Over 154 Years of Service to the Furniture Industry
 Furniture World Logo

GMFA/Clarizio Foundation Golf Outing Gives $10,000 To Families Fighting Childhood Cancer – Fischer of Sofas Plus Gets Meadoff Award, Benefits DMCCF

Furniture World News Desk on 7/1/2013


The Greater Metropolitan Furnishings Association reported that it’s recent golf outing conducted in association with the Dean Michael Clarizio Cancer Foundation (DMCCF), was a huge success. This year the rain held off until late in the afternoon allowing over 100 golfers to enjoy the day. 170 people attended the dinner with proceeds from the day benefiting the DMCCF.

$5,000 donations were presented at the event held at Knoll Country Club in Parsippany, NJ to two families to help with the many expenses associated with childhood cancer. Recipients were presented to Alyssa Stanley and to the mother and younger sister of Leo Lezcano who accepted the donation on his behalf.

To date, the Dean Michael Clarizio Foundation has donated approximately $315,000 directly to families and individuals to help with expenses incurred in fighting cancer. The foundation was established after Dean Clarizio, brother of Klaussner sales representative Chris Clarizio, lost his battle with the disease.

“Dean spent his short life reaching out to others,” says GMFA Executive Director Alan Granetz. “We appreciate being able to continue helping others in his name.”

Meadoff Award Presentation

Also presented at the outing was the 69th Meadoff Memorial Award for Sportsmanship, initiated in honor of A.S. Meadoff, to Michael Fischer, President of retailer Sofas Plus located in Fairfield, NJ. The award is based on fair-mindedness, personal relationships, social consciousness, and support of humane and philanthropic causes. Jordan Greenberg of Apropos made the presentation. Former recipients meet each year to review and choose an individual to receive this honor. Said Greenberg, "The Meadoff Memorial Award for Sportsmanship is one of the most coveted Awards in our Industry, since it is the person not a position or title being recognized."

Said Patrick Cory, President of GMFA and a former recipient of the Meadoff Award, “In good times and bad, busy or not, Michael Fisher is one of those rare individuals to continues to give substantial time and effort to further good causes because it’s the right thing to do. He does so with an open heart, without ulterior motives or a concern for recognition. I believe that this is the reason past recipients chose Michael to receive the Meadoff Award this year.”

Major sponsors for the golf outing included : Surya Rugs, Powell, Magnussen Home Furnishings, Gans Brothers, Klaussner Raymour & Flanigan, Advisors Mortgage, Churchill Services, Cap Services, Bagel Box, CDI, F. Romano, Hildeck and J. Carmgnola.

About GMFA: The Greater Metropolitan Furnishings Association, established as The Furniture Club in 1942, consists of approximately 180 members, including metropolitan area retailers, representatives, designers, and service providers. It is a non-profit run by furniture industry volunteers (members of the former MFA and GNYHFA Associations) for the purpose of creating a strong and cohesive regional home furnishings industry. For more information contact Alan Granetz, Greater Metropolitan Furnishings Association at (908) 725-3460 or email greatermfa@gmail.com.

About The Dean Michael Clarizio Cancer Foundation: The Dean Michael Clarizio Cancer Foundation was founded by its namesake, Dean Michael Clarizio during his own personal battle with cancer. The foundation is tirelessly maintained by his family and friends in an effort to carry out his vision... the vision of helping others who face the challenges of cancer. The foundation is operated by volunteers and is funded with donations by generous people. For more information about the DMCCF or to make a donation visit http://www.dmccf.com




Jordan Greenberg presents 69th Meadoff Memorial Award for Sportsmanship to Michael Fischer.
Former recipients meet each year to review and choose an individual to receive this honor.
Photo Credit Tommy Leflein.




Alyssa Stanley receives a check for $5,000 from Chris Clarizio of the DMCCF to help with expenses
incurred in her long fight against Cancer. For more information on the Dean Michael Clarizio
Cancer Foundation contact Chris Clarizio at clarizioc@aol.com. Photo Credit Tommy Leflein.




Leo Lezcano’s mother Doris and younger sister Lucy accepted a donation from DMCCF on his
behalf. For more information on the Dean Michael Clarizio Cancer Foundation contact Chris
Clarizio at clarizioc@aol.com.Photo Credit Tommy Leflein.








Pictured above: The GMFA outing included great food, an excellent golf course and
hundreds of prizes. Photo Credit Tommy Leflein.
GMFA News

Articles in GMFA News