CHICAGO— The Housewares Charity Foundation added nearly $2 million to its fundraising efforts at its annual gala, held here at Navy Pier during the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show.
Funds raised will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF)— HCF’s legacy charity— and No Kid Hungry, a campaign by Share Our Strength that works to ensure that every child in the United States has access to healthy food where they live, where they learn and where they play.
Since the first gala in 1998, HCF has raised more than $49 million and has donated more than $28 million to BCRF.
This year’s event honored Janet Hayes, president of Williams Sonoma, with the Lifetime Humanitarian Award; Richard L. Boynton, Jr., president of Jura Inc., with the Humanitarian of the Year Award; and Phil Brandl, president and chief executive officer of the International Housewares Association, with the Lifetime Leadership Award.
This year’s theme, “A Purpose. A Plan. A Promise,” celebrated the philosophy and mission envisioned by the housewares executives who created the Housewares Charity Foundation in 1997, organizers said.
Hayes, who was named to her current position in 2013, noted that she is the third member of the Williams-Sonoma team to be honored by HCF, following in the footsteps of company founder Chuck Williams and former CEO Howard Lester.
When accepting her award, Hayes highlighted one of the company’s seven core principles developed by Lester that is focused on celebrating Williams-Sonoma associates and their accomplishments.
“Tonight I stand on the backs of more than 5,000 Williams-Sonoma employees, in front of a generous vendor community and with our chef community whose commitment has never been stronger to end childhood hunger,” she said.
Hayes also mentioned an array of charitable endeavors by Williams-Sonoma associates to support No Kid Hungry that include 300 mile bicycle rides, dinners at the retailer’s test kitchens and working with families to teach them how to shop and cook on a tight budget.
“These efforts have helped increase school breakfast and lunch programs that allow students to focus on learning and not on being hungry,” she said.
Brandl called receiving the Lifetime Leadership Award, “the pinnacle of my career,” and remembered his father who worked in the manufacturing facility for Mirro Aluminum Company, retiring as the company’s second longest-tenured employee.
“I grew up a housewares guy,” he said.
Brandl also said he feels the housewares industry is a great place to be and is one of the last true people industries.
“Housewares really does care and this evening is a perfect example,” he said. “The people of this industry coming together for a just and worthy cause.”
Boynton said receiving his award was “the honor of a lifetime.” He pointed to Jura’s success in the U.S. as allowing the company to support 22 local and national charities over the past several years.
“Supporting our community is part of Jura’s culture,” he said. “Our efforts are focused on the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the fine work they are doing to end this disease.”
