IKEA believes it can achieve business objectives while being socially and environmentally responsible. Through wide-ranging initiatives, IKEA reflects this commitment to being a good business while doing good business. From the very beginning of our existence, IKEA Tempe's goal was to be dedicated to giving back to the local community and sticking to IKEA's vision "to create a better everyday life for the many," we knew aligning with a partner charity of choice that felt the same was important. Through a rigorous review of all the great organizations here in the Valley along with keeping in mind that our core area of concentration nationally was to help children, we felt being able to work with Free Arts of Arizona would be a good fit so we invited them to take us on as a corporate supporter!

IKEA also believes that children are the most important people in the world. Nationally, we have decided to focus our activities in the local community on helping children achieve their fullest potential by supporting their learning and development because helping children to learn and develop is an area in which IKEA has experience and can make a difference.

IKEA encourages all stores to take social responsibility seriously at local level by participating in different activities to support selected projects, and here in Arizona, we truly believe in the work that Free Arts of Arizona is doing to improve the lives of children in need. It's exciting to know that our relationship is helping to create a better everyday life for the thousands of children who participate in their programming!

History of Partnership

2003 - 2004: IKEA Tempe chooses Free Arts of Arizona as the charity for the grand opening of its newest store. In addition to including Free Arts of Arizona in all grand opening media, IKEA makes a generous contribution of $10,000.

2004 - 2005: IKEA gifts over $10,000 worth of furnishings for the new Free Arts of Arizona office space.

2005 - 2006: IKEA and Free Arts partnered to raise awareness for child abuse prevention through the "Help a Child Heal" campaign during Child Abuse Prevention month in April. Free Arts of Arizona Art Cards are sold throughout the store and all sales proceeds support Free Arts programs. Activities promoting the campaign included a community art project for IKEA patrons, campaign buttons created for IKEA employees, in-store announcements and signage, ads in Phoenix Home & Garden and Phoenix magazine, and listings on IKEA event calendar and Web site.

2006 - 2007: IKEA was the presenting sponsor for the Art Heals Luncheon held in the spring at the Squaw Peak Hilton in Phoenix. IKEA was acknowledged from the stage and in the event PowerPoint and gives candles with a special IKEA tag to all 600 guests. IKEA also holds an art supply drive for the month of April during Child Abuse Prevention month.

2008 - 2009: Free Arts is highlighted in the IKEA Business room setting at the top of the Showroom entrance as charity of choice and IKEA fan of PAX system (with professional photo and caption on wall) and other products used in their office space in February 2008. IKEA also allowed Free Arts to post brochures and volunteer information in space.

IKEA was the presenting sponsor for the Art Heals Luncheon held in the April 2008 at the Squaw Peak Hilton in Phoenix. IKEA was acknowledged from the stage and in the event PowerPoint. We also participated as an in- kind donor on several other occasions throughout the year such as gift cards giveaways, product for art activities, etc. In August 2008, IKEA Tempe was the winner of the "Mid-Size Business Partner of the Year 2008" presented by the Arts & Business Council of Greater Phoenix for their efforts with Free Arts of Arizona. In October 2008, more than 20 IKEA Tempe coworkers made a difference in the life of a child by volunteering for a Free Arts Day at the Desert Botanical Garden's Pumpkin Festival in Phoenix. Furthermore, their Restaurant donated 150 boxed lunches to the event for staff, children and volunteers to eat together. In November 2008, more than 10 IKEA volunteers participated in the Palette of Homes tour and IKEA was featured in the program ad.

Again in November 2008, Free Arts worked with IKEA in partnership with the store's four-year anniversary celebration on an art/craft event for customers and this helped the charity raise awareness about their programming. More than 80 children participated in the activity. In December 2008, IKEA helped Free Arts man a gift wrap station in-store during the holiday season and collected over $100 in donations. In January and February 2009, IKEA holds an art supply drive for the organization. In February 2009, IKEA donates over $1,400 in gift wrap to arts programming. In March 2009, IKEA agrees to participate as an "Artist" sponsor of the Art Heals Luncheon held in the April 2009 by underwriting the printing of the event program via the printing, creation/printing of floor directional signage using the Free Arts logo and by providing the 20 RIBBA frames for the art exhibit.