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11/05/2007 Dwell® President and Publisher Michela O'Connor Abrams Appointed to RugMark Foundation USA Board of Directors |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts: Blue Practice RugMark Foundation USA Dwell® President and Publisher Michela O’Connor Abrams Appointed to RugMark Foundation USA Board of Directors SAN FRANCISCO, CA – November 5, 2007—Today Michela O’Connor Abrams, President and Publisher of Dwell was appointed to the RugMark Foundation USA Board of Directors, the body advising the nonprofit organization working to end exploitative child labor in the handmade carpet industry and give educational opportunities to children in India, Nepal and Pakistan. O’Connor Abrams has already been involved with RugMark through her role as President and Publisher of Dwell®, the magazine and media brand, through benefit work and events and through Dwell’s lead sponsorship of The Most Beautiful Rug: RugMark’s Campaign to End Child Labor. The goal of The Most Beautiful Rug is to communicate to rug purchasers that a handmade rug made by child labor is ugly no matter what it looks like and that the RugMark® label ensures a rug’s inner beauty. Currently two percent of all U.S. handmade rug imports are certified by RugMark, and 15 percent market share is the estimated tipping point to end child labor on an industry-wide basis. Established in 1994, RugMark has helped reduce the number of exploited ‘carpet kids’ from one million to 300,000 over the past decade and has provided rehabilitation and schooling to approximately 3,200 children. The organization has been honored for its market-based solution by the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship and Ashoka Foundation’s “Changemakers” competition. “I’m honored to be chosen for a seat on the board of RugMark,” O’Connor Abrams said. “The foundation’s focus is aligned with our values and beliefs at Dwell—to engage in a dialogue with consumers and design professionals. As both a mother and a publisher, RugMark’s work to end child labor by changing purchasing practices is hugely important to me and I am thrilled to be involved.” Nina Smith, Executive Director of RugMark USA said, “We welcome Michela to our Board. She is not only a driving force in the design and publishing worlds, but is a passionate and articulate spokesperson who will bring entrepreneurial skills to our team. About Dwell About RugMark |
