're given a "heart" on which they can write their loved one's name or decorate it in some way. That heart is then placed alongside others hearts on a wall. Come February 28, when the campaign has ended, there's this massive display of hearts showcasing all the giving and all the love.

"To help raise the spirit of competition, our various stores and their employees compete with one another for who can sell the most hearts," Downey says. "No doubt, it's all very healthy competition, and it's extremely rewarding for the retail consultants to see the results of their efforts and the incredible contributions of our shoppers who, collectively, are making a difference in the fight against heart disease."

About Ambiance

Ambiance, the Store for Lovers has been a staple in Northeast Ohio for 30 years, and is the number one destination for women and couples looking to enhance the passion in their relationships. An upscale lingerie store and a romantic gift boutique, Ambiance provides a fun retail shopping experience aided by a sensitive, caring and well-trained staff of Certified Romance Consultants. Based in Cleveland, Ambiance operates seven retail stores in Northeast Ohio and an eCommerce site at StoreforLovers.com. For more information, visit Ambiance.com.

Contact:

Henry Keiluhn
440-234-6996
Email

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SOURCE Ambiance