Home & Garden Party raises $1 million for the American Cancer Society

“We found that our designers really care about their communities, and wanted to make some type of contribution that truly meant something. They were delighted to take part in the company’s Give Hope campaign, which helped raise money to go towards cancer research and awareness,” said Steve Carlile. “We were so happy to reach the $1 million mark so that the American Cancer Society can continue the fight against cancer with all the efforts they do.”

Home & Garden Party created the Give Hope fundraising campaign in 2001 so that its employees, designers, and customers could contribute to the company’s commitment to help fight cancer and assist in various patient support programs and research. Founders Penny and Steve Carlile began the fundraiser by pledging to match the first $50,000 raised by its designers. During hosted, private parties where designers displayed Home & Garden Party products, guests were given the option to add a dollar or more to their orders or to purchase special products with the proceeds to be donated to the American Cancer Society.

The company has always had a strong commitment to participating in charitable initiatives. In fact, the company was named the nation’s leading corporate sponsor in the fight against colon cancer by the American Cancer Society.

“The $1 million mark was not the only accomplishment we wanted to reach with this campaign; we also were very focused on spreading the word about cancer, especially colon cancer. Our mission was to help create an open dialogue about a subject that may be somewhat uncomfortable for many people to talk about,” said Penny Carlile.

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 108,070 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed this year. “That is an alarming statistic, but we thank the committed Home & Garden Party Designers who really put their front foot forward in making this campaign a reality; and a success, so that people can really make the right steps in learning more about this type of cancer. Our designers helped us raise awareness about the subject and a substantial amount of money for research,” added Steve Carlile.

Leighanne Hart, a development officer for the American Cancer Society from their mid-south division in Memphis, reports, “Because of the commitment of Penny and Steve Carlile, along with the company’s employees and thousands of dedicated designers across the country, hundreds of children who survived their battle with cancer have received college scholarships.

In addition, many families have received financial assistance to ensure their utilities were not cut-off or to help with transportation expenses because their finances were drained due to mounting medical bills, and many have received colorectal screening that will certainly save their life because of early detection.

On behalf of the two million volunteers across the country and all the patients we serve, we simply cannot thank Home & Garden Party enough for their dedication to our mission.”