CHICAGO – With the 10th annual Goombay Bash Fundraiser less than two months away, several leading manufacturers—including Bulbrite, Fanimation, Hinkley Lighting, Murray Feiss, Schonbek, and WAC Lighting—have teamed up to create a consortium to recruit support for The H Foundation, a nonprofit LaGrange, Illinois-based organization dedicated to raising funds for cancer research. Together, the consortium has set a lighting industry goal to raise at least $50,000 to support The H Foundation and cutting-edge cancer research.
On August 7th, The H Foundation will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of its annual Goombay Bash—which has become one of Chicago's largest charity fundraisers—and the industry is stepping up to the challenge of supporting the foundation at a higher level than ever before. Launched in 2000 by Hortons Home Lighting, a leading lighting distributor with locations in LaGrange, Chicago and Orland Park, IL, after two employees were diagnosed with cancer a month apart, the Goombay Bash fundraiser for cancer research has evolved into a beloved industry force. The goal of the consortium is to quickly recruit more individuals from the industry to support the event with sponsorships, event journal ads, and donations that have the most direct benefit to The H foundation’s research. To date, the foundation is up to $26,500 in commitments.
Emceed by local CBS-TV news anchor Rob Johnson, Goombay’s 10th anniversary event will feature a gourmet buffet, live music and dancing, silent and live auctions, fireworks, raffle prizes, and a live drawing with a $10,000 raffle prize. Dress is casual (Hawaiian shirts and sandals are welcome). More than 1,000 guests will attend the event which will be held Saturday, August 7, 2010, in the Grand Ballroom at Chicago’s Navy Pier. Tickets can be ordered online at www.goombaybash.com or by calling (708) 352-5240.
“Our fundraiser has totally taken on a life of its own. The local community and the entire industry have rallied behind the event. People who came to the first event, brought friends and family to the next, and it has become an annual tradition that people put on their calendar to support this great cause,” says John Rot, co-owner of Horton's Home Lighting and chairman of The H Foundation.
Named after the Caribbean cocktail Goombay Smash, the fundraiser sets itself apart with its upbeat, festive vibe that's refreshingly casual. “We wanted it to be a party and a celebration,” adds Rot. “We’re taking the auctions to a new level and have brought in some technology that most people would not have seen at any other fundraiser. We’re returning to the wonderful Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier after a great event last year, where over 1,000 people attended and we raised $450,000 in one evening. These dollars go a long way to positively impact cancer research, and guests really do have a blast during this fun and entertaining Caribbean-styled party."
About The H Foundation and Goombay Bash
Cancer affects one in three people and cancer research is the common goal of the people at The H Foundation. The foundation started out as simply a few friends with entrepreneurial spirit that decided that they could make a difference. The H Foundation hosted its largest fund raising event called the Goombay Bash under the disguise of a casual Caribbean-style party. In just nine years, the organization has raised nearly $3 million for cancer research! These funds are used as seed money for basic science cancer research projects, which compete for additional government or private funding, and as a result, have literally turned into nearly $30 million of research dollars towards finding a cure.
About Bulbrite
Headquartered in Moonachie, NJ, Bulbrite is a leading supplier of innovative, energy-efficient light source solutions and the premier educational resource for lamping technology.
About Fanimation
Fanimation is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of ceiling fans renowned for high profile designs and energy saving technology. The company is headquartered in Zionsville, IN.
About WAC Lighting
Headquartered in Garden City, New York, WAC Lighting is a cutting-edge manufacturer and designer of track, recessed, undercabinet, monorail and decorative lighting, which develops responsible lighting products for the home or business environment.