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NEW YORK — The NRF Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the National Retail Federation, held its inaugural gala earlier this month.
The NRF Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the National Retail Federation, held its inaugural gala earlier this month.
Held in conjunction with the NRF’s "Big Show" convention, the gala was created "to be an uplifting celebration that recognizes the industry’s brightest stars," according to the event organizers. Those stars included those luminaries named to "The List," the 25 people the foundation identified as shaping retail’s future in 2015. Honorees, including Walgreen Co. president of digital and chief marketing officer Sona Chawla, were photographed on a red carpet at an event billed as the retail industry’s answer to the Golden Globes.
Other highlights of the gala included the awarding of scholarships to students studying retail, video montages featuring the retail honorees and a live auction.
The gala’s sponsorships, donations and auction raised nearly $1.2 million that will benefit the NRF Foundation’s initiatives for the next year, including: funding student scholarships and experiences; interactive Web and video content meant to showcase retail career opportunities; supporting initiatives for returning veterans; backing programs designed to help young professionals in retail advance in their careers; and implementing certification and training programs for store associates.
The NRF Foundation says its mission is to help shape the industry’s future, in part by attracting new talent. Last year, for example, it released a study showing that, in contrast to common perceptions, the retail industry offers financially rewarding careers and jobs with competitive wages.
