Wyndham Nashville Resort Gives $225,000 in Appliances, Furniture to GEAR Foundation

FRANKLIN, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The GEAR Foundation has announced that Wyndham Vacation Resorts and the Music City USA Property Owners Association, Inc., are supporting the organization’s thrift-store operations with a donation of more than $225,000 worth of furniture, appliances, and other room furnishings. The GEAR Foundation’s storefront, Our Thrift Store, provides employment for special-needs workers; gently used, quality clothing and products at reasonable prices for the store’s customers; and a funding source for The GEAR Foundation’s operations.

“We are honored to support GEAR by donating furniture, fixtures and appliances for the expansion of their Our Thrift Store”

“We are honored to support GEAR by donating furniture, fixtures and appliances for the expansion of their Our Thrift Store,” said Mike Sellge, Resort Manager, Wyndham Nashville. “This partnership demonstrates our commitment to the Nashville community and reaffirms our efforts to sustain our environment through our WyndhamGreen initiative.”

Over the course of a three-year renovation project at Wyndham Nashville, a timeshare project in Nashville, Tenn., Wyndham Vacation Resorts and the Music City USA Property Owners Association, Inc., will continue to donate refrigerators, stoves, washer/dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, mattresses, artwork, lamps, couches and chairs from approximately 392 units. The GEAR Foundation estimates the market value of the items donated from each condominium-style suite to be worth approximately $600, which would result in an estimated $225,000 in merchandise for GEAR to sell through Our Thrift Store, located at 1018 Columbia Avenue in downtown Franklin, Tenn.

GEAR kicked off operations with Our Thrift Store more than five years ago. Today, the organization includes Our Fulfillment Center and a thriving eBay business. Our Thrift Store had considered expanding beyond clothing and creating a home furnishings store, as GEAR customers are interested in finding affordable, gently used items for their homes.

“It’s green, and it provides the help we need to expand our offerings while continuing to bless the customers who depend on us for affordable clothing,” said Dave Krikac, GEAR Founder. “This is a template that we hope will attract other caring hotel organizations who might find this an attractive option for dealing with room furnishings that must be disposed of after a renovation.”

GEAR picked up the first group of donations from Wyndham on February 23 and began offering them to customers on February 28. While those items have sold quickly, another shipment will be delivered on Tuesday, March 16, and deliveries will continue over the next three years.

About Wyndham Vacation Ownership

Wyndham Vacation Ownership, a member of Wyndham Worldwide’s (NYSE: WYN) family of companies, is the world’s largest vacation ownership business, as measured by the number of vacation ownership resorts, individual vacation ownership units and owners of vacation ownership interests. Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing to owners through its three primary consumer brands, Wyndham Vacation Resorts, WorldMark by Wyndham, and Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific. Wyndham Vacation Ownership is headquartered in Orlando, Fla., and is supported by approximately 12,500 employees globally.

About The GEAR Foundation

The Mission of The GEAR Foundation, Our Thrift Store and Our Fulfillment Center is to provide individuals with disabilities with work experiences, which enables them to develop their own unique capabilities and potential, thereby achieving Gainful Employment and Respect.

Earlier this year, the store received The Shining Apple Award in Business & Industry from the Williamson County School District for their support of Page and Centennial high schools’ young adults with disabilities. For more information, visit www.thegearfoundation.org.