An expression of gratitude can take many forms. This time of year, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving by gathering for a meal with family and friends, sharing it while expressing kind thoughts for their blessings. There are many ways the design industry gives thanks year-round through contributions and partnerships with charities and nonprofits that benefit others in need.
Mohawk Group
Since 2001, Mohawk Group has been a partner of Susan G. Komen to support the company’s community of employees, customers and families who have been impacted by breast cancer. Through their donation program Specify for a Cure, they are helping to find one.
“At Mohawk Group, we believe that creating beautiful and sustainable spaces is more than just a business; it’s an opportunity to make a positive impact on the world,” said Jackie Dettmar, vice president of marketing, design and product development. “Through this program, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of eligible Mohawk products is donated to Komen, helping to fund groundbreaking research, provide life-saving resources and empower women and families facing breast cancer.”
Inspired by community, resilience and inclusion, Mohawk Group also created Art Alliance, partnering with six artists from the ArtLifting community. Durkan, the hospitality brand of Mohawk Group, allows divergent artistic styles to meld and celebrates the shared practice of visual arts. Working with ArtLifting, the collection Social Canvas shares the triumph of humanity and Painted Perspectives highlights the just and inclusive power of art to build communities.
Design Industry for Peace
Design Industry for Peace is a humanitarian initiative founded in response to the Israel-Hamas War. Founders Annie Mandelkern, Dara Beitler, Jennifer Weisberg, Malorie Goldberg, Samantha Gallacher, Richard Shemtov, Michael Epstein and Nikki Levy launched the initiative on Oct. 11 and have since developed a mission statement, logo and code of ethics.
“It might be Israel today,” said Levy (founder of Studio NLI). “In a month’s time, there might be an earthquake somewhere [or] a famine somewhere. We want a group of people who are ready and banded together who take action. We use what we have in the industry to move forward and make an impact.”
Levy cited the historical conflicts of World War II and a lack of crisis-driven organizations within the design community as her motivations to start Design Industry for Peace. Their first auction closed Nov. 17, raising over $150,000 that went to United Hatzalah. For more information about Design Industry for Peace, read the i+s On the + Side story.
Bentley Mills
Carpet giant Bentley Mills’ high-fashion breed of carpet designs has done more than just wow onlookers —they’re inspiring them to leave the world a better place than they found it.
The latest partnership with Homeboy Industries — a nonprofit offering job training for formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people in the food industry, helps them become productive citizens again. Over 300 jobs and training opportunities across their 12 Homeboy Social Enterprises attract 10,000 people annually. This inspired the Culinary Collection, featuring three styles: “On the Block,” “From Scratch” and “Serve It Up.” For more information about Bentley Mills’ social sustainability programs, read Editor-in-Chief AnnMarie Martin’s story on this partnership.
