News

Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home decor industries’ leading charitable organization, has announced new leadership and new board members.

Leslie Nathan-Street, who previously served as vice chair, will be taking over as chairperson of the board. Nathan-Street has spent more than 20 years in the gift and home business, most recently as president of the Gift and Home Channel, and prior to that as Senior Vice President at George Little Management LLC.

Joining Nathan-Street is Stu Teller, who was elected vice chair. Teller is managing partner of Right Angle Strategies, a new business development services company, and has more than 30 years of experience in the gift, home décor and collegiate industries, including senior executive positions with OneCoast and Madco.

“I am excited to help lead an organization that continues to make such a difference,” Nathan-Street said. “We have tremendous momentum and will continue to work tirelessly with the generous help of board members and our industry partners.”

Recently joining the board are four industry veterans, bringing the total number of board members to 31:

• Dorothy Creamer, editor-in-chief of Greetings etc. magazine, a role she took on in January of 2010. She is also the editor for Greetings etc.’s sister publications, Selling Christmas Decorations and Selling Halloween.

• George Kacic, vice president of sales and marketing for Ganz, a leading manufacturer and distributor of gift, candle, personal care, plush and home décor products.

• Suzanne Pruitt, owner of Marsh Meadows Marketing, a boutique full-service public relations and marketing firm specializing in the home furnishings, decorative accessories, giftware and trade show industries. She is representing Urban Expositions, as well as her own interests, on the Gift For Life board.

• Sarah Schwartz, a 20-year veteran of the publishing business and founding editor of the award-winning Stationery Trends magazine. She was previously a senior editor at Reed Business Information.

Each year, Gift for Life hosts regional events throughout the U.S. benefitting DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. The primary mission of Gift for Life and DIFFA is to eradicate the AIDS pandemic in the U.S. Working together, Gift for Life and DIFFA will continue to raise funds for HIV/AIDS service and education programs.

Through special events, cause-related marketing, promotions and from corporate and individual donations, Gift for Life has raised nearly $4 million since 1992.

For more information, visit www.giftforlife.org.