Neil and Robin Goldberg of Raymour & Flanigan Commit $250,000 to The New Home of The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame
Furniture World News Desk on
5/26/2021
A $250,000 gift has been received from Neil and Robin Goldberg for the Building Fund of the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame. The Tribute Wall in the new home will be given in honor of the people behind Raymour & Flanigan, the nation’s seventh largest retailer based in Liverpool, N.Y.
“As we transition to the third generation of leaders, we are even more mindful of what this industry has given to us as a family, and of the significance of providing for the growth and development of future leaders,” says Neil Goldberg, CEO and chairman of Raymour & Flanigan Furniture. “Bernie and Arnold Goldberg founded the company in 1947 as a family endeavor, and we place a high value on remaining family owned and family oriented as an organization.
“Our people are our greatest asset and as a culture, we are passionate about our customers. Naming the Tribute Wall at the industry’s permanent home is a meaningful way for Robin and me to honor the people that make up Raymour & Flanigan,” he says. “We are proud to be a certified Great Place to Work® and this is a public means among the industry to recognize the value we place on our associates.”
The Tribute Wall will explore the rich legacies and inspiring stories of our leaders in a walk with them through their challenges, achievements and contributions. The interactive display will celebrate leadership through the use of documentaries, videos, photography and oral histories. The Hall of Fame Center for Leadership will provide a platform for education, networking and inspiration through its events and its exhibits. As a catalyst to leverage the power of the $150 billion home furnishings industry, it will serve as a unifying source to enrich the education of its leaders.
“Neil Goldberg called me one day, unsolicited, to say that he wanted to be involved in a significant way,” says Karen McNeill Pond, Hall of Fame CEO. “His support of the project is amazing, but what is of equal value will be his guidance and expertise as we move into the construction and organizational phase of development. His willingness to help is what our industry is all about: working together for the greater good.”
Capital campaign donors include: The Wanek family and Ashley Furniture Industries; Bill and Carolyn Hinks, Furniture Mart USA; Neil and Robin Goldberg, Raymour & Flanigan; International Market Centers; Lacquer Craft USA; Manwah; Karen McNeill and Stephen Pond; Bill and Candy Fenn; Roger and Martha Bland; Michael Amini, AICO; Aminy Audi, L. & J. G. Stickley; The Broyhill Family Foundation Keith Koenig, City Furniture; Chad Spencer, the Dufresne Spencer Group; Hooker Furniture; Bill and Julia Wittenberg; Schwarz Properties; Patrick Cory, Joseph Cory Holdings LLC; Hassell Franklin, Franklin Corporation; Markor; Nebraska Furniture Mart; Nourison Industries; The BB&T Foundation; Donald Belgrad; Andy Bernstein, FurnitureDealer.Net; John Bray, Vanguard Furniture Company Inc.; Bobby Bush; Jeff Child, R. C. Willey; Randy Coconis, Coconis Furniture; Bruce and Kena Cohenour; J. Don Coleman, Coleman Consulting LLC; the DRIVE Foundation; Jerry Epperson; Mickey Holliman, Five Star; Fred Feinbloom; The Furniture Foundation; David Gebhart, Global Views; Lyle Harris, Behold Home; Haverty Furniture Companies; The Ina Mae Kaplan Historic Preservation Fund; Bill and Sue Kimbrell; Amir Loloi, Loloi Rugs; New Atlantic Construction; Norwalk Furniture; Phillips Collection; Martin and Mary Ann Ploy; Prestige Arts/Art Trends; Lawrence Rogers; Will Somers; Jim Sneed, Affordable Furniture; and Imogene Zimmerman.
About Raymour & Flanigan: Established in Syracuse, N.Y. in 1947, the family-owned and operated furniture and mattress retailer has over 130 locations throughout the Northeast. Raymour & Flanigan has built its identity not only by offering quality furnishings and fast delivery, but also by embracing its social responsibility through community giving and extensive in-house recycling. The company hosts over 500 charitable events and recycles more than 17 million pounds of materials per year. For more information, visit www.raymourflanigan.com.
About The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc.: The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation is an industry-wide organization founded to preserve its history, to celebrate exceptional individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the U.S. home furnishings industry, and to inspire a new class of innovation and leadership. Membership includes eligibility to nominate candidates for consideration by the Selection Committee, and the opportunity to help preserve the history and heritage of the industry. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, 92 percent of all funds support our history and leadership programming. The organization currently is based in High Point, North Carolina, at 202 Neal Place, Suite 101, and can be reached at 336.882.5900. Watch for ongoing developments and details about the grand opening of a new permanent home, which is targeted for 2023.