Relax The Back joins WorldBed Project - Will Help Send Emergency Mattresses to Haiti

3/9/2010
CORONA, Calif. — Specialty back care retailer Relax The Back is joining mattress manufacturer Anatomic Global on its humanitarian initiative, the WorldBed Project.
The 100-plus unit retailer is launching a company-wide promotion, "Buy a Bed, Give a Bed," to raise money and awareness for the delivery of up to 200,000 field beds to displaced Haitians following the January earthquake near Port-au-Prince.

As part of the program, for every Anatomic Global mattress purchased at Relax The Back, the store will donate one WorldBed to someone in need in Haiti. A portion of the proceeds from every coordinating pillow also will go to WorldBed. Consumers also will be able to buy WorldBed mattresses online and in-store at a cost of $35 each, to be delivered to the relief effort.

Designed for emergency care and relief efforts, the cot-sized WorldBed is built from three-inch cushioning foam. It can be compression-packaged to be quickly shipped, in volume, wherever needed. It was created to provide comfort, increased health and safety, and a more sanitary place to sleep in an effort to speed recovery and aid in healing.

"Anatomic Global came up with a very unique concept in the way the sleep product industry can help disaster victims all over the world and we wanted to be part of this noble endeavor," said J.D. Nespoli, vice president of merchandising for Relax The Back, which is based in La Palma, Calif. "Both Relax The Back's corporate operation and our franchisees wanted to help with Haitian relief and this program is a great opportunity for us to do so."

"Buy a Bed, Give a Bed" will be promoted with in-store displays and there are plans to include the program in the retailer's summer catalog. In addition, Relax The Back's corporate office has already donated a pallet of 50 WorldBeds and will continue to channel additional funds to assist in the effort.

"Relax The Back is an incredible retail partner that will help us make a lasting impact in Haiti," said Anatomic Global CEO David Farley. "The WorldBed Project couldn't exist without their compassion and the support and donations of our business community."

Also supporting Anatomic Global in the effort are FXI Foamex Innovations, Deslee Textiles USA, Royal Packaging, Brookwood Cos., World Hope International, CARE and Parakletos International.

Anatomic Global said it is investing its corporate profits the first quarter to manufacture WorldBeds for Haitian relief, and sent a team to help with the initial shipments. So far 2,216 field beds have been delivered and another 1,800 are en route.