Starlight Children's Foundation Midwest is first place winner among 55 nonprofits that competed in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana

WARREN, Mich., June 24, 2014 — (PRNewswire) — We have a winner! In fact, 55 deserving nonprofits have all joined the winner's circle as part of Art Van Furniture's 2014 Million Dollar Charity Challenge "Challenge Grant Competition." The charities, which all focus on children, health care and human services, competed to raise the most money for their organizations between May 19 and June 23. The recipient of the first place prize of a $75,000 grant is Starlight Children's Foundation Midwest in Chicago, Illinois. ACCESS in Dearborn, Michigan is the second place award winner of $60,000, and New Day Foundation for Families in Rochester, Michigan is the recipient of the third place award of $50,000.

The remaining seven nonprofits in the top ten are: Vision HOPE Community Development Corporation in St. Clair Shores, Michigan (fourth place - $40,000), The Well of Mercy in Chicago, Illinois (fifth place - $30,000), The Father Fred Foundation in Traverse City, Michigan (sixth place - $25,000), Bleeding Disorders Alliance Illinois in Chicago, Illinois (seventh place - $20,000), Hope Center in Macomb in Fraser, Michigan (eighth place - $15,000), Stephen Tulloch Foundation in Detroit, Michigan (ninth place – $10,000) and National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Detroit Section in Southfield, Michigan (tenth place - $7,500). Other nonprofit organizations participating in the Midwest's No. 1 furniture and mattress retailer's "Challenge Grant Competition" will split the final $35,000.

"I congratulate all of the individuals who work tirelessly and are so devoted to these exemplary organizations which fill such tremendous needs in the communities they serve," said Art Van Elslander, founder and chairman of Art Van Furniture. "During the course of the grant competition, $1,252,897 was given back to these charities, which is a true testament to how much people really care and want to support their neighbors in need."

There were numerous bonus challenges during the five-week competition in which several nonprofits won $1,000 bonus grants and $500 Art Van Furniture gift cards.

The Art Van Million Dollar Charity Challenge, now in its sixth year, has awarded over $5 million in grants and inspired donations of more than $17.5 million. For a complete list of all 55 winning charities, visit artvan.com.

About Art Van Furniture
Art Van Furniture is the Midwest's largest furniture retailer and America's largest independent furniture retailer. The company operates 37 stores throughout Michigan, six stores in Chicagoland, one store in Toledo, Ohio, one store in Fort Wayne, a full service e-commerce website, plus 44 freestanding Art Van PureSleep bedding stores in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Founded in 1959, the company is family-owned and headquartered in Warren, Michigan. Visit artvan.com for more information. 

SOURCE Art Van Furniture

Contact:

Art Van Furniture Diane Charles, Director of Corporate Communications, Art Van Furniture Email Contact (586)983-3022 office - (586)850-7332 cell Web: http://www.artvan.com