Gift for Life closes out summer fundraising in NYC

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 Aug. 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.  Shoppe Object runs Aug. 3-5, 2025, at the Starrett-Lehigh Building. NY NOW runs Aug. 3-5, 2025, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. 

Cocktails for a Cause at Shoppe Object – Sunday, Aug. 3, 6-8 p.m.

Shoppe Object will host a benefit evening on Sunday, Aug. 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 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.

NY NOW’s onsite and 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, Aug. 3 and Monday, Aug. 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.

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 giftforlife.org/donate.