Left to right: Boulevard’s Jerry Thomas and Marc and Tyler Wittwer present their donation to Dove Center staff.
By Andy Kriege, YSN
Dove Center in St. George, Utah is especially near and dear to the hearts of the good people of Boulevard Home. So much so that the BrandSource dealer set aside a portion of its annual bedding revenue to donate $30,000 to the community assistance organization.
Dove Center provides shelter, advocacy and counseling for survivors of violence, assault and abuse in southern Utah. It operates as a non-profit providing free and confidential services to all in need of support.
Boulevard Home brothers Marc (CEO) and Tyler Wittwer (COO), along with sales director Jerry Thomas, presented the donation in a brief ceremony at the store last month, before a bedding department display showcasing Dove Center success stories.
In attendance was Dove Center executive director Lindsey Boyer, who spoke to the challenges of securing funding during the pandemic and the continued need for services not always covered by conventional grants.
“Thank you for making this possible,” Boyer said. “This is a really big deal because we don’t have a lot of freedom in our funding. So much of our revenue comes from restrictive grant funding. When we get these unrestricted gifts, it helps to support the programming that isn’t always easy to fund.”
Shonie Christensen, who serves on the executive board, was awestruck by the donation.
“Good thing my mask was on because my jaw dropped,” Christensen said. “I’m always so impressed by the generosity of the community. You have no idea how far $30,000 will go for survivors and their families.”
Sales director Thomas, now nearing his 33rd year with Boulevard, said the gift was inspired by the company’s core value of community contribution. But there are also personal reasons that make Dove Center especially meaningful to him.
“My mother was in an abusive relationship when she was young and had to seek help from somebody like Dove Center,” Thomas shared. “Dove Center, far and away, helps people that are at the end of their rope and need someplace to go. I love being a part of something that’s bigger than I am.”
Able to get the help she needed, Thomas’s mom went on to attend Southern Utah University, became a social worker … and ended up working for Dove Center’s Richfield, Utah location. Success stories like hers, he said, were made possible through community giving, as with Boulevard’s recent contribution.
The BrandSource member raised the funds through sales of the private-label HomeTown Collection line. With bedding styles named for small Utah towns like Monticello, Fillmore, Newcastle and Escalante, HomeTown was always intended to be tied to local charitable causes, Thomas said.
“It really started last year with the Dove Center,” Thomas said of Boulevard’s support of victim services. “Before that, we made a lot of donations to the Washington County School Foundation and other things — pretty much always something to do with kids. This year we’ll be donating to the Iron County and Washington County Family Support Centers.”
For stepping up in a such a big way to help so many community members in need, Boulevard Home has earned a giant “Tip of the Hat” from YSN.
Dove Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. To make a tax-deductible donation, click here.
BrandSource, a unit of YSN publisher AVB Inc., is a nationwide buying group for independent appliance, furniture, mattress and CE dealers.
