Gordmans Says gThanks! Retailer Raises Nearly $70,000 for Nonprofits in Seven States

Kids at the Northwest Children’s Home in Idaho received brand new winter coats. A young girl with a medical condition will have her wish granted through Make-A-Wish Missouri. Stroke survivors in Denver have the services they need to recover. These are a few examples of how funds raised by Gordmans and its guests are making a positive impact in the lives of those in need.

Gordmans, Inc., an apparel and home décor retailer, recently held gThanks Gordmans Community Day events at several of its stores, raising $67,221 for nonprofit organizations in markets that it serves. Gordmans donated $10 Savings Cards to nonprofit organizations such as Ronald McDonald House, United Way and Special Olympics, which in turn sold the Savings Cards to supporters for $5 each. The nonprofits kept the proceeds from the sales of the cards, while Gordmans guests enjoyed shopping as a way to support their local nonprofits. Guests also were invited to use their Savings Cards to enter drawings for $500 Gordmans Shopping Sprees. Gordmans then gave a matching donation to the nonprofit at each store with the most entries in the Shopping Spree drawing.

“The gThanks Community Day events provided an opportunity for Gordmans and our guests to support the important work of nonprofit organizations in communities where we have stores,” said Jeff Gordman, president and CEO. “We are inspired by the generosity of our guests and the passion shared by the leaders and volunteers of these organizations who make meaningful differences through their array of services.”

gThanks funds will make it possible for athletes with intellectual disabilities to travel to Special Olympics competitions in Utah. Kids challenged with cancer and blood-related diseases in St. Louis will have the opportunity to attend a special-needs summer camp at Camp Rainbow. A high school student in Vernon Hills, Ill., will realize his dream of going to college through a scholarship granted by the Chamber of Commerce representing the Illinois towns of Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills (GLMV).

“We were delighted to be part of the Gordmans event to raise money for our future leaders and their education,” said Alese Campbell, GLMV Chamber executive director. “Gordmans proves that, together, we can really make a difference and invest in our greatest resource, our youth.”

Janet Kester, board member for Rocky Mountain Stroke Center, said, “The Rocky Mountain Stroke Center benefited from the opportunity to earn a great deal of money for our organization and to raise awareness of the Center’s important services that can help save lives.”

Canyon County Habitat for Humanity in Nampa, Idaho, will use its gThanks funds to teach construction skills to high school students. “By teaching high school students about construction, we are helping them develop new skills and we are gaining much-needed volunteers,” said Sherrie Williams, manager, Canyon County Habitat for Humanity.

gThanks Gordmans Community Day events were held at stores in Aurora and Littleton, Colorado; Nampa and Meridian, Idaho; Algonquin, Naperville and Vernon Hills, Illinois; Avon, Indiana; Roseville, Minnesota; Chesterfield and St. Joseph, Missouri, and Farmington, South Jordan and Riverdale, Utah.

The following nonprofit organizations participated in the gThanks events:

Colorado

• ECHO Coalition
• League of Women Voters of Jefferson County
• Rocky Mountain Stroke Center
• Ronald McDonald House

Idaho

• Canyon County Coyotes Hockey Team
• Canyon County Habitat for Humanity
• Learning Lab
• Northwest Children's Home

Illinois

• Chamber Foundation of Algonquin                
• GLMV Chamber Dollars for Scholars
• Lake in the Hills Historical Society
• Naperville Garden Club
• Special Olympics Illinois

 Indiana

• Center for Leadership Development
• St. Vincent Foundation

Minnesota

• Creating IT Futures
• Roseville Gymnastics
• Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Missouri

• Camp Rainbow
• Make-A-Wish Foundation of Missouri
• SugarBabies Baton Twirling Team
• United Way of Greater St. Joseph

Utah

• Special Olympics Utah
• United Way of Northern Utah
• Utah Domestic Violence Council