Save a Sample!

Woo-hoo! February's over. Much as we love Valentine's Day we're happy to see it go. In many parts of the country, including mine, it's the last full winter month.

Welcome March and the spring equinox, to be quickly followed by April's cherry blossoms and Save a Sample!, the design industry's recycling drive. The New York based drive is expanding its reach this year into Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington DC. Design firms will be able to donate unneeded materials to schools all across the country giving students access to much needed professional resources.

"We've always wanted to expand Save A Sample!'s reach to benefit a larger number of design firms and design students," says Suzanne Swift, Save A Sample!'s creator. "With the help of industry sponsors and local furniture dealers, we will finally be able to do so."



In addition to distributing samples, Save a Sample! has set up a scholarship program for participating students and prizes for participating A&D firms. Supported by local chapters of the AIA, ASID, IIDA, SMPS and USGBC, Save A Sample! has collected over 10 tons of materials and raised over $50,000 in scholarships since its first drive in 1999. Last year's scholarships were distributed to the Art Institute, FIT, Kean University, NYITl, Pratt Institute and the School of Visual Arts.

The donations have a big impact according to Linda O'Shea, Design Chair at Kean University, "Save A Sample! offers our students access to the newest architectural materials and finish products available...I have seen a great improvement in terms of creativity, innovation, and imagination on student materials and finishes boards since being involved in this wonderful program. It is like Christmas morning in the design studios when the Save A Sample! boxes arrive at our school!"

Save a Sample! runs April 5 - 7, leaving plenty of time for spring cleaning in your sample rooms. Get busy.