AmericasMart Atlanta

Press Release

Inaugural Area Rug Silent Auction Benefits ORIA Charitable Fund

August 31, 2006

ATLANTA, July 2006—The Oriental Rug Importers Association (ORIA)—in partnership with AMERICASMART-ATLANTA—raised more than $17,000 for its charitable fund during the inaugural summer market silent rug auction. Proceeds benefit ORIA’s Charitable Fund benefiting Children—a vehicle through which educational, community and public healthcare initiatives are funded; nearly 100 percent of the Fund’s proceeds directly benefit these initiative.

The silent auction featured 21 exquisite, hand-knotted rugs—each of which were donated exclusively by ORIA members. Bidding began on Sunday, July 16 in the MOI Gallery (AMERICASMART ?, floor 4, 4B1) and was open to all Market attendees. Winning bids were announced during the annual Rug Retailer of the Year (ROY) Awards at the Georgia Aquarium.

AMERICASMART-ATLANTA and ORIA would like to thank the area rug exhibitors who so generously donated their product and offered their support and enthusiasm for the silent auction. The donors were:

Amici
Aminco
Art Resources Asia Minor Carpets
Asmara
Benjamin Rug Imports
Couristan
Ebison
Harounian
Eliko
Feizy Rugs
Hadji Jalili Revivals
Kalaty
Megerian Bros.
Momeni
Nourison Obeetee
Safavieh
Sphinx by Oriental Weavers Tamarian
Tibet Rug Co.

For more information on ORIA’s Charitable Fund, contact Lucille Laufer, executive director, ORIA, at llaufer@oria.org. For more information on AMERICASMART and its annual markets, please call 1-800-ATL-MART or visit www.AmericasMart.com.

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