Two Market Events Support World Central Kitchen
New York, NY, July 22, 2025… New York City’s two gift and home markets – NY NOW and Shoppe Object – have partnered with Gift for Life, the gift and home industries’ longest-running, volunteer-led national charitable organization, to host two August fundraising events in support of World Central Kitchen’s (WCK) emergency hunger relief efforts. These two dynamic markets—taking place August 3–5, 2025 at venues on the West Side of Manhattan—are once again demonstrating their commitment to community and crisis response through fundraising experiences that mix hospitality, generosity and purpose.
“Through events like these, we bring our industry together not just to do business—but to do good,” said Emalee Hoffman, Chair of Gift for Life. “The generosity shown across the summer markets is a reminder of how powerful our collective action can be.”
Both Shoppe Object and NY NOW are long-standing partners in Gift for Life’s humanitarian fundraising. In February, Shoppe Object raised more than $9,000 through its Wildfire Relief Chance Auction; and the Gift for Life/NY NOW team brought in $42,357 for AIDS Walk NY in May, with NY NOW’s $5,000 donation match serving as a catalyst for industry-wide donations.
Cocktails for a Cause at Shoppe Object – Sunday, August 3, 6–8 PM
Shoppe Object will host a benefit evening on Sunday, August 3, at Hav & Mar, the celebrated Chelsea restaurant helmed by Marcus Samuelsson, award-winning chef, restaurateur, author and activist. “Cocktails for a Cause” invites guests to toast the season with Samuelsson while supporting those in crisis, with a portion of each $135 ticket going directly to World Central Kitchen.
Ticket sales open on Tuesday, July 22, at https://cocktails-for-a-cause-with-marcus-samuelsson.eventbrite.com. Space is limited for this exclusive event in the Starrett-Lehigh Building, the iconic new home of Shoppe Object.
Shoppe Object runs August 3–5, 2025, at the Starrett-Lehigh Building. Learn more at www.shoppeobject.com
NY NOW’s Onsite & After-Hours Events Bring Giving to the Forefront
NY NOW will amplify its powerful partnership with Gift for Life throughout its three-day market at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Market participants will find QR-coded tent cards in the NY NOW Cafés, impactful signage and two onsite Happy Hours (Sunday, August 3 and Monday, August 4), promoting awareness and fundraising for World Central Kitchen.
The campaign kicks-off with an exclusive “NY NOW After Hours” off-site event, featuring a raffle with three exciting prizes donated by NY NOW exhibitors. Raffle tickets are just $5, and every dollar raised will benefit WCK’s ongoing crisis response work around the world.
NY NOW runs August 3–5, 2025, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Details at www.nynow.com
A Season of Impactful Giving
These two New York City events mark the conclusion of Gift for Life’s Summer 2025 Market fundraising efforts, which began in June in Dallas with the honoring of Doug Cofiell, CEO of Ivystone, at the 74th Annual Retailer Excellence Awards. In his honor, more than $41,600 has been donated to World Central Kitchen so far.
Additionally, Gift for Life’s 2025 ad-hoc emergency fundraising campaigns, the most recent of which raises funds to support for victims of devastating flash floods in Central Texas, collectively have raised more than $34,000 to date, providing immediate relief through WCK’s hot-meal response network. To donate, visit www.giftforlife.org/donate.
Gift for Life was founded by Peter Schauben in 1992 in response to the tragic loss of industry lives to AIDS. The organization’s first meeting at the National Stationery Show brought together a cross-section of the industry’s leading publishers, market centers, sales reps, manufacturers, and retailers – all willing to convene and work together towards a common goal. Since that time, Gift for Life has raised nearly $6 million for AIDS research, education, treatment and care through nationwide at-market events, cause marketing programs and direct donations. In 2021, Gift for Life pivoted towards online digital events with a specific emphasis on supporting World Central Kitchen’s COVID-related hunger relief. Since that time, Gift for Life has led gift and home industry efforts to fund provision of nearly 100,000 hot, nutritious meals to communities impacted by crisis and conflict worldwide. Gift for Life, the gift and home industries’ longest-running, volunteer-led, national charitable organization, continues to support year-round programs that address hunger relief, as well as annual support for AIDS Walk NY which benefits GMHC’s HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and advocacy programs. More information is available at www.giftforlife.org.
Founded in 2010 by Chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen (WCK) is a nonprofit organization that is first to the frontlines providing fresh meals in response to crises, while working to build resilient food systems with locally led solutions. Applying a model of quick action, leveraging local resources, and adapting in real time, WCK has served more than 300 million nourishing meals around the world. When disaster strikes, WCK’s Relief Team mobilizes with the urgency of now to start cooking and serving meals to people in need. By partnering with organizations on the ground and activating a network of local restaurants, food trucks, or emergency kitchens, WCK serves comforting meals to survivors of disasters quickly and effectively. To support regional economies, WCK prioritizes purchasing local ingredients to cook with or distribute directly to families in need. WCK knows that good food provides not only nourishment, but also comfort and hope, especially in times of crisis. Learn more at www.wck.org.
