BY GRETA GUEST
\nFREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER<\/p>\n
Art Van Furniture caps a year of giving for its 50th anniversary with a gala celebration featuring a cirque performance group, live music and a visit by model Cindy Crawford.<\/p>\n
The gala begins at 6 p.m. on Oct. 1 at the Warren store at 6500 Fourteen Mile Road. Tickets range from $100 to $1,000 and all proceeds go to the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center and the Neuroscience Institute at Henry Ford Health System.<\/p>\n
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“I believe it is our responsibility to give back when you’re fortunate to be as successful as we’ve been for five decades,” said Art Van Elslander, founder and chairman, in a statement.<\/p>\n
The company plans to open its 31st store in Grandville this month. It opened its first store in Detroit in 1959.<\/p>\n
Other donations this year have included giving 500 mattresses to shelters and 50 bedroom suites to chronically ill children.<\/p>\n
Art Van Furniture has been selling the Cindy Crawford Home Collection for the past three years, said Diane Charles, company spokeswoman.<\/p>\n
Jonas Jerebko, a 2016 Detroit Pistons draft pick and the first Swedish player in the NBA, also plans to attend the party.<\/p>\n
Diana Lewis, anchor at WXYZ-TV (Channel 7), is mistress of ceremonies and will host a live show from the event at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
All guests will receive a box of Sanders chocolates, and one box will contain a ticket for a shopping spree at Art Van Furniture worth $2,500.<\/p>\n