Giving Back: Pier 1 Imports Philanthropy Efforts
Pier 1 is dedicated to supporting the communities in which our associates live and work as well as the international community from where we import much of our merchandise. Since 1985, we have contributed more than $37 million to philanthropic organizations through international, national and local efforts including UNICEF (the United Nations Children's Fund), Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the United Way of Tarrant County and our Adopt-A-School program with E. M. Daggett Elementary School.
With a few exceptions, funds not already committed to the above causes are given to programs in Fort Worth, Texas – home of our corporate headquarters – making a difference in community services, children's education and the arts. Click here for Pier 1’s Charitable Giving Guidelines.
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International Efforts
UNICEF
Pier 1 has been a partner with UNICEF since 1985 and has raised almost $28 million for this worldwide children’s relief fund. Pier 1 is committed to UNICEF and its goal to improve the lives of children and women around the world.
Founded in 1946, UNICEF helps save, protect and improve the lives of children in over 155 countries and territories through immunization, education, health care, nutrition, clean water and sanitation. UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority. For more information about UNICEF visit unicefusa.org in the U.S. and unicef.ca in Canada.
Trick-or-Treat For UNICEF
This program started in 1950 when a local youth group collected $17 in decorated milk cartons on Halloween to help children overseas. Since then, U.S. children have collected more than $140 million by collecting money with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF's trademark orange collection boxes on Halloween. Since 2001, Pier 1 has been a national retail distributor for the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF boxes. During the month of October, customers and their children can pick up their free Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF boxes at all U.S. Pier 1 Imports stores.
Pier 1/UNICEF Greeting Card Contest – U.S.
Pier 1 and UNICEF have partnered together since 1992 in an annual greeting card contest for children throughout the United States. The contest begins each March and encourages children to submit their hand-drawn pictures based on an annual holiday contest theme. The winning artwork is reproduced as official UNICEF greeting cards sold nationwide at all U.S. Pier 1 Imports locations to benefit children around the world.
In addition to the winner’s cards, Pier 1 sells a wide assortment of UNICEF cards during the holiday season with 100% of the proceeds going to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
Pier 1/UNICEF/Owl Kids Greeting Card Contest – Canada
In 2006, Pier 1 expanded its card contest program to include stores and children in Canada. The winning card design becomes a real UNICEF greeting card sold in Pier 1 Imports stores in Canada during the holiday season. Pier 1 also sells a full assortment of UNICEF greeting cards in its stores in Canada during the holiday season, with 100% of the proceeds going to UNICEF Canada.
UNICEF CD - Gratitude, Life & Love
The compilation of songs on the 2007 UNICEF CD reaffirms UNICEF’s core beliefs that: Every child deserves a childhood; each girl and boy deserves an education and health care; and each deserves to be treated equally and protected from harm. The CD retails for $12 and 25% of the purchase price (less tax) will go to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
National Efforts
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Pier 1 became a partner with Susan G. Komen for the Cure in 1991 to help make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. During our 17-year partnership, Pier 1 has donated over $5 million to Komen. Pier 1 guaranteed a minimum donation of $250,000 to Komen in 2007 from the sale of specially marked products.
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cure. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, Komen has invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill their promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-800-I’M AWARE.
Specially Marked Pier 1 Products that Raise Money for Komen
Pier 1 Floral Blossom Filled Candle
Pier 1 has been selling a special candle that raises money for Komen since 1997. Pier 1 donates 25% of the purchase price (less tax) from this special candle's sales to Komen. The new Floral Blossom Filled Candle was introduced in Pier 1 stores in August 2007 and retails for $15.
Local Efforts
United Way of Tarrant County
The United Way of Tarrant County supports a new vision for our community that focuses on providing a safety net of care for kids, seniors, families, and people in crisis and with health problems. Pier 1 believes in the goals of the United Way and works to support them through the annual United Way fundraising campaign.
Currently, Pier 1 is ranked number 10 in the top 100 companies contributing to the United Way of Metropolitan Tarrant County. Pier 1 pledged $177,000 during the 2008 Campaign. With the dollar-for-dollar company match, the total pledge was $354,000.
E.M. Daggett Elementary School
Pier 1 has been an adopter of E.M. Daggett Elementary for 23 years. The partnership has won the Fort Worth Independent School District's Exemplary Partnership Award, the district's highest honor, three times. Our associates support Daggett through the annual Daggett Elementary Clothing Closet and various educational programs.
Clothing Closet
Each December, Daggett provides Pier 1 with a list of students who are in great need of school uniforms and winter clothing. Pier 1 Home offices associates then “adopt” a child and go shopping for them. After all the shopping is done, Pier 1 associates deliver the packages to the children at Daggett. In 2007, 112 students at Daggett received gifts of clothing.