September 2020 CAP'D Luncheon Corporate Social Responsibility and Volunteerism

Corporate Social Responsibility and Volunteerism

Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale

#VolunteerismROCKS #sociallyresponsible  #CareAboutCommunity

After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, Mack went to work at a furniture store and discovered that he was good at sales and loved the furniture business.  He and his new bride, Linda, moved to Houston in 1981 with $5,000 and a dream.  In 1983 when he developed a TV commercial campaign to promote Gallery Furniture, his wacky and amusing antics provided some measure of celebrity status while boosting sales.  Since then, Jim McIngvale has grown Gallery Furniture from a $5,000 start-up into a $200 million a year enterprise. 

However, Mack has built a legacy as Houston’s leading philanthropist through his continuous support of Houston community:

• a major contributor to scholarship funds at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
• helped build the first mobile stroke unit in the U.S.
• provides furniture to USO centers globally
• champions mental health issues through support of Peace of Mind, a non-profit begun by his daughter, Elizabeth McIngvale, for those suffering from OCD
• raised millions of dollars for the Bush-Clinton Tsunami Relief Fund
• opened 2 of his furniture stores during Hurricane Harvey and took in over 400 displaced community members -- providing food and shelter until they could safely return home
• collected and donated toiletries for people restrained by the COVID pandemic by using GF employees to make front door drop-offs

Now, Mack has plans to open three new facilities this fall:  a high school for youth 16-26 to earn their GED, a trade school which will teach many different trade skills and a day care center.

Why should a member attend? 

Jim McIngvale believes that the key element to success is to be “grateful for everything; entitled to nothing.”  The impact of that message has been manifested in the innumerable acts of selfless kindness and compassion that the Houston community and the nation has seen since his arrival to Houston in 1981. 

Through the retelling of his story and the major influences in his life, Mack will peel back the layers of his heart and reveal how empathy and compassion are a natural overflow of success.  He will explain how contagious passion can be and the unifying bond of working toward a common goal.  Through adversities experienced by the Houston community, we will relive examples of the importance of rolling up our sleeves and helping our neighbors.  Listen to extraordinary stories of ordinary citizens being dispatched into a powerful and effective rescue operation.

Without question, Jim “Mattress Mack” McInvgale is a philanthropic legend and the iconic face of our City.  This truly amazing man will show in vivid detail the life-saving beauty of giving and how to rally a city around a purpose and a cause. 

Educational Outcomes:

• Uncover the power and impact of ONE person. 
• Realize the effectiveness of commitment and passion.  
• Understand how to ignite the flame of enthusiasm and mobilize it into action. 
• Discover how to leverage adversity to unify a community.

This program is approved by EIC for 1 clock hour of credit under Domain E.