Gift for Life appoints new board leadership

Gift for Life (GFL), a volunteer-led national charitable organization for the gift and home industry, has appointed new leadership for its board of directors. Sarah Mount of ANDMORE and Emalee Hoffman of CMA Gifts have transitioned to chair and first vice chair, respectively, and Amy Loewenberg of NY NOW at Emerald X has been elected to second vice chair on the board. Ari Lowenstein, Gift for Life’s chair since 2022, is stepping into the role of immediate past chair on the board.

In addition to these leadership changes, Gift for Life has several retiring board members, including Maureen Carpenter of The Queen’s Jewels, Wes Hardin of Diverse Companies, Andrea Padilla of Transpac and Crystal Vilkaitis of Crystal Media. Gift for Life plans to announce new board members in the coming weeks.

From left: Sarah Mount, Emalee Hoffman and Amy Loewenberg

As senior vice president of integrated marketing at ANDMORE, Mount leads all marketing communications — including digital, creative, events, programming and content strategy — across its markets in Atlanta, Las Vegas and High Point, North Carolina. Mount’s gift and home industry experience spans over 17 years, including six years as vice president of marketing at AmericasMart Atlanta, leading all strategy, branding and events for its markets and daily business. Mount joined the GFL board in 2021 and was elected first vice chair in 2023.

“Participating in Gift for Life initiatives over the last few years has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career,” says Mount. “As chair, I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve our communities through incredible industry partnership and strength.”

Hoffman has 15 years of experience in the gift and home industry. Starting as a buyer in 2009, she spent almost a decade at Orange Circle Studio, the last three of which were as vice president of sales. In January, she took on the role of vice president of sales for CMA Gifts. She joined the GFL board in 2021 and was elected second vice chair in 2023.

“My experience with Gift for Life the last three years has truly stood out,” says Hoffman. “I find the impactful work of World Central Kitchen commendable, and it’s a privilege to support GFL’s fundraising endeavors.”

Loewenberg is the director of buyer relations for NY NOW at Emerald X, a leading gift, home and lifestyle business-to-business market. Her over 25 years of experience in the industry ranges from leading successful teams and business development to retail in the early 2000s as a buyer for Kate’s Paperie, Blue Tulip and Housing Works. Now she is a leading partner in growing the retailer presence at NY NOW through establishing and developing partnerships with key national and regional industry organizations.

“I am filled with gratitude as I step into the role of second vice chair for the GFL board,” says Loewenberg. “I'm eager to continue pushing the boundaries, amplifying our causes, building our communities and making a difference.”

Gift for Life was founded in 1992 by a small group of gift industry professionals responding to the loss of friends and colleagues as a result of AIDS. Since then, Gift for Life has raised nearly $6 million for AIDS research and education as well as HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment with charity partners. In 2021, the organization pivoted its focus to online digital events with an emphasis on supporting World Central Kitchen’s COVID-related hunger relief.

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Gift for Life appoints new board leadership

The organization has filled its chair, first vice chair and second vice chair positions.