Art Van Furniture Kicks Off Charity Grant Contest

WARREN, Mich., May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The toughest obstacle faced by most charity organizations is raising enough money to effectively accommodate the communities they serve. That is why Art Van Furniture is offering an opportunity for 150 Michigan-based charities, to earn additional grants totaling $50,000.  But it's up to the public to decide who wins!

Beginning Friday, May 18 and running for two weeks, the public will be asked to vote for their favorite Art Van Million Dollar Charity Challenge organization.  The top three vote getters will win grants of $25,000, $15,000 or $10,000. So, the challenge is on for each charity to get the word out through email, Facebook, Twitter, billboards, you name it! To cast a vote, supporters simply visit www.artvancharitychallenge.com. Only one email will be allowed. Winners will be announced by Art Van Furniture on June 1, 2012.

The challenge was added last year to the Art Van Million Dollar Charity Challenge as a way to raise funds and awareness for grass roots organizations.  The competition was fierce with charities soliciting votes through social and traditional media.  Last year's winners were: $25,000 -- Senior Neighbors, which promotes the health and well-being of older adults in Kent County; $15,000 -- Seedlings Braille Books for Children, of Livonia, dedicated to increasing the opportunity for literacy by providing high quality, low cost Braille books for children; and $10,000 to North Star Reach, of Ann Arbor, a camp experience for children and families of children with serious or life-threatening health challenges.

The Art Van Million Dollar Charity Challenge is an innovative program presented by Art Van Furniture that awards challenge grants from $5,000 to $50,000 to support Michigan-based nonprofit organizations that focus on children, health and human services programs. Within the last three years, 150 Michigan charities have been awarded a total of $3 million dollars.  Through the challenge component, $10 million has been raised since the program began in 2009.  For a complete list of Art Van Million Dollar Charities visit www.artvancharitychallenge.com.  

About Art Van Furniture
Art Van Furniture is Michigan's largest furniture retailer and America's largest independent furniture retailer. The company operates 34 stores in 33 communities throughout Michigan, a full service e-commerce website, plus six freestanding Art Van PureSleep bedding stores in Canton, Troy, Rochester Hills, Brighton, Ann Arbor and New Hudson, Michigan. Founded in 1959, the company is family-owned and headquartered in Warren, Mich. Check out www.artvancharitychallenge.com for more information.

SOURCE Art Van Furniture