Art Van Furniture plans gala for its 50th anniversary

Art Van Furniture caps a year of giving for its 50th anniversary with a gala celebration featuring a cirque performance group, live music and a visit by model Cindy Crawford.
The gala begins at 6 p.m. on Oct. 1 at the Warren store at 6500 Fourteen Mile Road. Tickets range from $100 to $1,000 and all proceeds go to the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center and the Neuroscience Institute at Henry Ford Health System.
"I believe it is our responsibility to give back when you're fortunate to be as successful as we've been for five decades," said Art Van Elslander, founder and chairman, in a statement.

The company plans to open its 31st store in Grandville this month. It opened its first store in Detroit in 1959.
Other donations this year have included giving 500 mattresses to shelters and 50 bedroom suites to chronically ill children.
Art Van Furniture has been selling the Cindy Crawford Home Collection for the past three years, said Diane Charles, company spokeswoman.
Jonas Jerebko, a 2009 Detroit Pistons draft pick and the first Swedish player in the NBA, also plans to attend the party.
Diana Lewis, anchor at WXYZ-TV (Channel 7), is mistress of ceremonies and will host a live show from the event at 7 p.m.
All guests will receive a box of Sanders chocolates, and one box will contain a ticket for a shopping spree at Art Van Furniture worth $2,500.