Forgotten Harvest Receives Record Donation

Art Van Furniture Donates $1 Million Dollars

OAK PARK, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Forgotten Harvest announced today the donation of the largest corporate gift in the non-profit organization’s history. Art Van Furniture has generously committed $1 million dollars to America’s largest food rescue program.

“I believe that hunger is a fundamental issue that contributes to many of the challenges we face in our region, such as education, health and crime”

The Michigan based family-owned furniture retailer has selected Forgotten Harvest as its number one charitable initiative for 2013 through the Art Van Million Dollar Charity Challenge. The challenge was established in 2009 as part of the company’s 50^th anniversary to thank the people of Michigan for their longstanding support of the company. In the past four years, the Art Van Million Dollar Charity Challenge has donated more than $5 million dollars to 150 charities statewide resulting in more than $10 million raised through matching grants.

“I believe that hunger is a fundamental issue that contributes to many of the challenges we face in our region, such as education, health and crime,” said Art Van Elslander, founder and chairman of Art Van Furniture. “Forgotten Harvest, one of the original Art Van Million Dollar Charity Challenge grant recipients, was chosen because it continues to be a vital source of food to many of our charity partners and the community.”

Through this donation and support from other corporate, foundation and individual donors, Forgotten Harvest can sustain and extend its operational capacity to continue to deliver fresh and healthy food from its food donors to more than 260 Metro Detroit agencies that distribute the food free of charge on a daily basis to individuals and families in need.

“This donation is an incredible statement of leadership by Art Van Furniture and by one of the most generous business leaders in our community, Art Van Elslander,” said David Nicholson, chairman of Forgotten Harvest’s Board of Directors and vice president of PVS Chemicals. “It sets an inspiring example for other corporations and demonstrates the ongoing commitment that Metro Detroit’s business community has to being a part of the solution when it comes to the challenges facing our communities.”

The Art Van donation will enable Forgotten Harvest to provide the equivalent of five million meals, or roughly 14,000 meals per day. Forgotten Harvest is America’s most efficient food rescue organization.

“Art Van’s donation is an amazing investment in our ability to end hunger by eliminating food waste,” said Forgotten Harvest President & CEO Susan Goodell. “It will make a real, daily difference in the lives of more than 728,000 men, women and children who face hunger and a lack of food in our community.”

About Forgotten Harvest

Forgotten Harvest was formed in 1990 to fight two problems: hunger and waste. Forgotten Harvest rescued over 43.9 million pounds of food last year by collecting surplus prepared and perishable food from 455 sources, including grocery stores, fruit and vegetable markets, restaurants, caterers, dairies, farmers, wholesale food distributors and other Health Department-approved sources. This donated food, which would otherwise go to waste, is delivered free-of-charge to more than 260 emergency food providers in the Metro Detroit area. Learn more about Forgotten Harvest and how to help drive hunger from our community at www.forgottenharvest.org.

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 throughout Michigan, a full service e-commerce website, plus six freestanding Art Van PureSleep bedding stores in Canton, Troy, Rochester Hills, New Hudson, Brighton, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Founded in 1959, the company is family-owned and headquartered in Warren, Mich. Check out artvan.com for more information.