Helping the cause, brick by brick
By Andy Kriege, YSN
The Southeast Region has a tradition of paying forward by giving back. And just as region members have for the past several years, they once again contributed to St. Jude’s Pathway to Hope fundraising effort during their annual region meeting in late June.

A donation of $2,460 was made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., in the form of an inscribed brick that will be added to the hospital’s Pathway of Hope walkway, located on the hospital campus. “We purchased two stones for the trail last year which were just laid,” said Region Manager Tim Clements. “This year we will be honoring our Dealer of the Year Lovin’s Wholesale Furniture with a stone on the path as well.”
The tradition of giving to St. Jude’s began with a donation by the region in memory of board member Mike Lanham, who succumbed to cancer several years ago. His family business remains an active region member.

Research Hospital, which raised $2,460.
The funds were raised via a spirited auction conducted by Steve Johns of Steve Johns Appliance & Parts. Johns auctioned off donated prizes from vendors and distributors including Almo, O’Rouke, Electrolux, Beko, Whirlpool, GE, Smartflex and Zline.
The spirit of generosity was also present among the region’s dealers, who stepped up big as well. The winning bidders included Amy Liles of Hamilton Appliance, Wesley Puckett of Puckett’s Furniture, Chuck Squires of Benson’s Appliance and Sandra Combs of AAA Home Center.
BrandSource, a unit of YSN publisher AVB Inc., is a nationwide buying group for independent appliance, furniture, mattress and CE dealers.